For a game that takes so much clear inspiration from so many places, Silver Pines remarkably stands out on its own. It takes a relatively standard atmospheric horror setup and layers on top of it both a unique concoction of gameplay elements and genres and a remarkable presentation, and the way that all elements play off of each other elevate the atmosphere of the entire package.

It can be a bit obtuse at points with its clues and certainly allows you to wander a bit too much too quickly, but it makes up for it with rewarding exploration, an intriguing world, and a great sense of cleverness in its progression.