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What is Silver Pines?
Silver Pines is a single-player survival-horror Metroidvania developed by Wych Elm and published by Team17. You play private investigator Red Walker, hired to find Eddie Velvet, a missing musician. The trail leads into a half-abandoned American town and a dark mystery. The Steam store description introduces Walker’s assignment as “a job to track down Eddie Velvet. A musician who has vanished.”
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Exploration and puzzles are joined by scarce resources, monsters and locked routes that open as Walker acquires tools and weapons. Its design therefore asks players to investigate and backtrack as well as survive encounters, rather than focusing on direct action alone. The blend is central to the game’s appeal—and to some reviewers’ reservations.
Why are critics responding so well?
Pure Xbox’s October 2026 review roundup reported an OpenCritic rating of 87 with 93% recommended, and a PS5 Metacritic score of 91. Those are figures reported by the roundup, not independently verified live aggregator snapshots, and they may change as more reviews appear. The listed outlet scores span 7/10 to 10/10.
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| Outlet | Score reported by Pure Xbox |
|---|---|
| CGMagazine | 10/10 |
| Radio Times | 10/10 |
| DualShockers | 9.5/10 |
| GamesRadar+ | 9/10 |
| Gamer Social Club | 9/10 |
| PlayStation Universe | 8.5/10 |
| The Guardian | 8/10 |
| Checkpoint Gaming | 7/10 |
The praise centers on mood and place: reviewers highlight the atmosphere, art direction, mystery and the way detective fiction meets Metroidvania-style navigation. In The Guardian, Keith Stuart describes it as “a game to sit back and wallow in,” praising its film-noir style and carefully built locations. The Guardian’s review also frames the game as a slow, atmospheric experience rather than a rush from fight to fight.
What are the main drawbacks reviewers mention?
The genre mix does not work equally well for every critic. DualShockers says combat takes time to get used to and that distracted investigation can be punished. PlayStation Universe finds that the horror may not feel especially weighty, while Checkpoint Gaming says the blend did not fully come together for that reviewer. These are differing published reactions, not a unanimous judgment about the game.
Puzzles and combat can be demanding
Stuart’s Guardian review notes that puzzles can be obtuse and combat tense. It also says players primarily interested in the story can lower the difficulty. That option may reduce friction, but it does not change the game’s basic emphasis on exploration, investigation and survival.
Rank #2
Is Silver Pines worth playing?
It looks most promising for players who enjoy atmospheric mysteries, slow-burn horror and exploring interconnected areas for clues, tools and newly accessible routes. It may be a less natural fit if you want straightforward action, consistently intense horror or puzzles that rarely require retracing your steps.
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- Consider it if: noir atmosphere, environmental storytelling and exploratory progression are major draws for you.
- Think twice if: you dislike resource pressure, tense combat or puzzles that can be difficult to parse.
- For a story-first run: The Guardian notes that difficulty can be lowered, though the review still describes the puzzles as potentially obtuse.
The strongest reported scores make Silver Pines a notable 2026 release, but they do not establish it as one of the year’s best beyond dispute. Steam showed “No user reviews” in the captured listing, so there was no player-review consensus to weigh alongside the early critical response.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When does Silver Pines release, and what platforms are confirmed?
At the October 7, 2026 research cut-off, the game was scheduled to launch the following day. The Steam listing gives October 8, 2026 as the PC release date; the PlayStation Store listing gives October 8 at 04:00 UTC for PS5. The Guardian’s review header also lists Switch 2, but the official store pages cited here directly establish PC and PS5 only. Availability and timing can vary by storefront or region.
Rank #3
What editions and PC requirements are listed?
Steam lists the base game and a Deluxe Edition package that includes Silver Pines, an artbook and a soundtrack. The listing does not establish that the artbook or soundtrack is physical. Steam also lists a demo, achievements, Steam Cloud and Family Sharing.
The minimum PC requirements shown on Steam are Windows 10, 8 GB RAM and 5 GB of available storage. The PS5 listing identifies the game as single-player and includes content descriptors for blood, strong language and violence. The listings cited here do not establish a physical game edition or a physical Deluxe bundle.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
