Silver Pines Arrives in Brazil as a New 2D Noir Thriller
Swedish indie game blends Metroidvania, horror, and 90s series references
The launch of Silver Pines on the PlayStation Store, accompanied by a discount for PS Plus subscribers, brought the title into prominence among Brazilian players. The game, developed by Swedish Wych Elm Games, transforms a missing person case into a horror-survival experience with a strong noir feel.
What is Silver Pines
Silver Pines is a 2.5D adventure game that follows private detective Red Walker. He arrives in the eponymous town to find the missing musician Eddie Velvet, while dealing with stormy weather that isolates the village. The setting includes abandoned shops, ruined apartments, and decaying sewer systems, all rendered with rotoscoping to create animations reminiscent of noir films.
How the Gameplay Works
The mechanics blend typical Metroidvania exploration – hidden paths, unlockable abilities, and gradually opening areas – with resource management. Players pay for phone calls to save progress and get clues, use knives that break easily, and slow-reloading pistols, reinforcing the sense of vulnerability typical of horror games.
Cultural References and Aesthetics
The visual and sound design references productions like Twin Peaks, Silent Hill, Blue Velvet, and series such as The X-Files. The environment uses a limited palette that enhances claustrophobia, while the sound combines noir jazz inspired by Angelo Badalamenti and Vangelis. Elements like incomplete statues, newspapers stuck to walls, and flickering neon reinforce the atmosphere of mystery.
Critical Reception
Even before its official launch, the title received 87 points on Opencritic, based on 23 reviews that praised the combination of Metroidvania with psychological horror. Critics highlighted the dark atmosphere, puzzles requiring careful exploration, and the integration of rustic 3D models into 2D scenarios, creating an unusual visual effect.
Availability and Price
Silver Pines is available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms. On the PlayStation Store, the game has a 10% discount for all users, including PS Plus subscribers. The publishing is handled by Team 17, responsible for distributing the title worldwide.
With information from The Guardian, AOL.com, iXBT.games.
Source: The Guardian, AOL.com, iXBT.games