Children Of Silent Town Review

Children of Silent Town is a point-and-click mystery-horror game by Elf-Games and Lunar Studio 2 with a cute yet creepy art style.

It’s a title I hadn’t heard of until it was released, but is it worth your time, or is it another mute title? Find out below.

Lucy’s story

The story of Children Of Silent Town is that you are a child named Lucy who tries to find her missing mother. The narrative element is a huge aspect of any point-and-click game, and this title offers an impressive one. There are twists and turns, and the characters all keep you guessing, laughing, and smiling. But there is a fair share of chills and creepiness too. 

The first three-quarters of the game is based in the town, which gives the game its title. But after this, you enter an entirely different world with completely new flora and fauna which allows the story to become far richer and more profound than you ever thought possible. 

All characters have distinct wants and needs, which make contextual sense to Lucy’s overarching aim of finding her mother, and they are all fun to talk to. However, it was very confusing to see Lucy’s parents, as, at first, they can be mistaken as Lucy’s older siblings because of how they are dressed, particularly the father. 

When speaking to NPCs, the player is given options to respond differently, but these seem there for show rather than giving any replay value, as they don’t seem to affect the plot.

At the end of the game hides an unusual, thought-provoking conclusion that holds a wholesome message without being moralistic and open to interpretation without being confusing. 

The world of Silent Town

The world of Children Of Silent Town is deeply immersive. The small village where the action is set feels claustrophobic and well crafted, allowing the action to feel localized and intense. It feels like you’ve been dropped into a Tim Burton-inspired world but one that’s also very much its creature. 

When you leave the town and enter the second area of the game (no spoilers here!), the world changes into something every stranger and more beautiful in every aspect. The plants and animals that populate the world are well designed and fit the world perfectly, yet show some subtle influences to other great movies and games. 

Hand-drawn, Tim Burton-esque, gorgeous visuals

The visuals of Children of Silent Town are simultaneously cute, endearing, and creepy in a scary children’s book kind of way that fits the tone, world, and story. Animations are smooth, and the characters and world are beautifully hand-drawn to give the world a dreamy and nightmarish feeling, making it creepy yet adorable.

Lucy gameplay loop

The core gameplay loop of Children Of Silent Town in the early stages of the game is reading people’s memories or completing tasks for people so that they will answer your questions. To achieve this, you must help them remember specific memories by singing to them. Songs are unlocked by finding stickers along your journey.

There are a variety of environmental and stand-alone puzzles to solve, with environmental puzzles being found in the second area of the game. Puzzles take the form of boxes with cogs, eyes that shoot light beams (not as weird as it sounds), and the most original, visually and as dynamic, thread sewing puzzle. The puzzles work well and strike the perfect balance of challenge and accessibility.

Because of the perfect level of challenge, the game hits a duration of between 4-6 hours which feels comfortable and gives adequate time to soak in the atmosphere of the world while progressing forwards. 

The other aspect of the gameplay involves speaking to NPCs

The gameplay never feels repetitive as there are a few different dynamics at play, and they are all meant to the overall picture of trying to find your mother. 

Haunting songs of the forest creatures

The central part of the musical score in the background of Children Of Silent Town is a beautiful, mournfully meandering tune that matches Lucy’s lost, lonely mood as she wants to find her mother despite no adults wanting to help her. 

The other parts of the score are similarly beautiful and emotive as they play in the background and sound effects are all immersive and engaging, such as Lucy’s cat Squinty meowing or tree branches snapping. It all adds to the sense of place for this immersive point-and-click mystery game. 

Emotive response

Children Of Silent Town is one of those unassuming titles that, when you put the time in, provide you with an experience you will remember forever. Although it has little replay value, the world, story and gameplay are designed and combined so cleverly it may make you want to return to this genuinely sweet, lonely, melancholy world now and then to relive this absorbing experience.

Children Of Silent Town is available on Steam for £16.99.