Future Games Show: A New Look at the Upcoming Metroidvania Survival Horror Hybrid, Silver Pines

Formally announced in October 2025 and shown again now at the Future Games Show, Silver Pines, an indie game being developed by the small Swedish team Wych Elm, looks incredibly promising. The game’s gorgeously, gloomy art style draws one’s eyes right in, and the gameplay promises a deeply immersive experience that capitalizes fully on the atmosphere that has been so carefully crafted.

Inspired by The X-Files, Twin Peaks, and a plethora of survival horror classics, Silver Pines is built on a very strong, ideological foundation. And indeed, what stands out the most about the game is its sense of identity. There’s nothing casual about how the game has turned out. The vision behind Silver Pines is being meticulously brought to fruition. A Metroidvania, survival horror game might sound like an absurd concept, but Silver Pines is making a convincing case for itself, both in how it looks and how it is expected to play.

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Sneaking, Shooting, Puzzle Solving, and Swinging

Side-scrolling horror games are a mythical thing in the video game industry. Silver Pines isn’t exactly in uncharted waters, but it’s certainly in an unpopular diving spot. From what we’ve seen in the new Future Games Show trailer, though, I wouldn’t exactly be worried about the game’s state as a side-scroller. I don’t see any compromise in how the game approaches its horror, exploration, or combat.

Silver Pines seems to be heavily designed around its 2.5D structuring. Foreground and background objects look to be essential in how one experiences the game. Sneaking past enemies who are facing away from you in the background is just one example of how that dimensionality will be taken advantage of throughout the game. Having multiple planes is good not just for adding more interactables to the world, but it also enhances the environments. Silver Pines looks as good as it does partially because of how it uses depth to make its visuals feel more moody.

When it comes to actually dealing with the game’s enemies, Silver Pines offers both melee and ranged weapons. It’s honestly a bit hard to tell how satisfying or balanced the combat will actually be, but the gameplay trailer gives a pretty solid impression. Enemies don’t seem overwhelming in how they move, which would be my only real concern for a game like this. The guns also look nice to use with a weightiness to their shots, and they’re likely to actually define the experience for the majority of the game.

The Future Games Show trailer for Silver Pines honestly hasn’t shared too much new information, but it has reinforced my strong belief in this project. A game that deeply cares about developing its atmosphere to the fullest always sets itself up for great success. The game looking as polished as it does everywhere else makes it even more exciting. Silver Pines is slated to release some time in 2026, and I’m looking forward to checking it out then.