Japanese horror has always been something of a weakness for film lovers and gamers alike. Whether it’s The Ring or the more recent Silent Hill f, there is something about the setting, the atmosphere, and the uniqueness of the history that provides a far scarier time than most of which Western-set horrors can ever hope to give. Now, with Silent Road, we have our next adventure, and it’s definitely a different take.
Straight from Endflame:
Independent studio, Endflame, today announced Silent Road, a first-person psychological horror game set deep within a remote Japanese forest region infamous for its long history of suicides. The reveal is accompanied by the game’s first announcement trailer, offering a glimpse at the unsettling nights awaiting players behind the wheel.
In Silent Road, you take on the role of a night-shift taxi driver navigating lonely forest routes and isolated villages. Each fare becomes a new test of nerve: peculiar passengers, whispered stories, and quiet conversations that turn colder with every mile. As the night unfolds and through tense rides, chilling encounters, and environmental clues scattered along the way, the truth behind the forest begins to emerge.
Visually, the game draws inspiration from classic Japanese horror aesthetics, echoing the likes of Silent Hill f and Fatal Frame, with its fog-drenched roads, and eerie atmosphere.
“We’ve always loved Japanese horror – the quiet tension, the atmosphere, the way it stays with you long after it ends. Silent Road grew from that love. Our indie journey began with the J-Horror title Ikai, and over time, we’ve found ourselves drawn back to the unique thrill of horror. Silent Road is our way of embracing that call, pouring our hearts into crafting a frightening experience that also carries something deeper beneath the surface. Sharing this return to horror with the world is both exciting and terrifying”, said Endflame co-founders Laura Ripoll and Guillem Travila.
KEY FEATURESJapanese Horror: Experience a region shaped by tragedy, inspired by legends surrounding Japan’s most haunted forests.
Night-Shift Driving: Navigate abandoned highways, mountain passes, and silent village streets as tension builds inside the taxi.
Strange Passengers: Pick up peculiar characters whose stories grow more disturbing with every encounter. Prepare yourself for whoever (or whatever) steps into your taxi.
Unsettling Requests: Exit the vehicle to assist passengers during their rides – simple tasks that never feel safe.
The studio, Endflame, isn’t new to Japanese-inspired horror either, with Ikai launching in 2022, another psychological horror heavily inspired by Japanese folklore. Unlike Ikai, Silent Road is only in development for PC via Steam for now, with no release date announced.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
