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Silence

I met talking rocks… and that wasn’t when I was tripping on mushrooms.
Silence Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
replayability, grinding
78% User Score Based on 784 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Silence Game Cover

About

Silence is a single player puzzle game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by Daedalic Entertainment and was released on November 15, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Silence is a single-player, Mystery Point and Click game with an intriguing story, spectacular graphics, and delightful music. Players control 16-year-old Noah, journeying through the world between life and death to find his lost sister. Despite the dense, emotional atmosphere and encounters with dark creatures, the game features humor and likable characters, making for a unique and memorable experience."

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78%
Audience ScoreBased on 784 reviews
story310 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions

  • Stunning hand-painted graphics that create a beautiful and immersive world.
  • Emotionally engaging story that explores themes of loss, imagination, and the impact of war.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics involving a shape-shifting caterpillar companion that adds variety to puzzles.
  • Short playtime of around 5-6 hours, leaving some story elements underdeveloped.
  • Simplistic puzzles that may feel too easy for experienced players, lacking the challenge of traditional point-and-click games.
  • Unskippable cutscenes and long loading times can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • story
    757 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Silence* is a beautifully melancholic continuation of the narrative from *The Whispered World*, focusing on themes of loss, imagination, and the impact of war on innocence. While the game features stunning visuals and a heartfelt tale about siblings Noah and Renie navigating a dreamlike world, many players found the story to be short and occasionally underdeveloped, with some elements feeling rushed or lacking depth. Despite its brevity, the emotional weight and artistic storytelling resonate strongly, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.

    • “Silence, developed and published by Daedalic Entertainment, is a beautifully melancholic adventure that continues the story first introduced in The Whispered World while standing firmly on its own as a meditation on loss, imagination, and the fragile line between reality and dreams.”
    • “The story’s premise is both intimate and fantastical, using the surreal landscape of Silence as a reflection of the characters’ inner turmoil and innocence lost to the cruelty of war.”
    • “In the end, Silence feels like a painting that has come to life—a storybook dream that evokes both nostalgia and sorrow.”
    • “The story's brevity—lasting only around five hours—leaves some of its more intriguing elements underdeveloped.”
    • “The story is way too short, wrapping up before it has a chance to develop any meaningful depth or complexity.”
    • “The lack of character development, minimal gameplay, and short, underwhelming story all contribute to a game that is ultimately not worth replaying.”
  • graphics
    308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, storybook-like art style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful hand-drawn backgrounds and charming character designs. While the visuals are often described as breathtaking and a significant improvement over the previous installment, some critiques mention that the focus on graphics may have come at the expense of gameplay depth and narrative complexity. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a major highlight, contributing to an immersive and enchanting experience.

    • “The graphics are gorgeous; you have to see them in motion to appreciate the magic.”
    • “Beautiful graphics: the game features stunning hand-drawn graphics that bring the world of Silence to life.”
    • “The artwork is stunning, and the gameplay is unique and not too hard and not too easy!”
    • “They should have saved money on the graphics and put some actual effort into the gameplay.”
    • “The 3D graphics for characters are not only utterly unnecessary for the medium, but also a significant contrast to the more traditionally rendered backgrounds and art styles.”
    • “Graphics are really pretty but gameplay is not impressive at all.”
  • gameplay
    167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Silence" is primarily a simplified point-and-click adventure that emphasizes storytelling over complex mechanics, featuring minimal puzzles and a lack of inventory management. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and visual appeal, many criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic, linear, and lacking challenge, making it feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional adventure game. Overall, the game offers a polished experience but may disappoint those seeking engaging gameplay.

    • “Gameplay in silence follows the structure of a modernized point-and-click adventure, streamlined for accessibility without losing the charm of exploration and interaction.”
    • “The puzzles were perfectly balanced, not too easy or too hard, the gameplay was really fun and satisfying, and the characters and especially the setting and world-building is just so interesting, beautiful, and unique.”
    • “The extra mechanics such as balancing and using Spot's different forms work into actions and solving environmental puzzles laid out for you that keep the story moving forward and keep you interacting with the world of Silence.”
    • “The gameplay elements are absolutely minimal, offering little to no challenge or engagement.”
    • “The lack of varied gameplay mechanics and the absence of any meaningful choices or branching paths make it a one-and-done experience.”
    • “The gameplay is so tedious.”
  • music
    146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its haunting beauty and atmospheric quality, effectively complementing the visuals and enhancing the overall emotional experience. Many reviewers highlighted the soundtrack's ability to evoke feelings of wonder and melancholy, with some tracks being particularly memorable and nostalgic. While a few critiques noted that certain pieces felt less engaging or out of place, the general consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive storytelling.

    • “This meticulous artistry is complemented by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that weaves gentle piano notes and ethereal tones into moments of wonder and sadness.”
    • “The music perfectly captures the dreamlike melancholy that defines the entire experience.”
    • “With its stunning hand-drawn visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and emotionally gripping story, it pulls you into a mesmerizing world of fantasy and mystery.”
    • “The soundtrack is not engaging.”
    • “The music was passable but not memorable.”
    • “I had to lower the music volume to avoid missing out part of the dialogue.”
  • emotional
    115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Silence" is widely praised for its deeply moving narrative that explores themes of grief, protection, and the bond between siblings, particularly through the characters of Noah and Renie. Players report a range of emotional responses, from heartwarming moments to profound sadness, with many noting the game's ability to evoke tears and reflection. While some critiques mention pacing issues and character depth, the overall consensus highlights the game's stunning visuals and music, which enhance its emotional storytelling, making it a memorable experience for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “What follows is a deeply emotional journey that explores their relationship, their longing for safety, and the courage required to face both fear and grief.”
    • “Renie herself is portrayed with a blend of childlike curiosity and heartbreaking vulnerability, her optimism serving as the emotional counterpoint to the despair around her.”
    • “The game's story is well-crafted and full of emotional moments that keep players invested in the characters and their journey.”
  • humor
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its gentle wit and whimsical moments, while others feel it lacks the charm and satirical edge of its predecessor. Many highlight the presence of funny characters and clever dialogue, though some criticize the overall humor as inconsistent or less impactful than before. Overall, the game offers a blend of emotional depth and lightheartedness, with moments that can evoke both laughter and tears.

    • “Dialogue is often laced with gentle humor and philosophical undertones, balancing innocence with existential weight.”
    • “The game does a good job of putting in some humorous situations and dialogue just like the Whispered World did.”
    • “It has a lovely story, funny and delightful characters, and an art style that looks absolutely awesome.”
    • “I felt sorry for the boy after the first game, but after seeing him in this one behaving like a stupid, selfish, and unfunny brat, I wished he hadn't woken up back then.”
  • atmosphere
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive environments, ranging from serene meadows to eerie ruins, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and intricate art design. Players appreciate the emotional depth conveyed through the visuals and music, creating a unique blend of comfort and unease. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its storytelling and overall experience.

    • “The game is presented beautifully with its intricate and highly detailed hand-painted art and lovely compositions that set the atmosphere and help to convey the emotions of the game and its environments.”
    • “Silence is a testament to the power of storytelling and a must-play for fans of captivating and atmospheric adventures.”
    • “The environments, from serene meadows to twisted ruins, are brimming with color and texture, creating an atmosphere that feels simultaneously comforting and unsettling.”
    • “The atmosphere, style, story, graphics... everything is super different from WW.”
    • “Voice acting is really mediocre with some characters and really takes away the atmosphere sometimes.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game suffers from a significant lack of character development, making it challenging for players to form connections with the characters or invest in their journeys. While the character designs and visuals are praised for their beauty, the storytelling feels inconsistent and rushed, with minimal growth or meaningful relationships between characters. Despite the game's artistic merits, the absence of depth in character development detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The game is plain gorgeous, oozing art made by loving hands in every scene and piece of character design.”
    • “This isn't up to par with Life is Strange, but the character development inside the game is very strong!”
    • “An absolute art piece - astonishing art and soundtrack, beautiful character design, and a very emotional story.”
    • “There is little to no character development in the game, making it difficult to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
    • “The lack of character development, minimal gameplay, and short, underwhelming story all contribute to a game that is ultimately not worth replaying.”
    • “But I didn't like the story for some reason... it is easy to understand the story concept, but it felt like it was sort of inconsistent. The plot was somewhat interesting, but there are no friendships being built between characters or any character development. It just felt like dialogue after dialogue, with not much character growth.”
  • replayability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, primarily due to unskippable dialogues, a linear storyline, and an autosave system that necessitates replaying the entire game to explore different choices. While some players note the potential for achievement hunting and minor variations in story sequences, many agree that the lack of meaningful choices significantly diminishes the incentive to replay. Ultimately, the game may appeal to those wanting to experience it with others, but for most players, replay value is minimal.

    • “Replayability value: yes, to obtain the other endings or unlock the many achievements.”
    • “The game is not very long, but you get some decision making for replayability.”
    • “There is a slight bit of replay value in the sense that some story sequences have more than one solution, which can cause certain scenes and dialogue to change a little.”
    • “Once you get all the achievements, this game has absolutely no replay value.”
    • “There might be some branches in the storyline depending on choices, but the replayability and trophy hunting suffers due to unskippable dialogs and cutscenes, and the fact that you can't save at your own time and can't even jump into chapters.”
    • “There's little to no replayability and the choices you make don't change the outcome of the ending(s).”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, primarily due to repetitive animations, unavoidable cutscenes, and a cumbersome achievement system that requires multiple playthroughs for completion. While some interactions and puzzles are enjoyable, the overall gameplay experience is marred by excessive trial and error, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony.

    • “The gameplay is so tedious.”
    • “I ended up having to play through many times to reach 100%, and it quickly became tedious.”
    • “The achievements are a little bit tedious and it is not easy to get full achievements without some guides...”
  • optimization
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is technically well-optimized, running smoothly without crashes or bugs, and features impressive visuals and music. However, some users noted that the voice acting can be uneven, with certain performances lacking emotional depth, which may detract from the overall experience. While it is optimized for console controllers, the frequent loading screens and occasional awkward line deliveries were mentioned as drawbacks.

    • “Technically, the game runs smoothly, and Daedalic’s use of cinematic camera work helps emphasize the scale and emotion of each scene.”
    • “Game feels well polished and optimized; I never had a crash or a bug.”
    • “These seem optimized for a console controller.”
    • “[appalling voice-over, poor storytelling, mind-numbing gameplay, badly optimized for console]”
    • “I also felt some of the delivery of lines were a little mediocre, calling out voice acting is something I don't normally do as I respect it as an art form and I won't outright call any of the performances bad, just some lines are delivered awkwardly or are not given enough emotion or urgency.”
  • stability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, including character movement issues, achievement glitches, and even game freezes that necessitate a restart. While some users experienced no crashes or graphical glitches, others faced corrupted save files and frustrating gameplay interruptions, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story.

    • “The graphics are great, and I didn't encounter any glitches or bugs.”
    • “Some things that prevent you from enjoying it fully: the movement of characters is seriously buggy.”
    • “You place an egg in a nest, the egg hatches, then boom, the screen freezes, putting my graphics card into a weird state whereby I have to restart.”
    • “On the other hand, you cannot get all the achievements in only one playthrough; several achievements are buggy, and there are several either-or achievements.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a mixed sentiment regarding monetization, with some players feeling misled by the game's advertising compared to its actual content. Additionally, the presence of ads in the main menu has been criticized as an unwelcome distraction in an otherwise aesthetically pleasing interface.

    • “Whatever the reason, I felt a bit conned because it's either bad writing in the game or bad advertising in the Steam store.”
    • “Pretty, minimalistic UI, but ads in the main menu are a faux pas!”
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6h Median play time
7h Average play time
5-9h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Silence is a puzzle game with fantasy and mystery themes.

Silence is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Silence.

Silence was released on November 15, 2016.

Silence was developed by Daedalic Entertainment.

Silence has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Silence is a single player game.

Similar games include The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, The Dark Eye: Memoria, The Night of the Rabbit, Syberia: The World Before, Forgotton Anne and others.