Silver Pines Review Roundup: Critics Praise Wych Elm's Horror Debut

My excitement is evident because Wych Elm's atmospheric side-scrolling horror game Silver Pines is receiving stellar reviews from major outlets, positioning the debut title as an early standout for October 2026. This detective noir nightmare follows private investigator Red Walker into a half-abandoned town to find a vanished musician, and the critics are officially captivated.

A 91 on Metacritic for a studio's very first game? This is notable. In a 9.5/10 review, DualShockers called the game "a cerebrally divine love letter to David Lynch and all the narrative trademarks he was known for," praising how it embraces its spiritual successor Silent Hill with fog-filled streets and nightmare encounters.

The details

• Developer: Wych Elm
• Platform Performance: PlayStation 5 version holds a 91 score on Metacritic; Xbox Series X|S version has one review from Gamer Social Club.
• Genre: 2D Survival Horror Metroidvania
• Main Character: Private investigator Red Walker

The critical reception has been remarkably strong across the board. CGMagazine awarded the game a perfect 10/10, writing, "Silver Pines is a masterpiece. From gorgeous animation, to a compelling mystery, to gameplay that had me excited to explore the map." Radio Times also scored it a 10/10, noting that "the developers totally stick the landing" in melding detective mystery with survival horror.

Other major outlets have positively reviewed the game. GamesRadar+ gave the title a 9/10, describing it as "compelling, atmospheric, and brilliant," while Gamer Social Club also went with a 9/10, calling it "the best horror game you can play for Halloween 2026." For those who love the classic, slow-burn tension, The Guardian gave it an 8/10, comparing its mood to a private eye pulling a bottle of bourbon from his desk while rain trickles down the window.

Not every critic was entirely sold on the genre mashup, though. PlayStation Universe rated it an 8.5/10, noting that "the horror elements may not weigh very heavily on the experience" but still found the map exploration highly compelling. Meanwhile, Checkpoint Gaming scored the game a 7/10, stating that while it "fails to sell me on the combination of the horror and Metroidvania genres," its remarkable art direction and fascinating premise kept them hooked to the end.