Children of Silentown’s spooky art and music-based puzzles pay more than a tribute to Tim Burton

Point-and-click games aren’t uncommon on the indie scene, but every now and then developers create their own unique and innovative take on the genre that sets them apart. In the case of Children of Silentown, developed by Elf Games and Luna2 Studio, the combination of its delightful music-based puzzles with the eerie art style inspired by Tim Burton makes it an adventure worth experiencing.

fear and silence

Children of Silentown is set in the eponymous village of Silentown, where fear and silence are the words most present in the minds of the residents. The forests around the village are full of monsters that snatch people away. To stay safe, the residents of Silentown vowed to keep quiet and not go out after dark. Even so, the disappearances never stopped. The story has obvious roots in the stories and folklore we heard from our families as children to keep us from staying out after dark. This gives players an immediate connection to the main character as we put ourselves in the shoes of a young protagonist keen to uncover this folklore.

Lucy, the protagonist, is a normal teenager who spends the day playing with friends and doing chores for her mother. But when a disappearance affects her own family, she takes it upon herself to solve the mysteries of the forest and her town. I felt really invested in the heartfelt stories of the characters and wanted to know more. From a boy who loses his close friend to an old man reminiscing about his childhood, there’s always a story to tell. Lucy as a character also had depth, as her curiosity about the mysteries and mysteries surrounding the forest and Silentown matched my own.

During the game, Lucy learns different musical notes and through them she unveils various mysteries. Learning these musical notes will help Lucy trigger repressed and broken memories of the residents of Silentown, overcome certain obstacles and find out the history behind some objects. In addition, these music notes lead to different types of puzzles that you have to solve to make the memories and stories much clearer. For example, singing a certain musical note can trigger a broken memory in a resident and Lucy must piece them back together through a sewing puzzle. These puzzles are easy at first but get more complex in the final stages. But hearing Lucy’s pleasant musical notes inspires a sense of hope before they begin.

A spooky prospect

The art style is one of Children of Silentown’s standout features and reinforces the game’s dark and emotional narrative. For example, the characters have eyes without pupils, which evoke a “spooky but cute” vibe while appearing emotionless. It’s like they’re being visited by something unknown and have no idea what to expect. Their dull and somber faces combined with a gothic aesthetic showed the obvious influence of Tim Burton. The detail in the houses and other structures was amazing and made exploring a pleasure.

A melodic adventure

Music is central to the children of Silentown and is a crucial factor in setting the tone of the game and the flow of the story. The piano music is present in the moments when Lucy explores the village and the forest. Given the state of mind of the city’s residents, the music could be described as frighteningly beautiful. It brought with it a sense of hope and uncertainty that suited the moods and emotions of the characters perfectly. The atonality during the more terrifying sequences also added to the overall tension.

And the music is an integral part of what makes Lucy an interesting protagonist, as it’s an integral part of her identity. Lucy loves to sing and through this singing she connects with her mother, to whom she is very close. But the village’s unwavering stance on keeping noise to a minimum made Lucy question her motives and make her focus much more on her music. The musical notes you collect are key to story progression and have a direct impact on which ending you get. Although I wasn’t personally happy with the ending I ended up with, it still wanted to start another run.

Children of Silentown’s dark and emotional story makes for a compelling tale. The overall game design, especially the Tim Burton-esque art style and the melancholic piano music are the superstars that make it truly immersive and addictive. Essentially, they differentiate it from just another indie title into something unique and worth playing. Although there are certain frustrating moments, especially when solving the puzzles, they never feel repetitive. And with an inquisitive and charming protagonist in Lucy, this point-and-click adventure game feels like a breath of fresh air.