Silver Pines: Twin Peaks Horror Metroidvania Announced for 2026
A thick fog of mystery is rolling in. In the seemingly quiet town of Silver Pines, a local musician has vanished without a trace, and a newly revealed announcement trailer asks a simple, chilling question: Where is Eddie Velvet? Developer Wych Elm Games and publisher Team17 have officially announced Silver Pines, a side-scrolling survival horror Metroidvania steeped in surreal, Lynchian atmosphere, set to launch in 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The debut trailer immediately establishes a deeply unsettling tone. Players are introduced to a world that feels both familiar and unnervingly off-kilter, blending the eerie charm of a secluded small town with a palpable sense of dread lurking just beneath the surface. For fans of classic psychological thrillers and surrealist horror, the game’s deep-seated inspiration from works like Twin Peaks is unmistakable, promising a narrative that prioritizes atmosphere and a slow-burn investigation over jump scares.
What is Silver Pines?
At its core, Silver Pines is a 2D Metroidvania with a heavy emphasis on survival horror and narrative-driven puzzles. Players will step into the shoes of an investigator tasked with unraveling the cryptic disappearance of a celebrated musician named Eddie Velvet. The search will take them through the titular town and its surrounding wilderness, a beautifully hand-crafted world filled with secrets, peculiar inhabitants, and dangers that defy easy explanation.
The game’s Metroidvania structure means the world of Silver Pines is a large, interconnected map. Players will gradually unlock new paths and discover hidden areas by acquiring new abilities or items. This exploration is intertwined with the central investigation, as finding a new key or learning a new skill might be the very thing needed to access a crucial clue about Eddie’s fate. This blend of genres suggests a gameplay loop that rewards curiosity and methodical exploration, encouraging players to peel back the layers of the town's dark history.
A Mystery Wrapped in a Surreal Enigma
The influence of filmmaker David Lynch is woven into the very fabric of Silver Pines. The aesthetic combines the mundane with the bizarre, creating a dreamlike, and often nightmarish, atmosphere. Expect conversations with quirky townsfolk who speak in riddles, environments that shift in illogical ways, and a pervasive sense of being watched. The mystery of Eddie Velvet isn't just a simple missing person case; it's a doorway into the rotten core of a town hiding terrible secrets.
The narrative promises to be a central pillar of the experience. Rather than relying solely on combat, players will need to engage with the world and its story to progress. This involves:
- Solving Environmental Puzzles: Uncovering clues will require keen observation and interaction with the environment.
- Navigating Dialogue: Conversations with the residents of Silver Pines will be key, but discerning truth from deception will be a constant challenge.
- Surviving Unseen Threats: The "survival horror" element suggests that managing resources and avoiding or confronting otherworldly threats will be critical to staying alive.
This focus on psychological dread over overt action aims to create a more lasting and impactful sense of horror, where the scariest things are not what you see, but what you slowly come to understand about the town and its inhabitants.
Gameplay: Exploration, Puzzles, and Survival
Silver Pines combines several gameplay mechanics to create its unique identity. As a side-scrolling adventure, players will navigate the world on a 2D plane, platforming through dense forests, exploring claustrophobic interiors, and delving into subterranean secrets.
The Metroidvania design encourages backtracking with a purpose. An area that was previously inaccessible might open up once you've found a specific tool or piece of information, revealing new story beats, side-quests, or shortcuts. This design philosophy makes the entire town of Silver Pines feel like one large, intricate puzzle box.
Survival will be a constant concern. While details on the combat system are still under wraps, the genre implies that players will not be an all-powerful force. Encounters with the strange entities haunting the town will likely be tense, strategic affairs where flight is sometimes a better option than fight. Resource management—whether it's health, ammunition, or key puzzle items—will add another layer of pressure to the investigation.
When Can You Play Silver Pines?
Developer Wych Elm Games has confirmed that Silver Pines is slated for a 2026 release. While a more specific date has not yet been announced, the game is officially in development for the following platforms:
- PC (via Steam)
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
The announcement is a thrilling reveal for fans of atmospheric horror and methodical exploration. With its compelling artistic direction and a central mystery that already has players theorizing, Silver Pines is poised to be a standout indie title when it arrives.