Both are horror Metroidvanias released a week apart, but they play very differently. End of Abyss (October 1, $29.99) is a top-down twin-stick shooter in a sci-fi facility with a 75 Metascore. Silver Pines (October 8, $24.99, Wych Elm / Team17) is a 2D side-scrolling detective horror set in a Lynchian small town, with scores in the mid-80s. Pick End of Abyss for combat and atmosphere, Silver Pines for story, puzzles and a Switch or Steam version.
Side by side
| End of Abyss | Silver Pines | |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | October 1, 2026 | October 8, 2026 |
| Developer / publisher | Section 9 Interactive / Epic Games Publishing | Wych Elm / Team17 |
| Camera | Top-down, twin-stick | 2D side-scrolling (2.5D in places) |
| Setting | Abandoned underground sci-fi facility | Half-abandoned American small town |
| Protagonist | Cel, a young combat technician | Red Walker, a private investigator |
| Price | $29.99 | $24.99 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Epic only) | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, PC (Steam and Epic) |
| Metacritic | 75 (PS5, 18 critics) | 85 PS5 / 84 PC |
| First playthrough | About 10–13 hours | About 10–14 hours |
| Co-op | No | No |
Scores were checked on October 12, 2026 and will move as more reviews arrive. Silver Pines' figures come from Wikipedia and launch coverage; early reports quoted higher numbers from a smaller pool of reviews.
How they actually play
End of Abyss is built around shooting. You aim freely with a twin-stick setup, dodge-roll through attacks, scan enemies for weak points and carry two of six guns. Bosses are a big part of the game, and the boss guide covers every one.
Silver Pines leans on investigation. Reviewers praise its story, voice acting and fair, well-hinted puzzles, and you can pin photographs to the map as reminders. Combat is its weakest part: AltChar notes that Walker stops moving when he draws a gun and that dodging is unreliable. The inventory is also cramped, which End of Abyss does not have.
What critics said
- End of Abyss: praised for atmosphere, the interconnected facility and the Scanner; marked down for launch bugs, little guidance and spongy enemies. Scores range from 9/10 to 6/10. Full table: Metacritic page.
- Silver Pines: praised for story, characters, puzzles and art; criticised for combat and inventory space. Scores reported at launch ran from 10/10 (CGMagazine, Radio Times) down to 7/10 (Checkpoint Gaming).
In short, critics liked Silver Pines more overall, but its weak point is exactly End of Abyss's strength.
Length and replay value
Both land in the same range. Three outlets clocked End of Abyss at about 13 hours to the first ending, and the secret ending plus all 44 trophies push it to roughly 15–20 hours; see how long to beat. AltChar finished Silver Pines' story in about 10 hours and reached its platinum in about 19.
Platforms: the deciding factor for some players
Silver Pines is on Steam, Switch and Switch 2. End of Abyss is not: on PC it is an Epic Games Store exclusive, and no Nintendo version has been announced. If you play mainly on Steam or Switch, that may decide it. Status pages: Steam, Switch 2.
Which one should you play first?
- Play End of Abyss first if you want tense combat, boss fights and a cold Alien-style atmosphere, and you own a PS5, Xbox Series X|S or play on Epic.
- Play Silver Pines first if you prefer story, puzzles and detective work over shooting, or you play on Steam or a Switch.
- Play both if you enjoy Metroidvanias: they share almost nothing beyond the genre, and together cost about the same as one full-price game.
For more in the same vein, see games like End of Abyss.
Frequently asked questions
Are End of Abyss and Silver Pines connected?
No. Different studios and publishers made them; they only share a genre and a release month.
Which is scarier?
End of Abyss is more tense moment to moment, with creatures in dark corridors. Silver Pines goes for surreal, Lynchian unease and a mystery.
Which is cheaper?
Silver Pines, at $24.99 against $29.99 for End of Abyss.
This page only uses details from official store pages, developer statements and hands-on press previews. Anything unconfirmed before the October 1, 2026 launch is left out and will be added once verified. Last research pass: October 12, 2026.
Sources
References and further reading for this article.
