Silver Lining Interactive has signed a global publishing partnership with Studio Abattoir to bring The Pines, an upcoming psychological horror RPG, to players worldwide. Blending open-world investigation, unsettling atmosphere, and choice-driven storytelling, the game follows a former detective whose search for peace leads him into a dangerous conspiracy.
Players take on the role of Edward Walker, a burned-out detective struggling after an investigation reaches a dead end. Hoping to recover, Edward follows his therapist’s recommendation to visit The Pines, a remote retreat promising a peaceful environment and professional care. However, the welcoming atmosphere quickly gives way to something far more disturbing, leaving Edward to uncover the truth behind the facility and its residents.
A Retreat Hiding Dark Secrets
The Pines offers an open world filled with mysteries to investigate, characters to meet, and secrets hidden among the trees. As Edward explores the retreat, he will encounter residents with complicated histories, personal traumas, and motives of their own. What initially appears to be a supportive community gradually reveals a darker side, with seemingly unrelated details pointing toward a much larger conspiracy.
As a former detective, Edward has the skills needed to connect clues, gather evidence, and uncover information others might overlook. Players must piece together the stories surrounding the retreat while deciding whom to trust and how to approach each situation. Conversations, investigations, and confrontations all offer different ways to progress, with decisions affecting Edward’s story and the fates of those around him.
Players can also develop Edward’s abilities to suit their preferred playstyle, becoming stronger, more intelligent, or more persuasive. Joining different groups and factions provides additional opportunities to explore the world and discover the stories unfolding within it.
Survival Requires More Than Investigation
Although investigation is central to The Pines, Edward will also need to defend himself against the dangers lurking in the woods. Firearms and ammunition are scarce, making improvised weapons such as bats and axes essential tools for survival.
Combat emphasizes timing and awareness, with players able to dodge, parry, and strike when the opportunity arises. Knowing when to fight and when to run could prove just as important as uncovering the truth.
One of the game’s defining features is its Stalker System, which makes the consequences of player decisions an ongoing threat. Offend the wrong person, push an investigation too far, or make a questionable choice, and someone who initially appeared harmless could become a persistent pursuer.
These stalkers can haunt Edward throughout the surrounding forests, turning previous encounters into new dangers. However, players who develop their abilities sufficiently may eventually be able to confront their pursuers rather than simply flee.
With its combination of psychological horror, open-world exploration, investigative gameplay, and decisions that can follow players long after they are made, The Pines promises a disturbing journey into a community where trust is difficult to earn and survival is never guaranteed.