Is Silent Road the Next Big Indie Horror Hit?
If you’re anything like me, your Steam wishlist is a graveyard of “maybe later” titles that you swore you’d get around to playing. But every now and then, something pops up that makes you pause and actually consider clearing your schedule. Silent Road, a new driving horror game set in Japan, might just be that game—especially if you have a penchant for the unsettling and a high tolerance for creepy passengers.
What is Silent Road?
Silent Road puts you in the driver’s seat of a taxi during the graveyard shift in a remote region of Japan. But this isn’t just any countryside drive; the area is infamous for its tragic history of suicides. As the new driver, your job is simple on paper: pick up locals, drive them to their destinations, and maybe make small talk if you’re feeling brave. In practice, however, it’s a psychological gauntlet.
The game leans heavily into atmospheric J-horror. You aren’t fighting zombies or running from a slasher with a machete. Instead, you’re trapped in a small, confined space (your cab) while the world outside—and sometimes inside—gets progressively wrong. You drive through silent forest routes, pick up peculiar characters, and occasionally have to get out of the car to help them. And honestly, getting out of the car in a horror game is never a good idea, but here we are.
Gameplay That Drives You Mad (In a Good Way)
The core mechanic is night-shift driving. It sounds mundane, almost like a simulator, until you realize the environment is actively working against your nerves. The roads are dark, the forests are dense, and the “dead still call out,” according to the developers. It’s that slow-burn dread that really gets under your skin.
You encounter passengers whose stories become more disturbing with every ride. It’s not just about jump scares; it’s about the narrative unfolding in the rearview mirror. You have to fulfill “unsettling requests,” which usually involve stepping out into the dark. It’s a simple gameplay loop—drive, stop, assist—but the tension comes from not knowing if the person in your backseat is actually a person at all.
Should You Pick It Up?
When the game officially drops, it could be well worth your time. If you enjoy games that focus on narrative and atmosphere over combat, Silent Road is absolutely worth a look. It’s definitely not for everyone—the developers have flagged it for depictions of suicide, so go in with your eyes open regarding the mature themes. But for those who love a good ghost story and the feeling of isolation, this night shift might be exactly what you’re looking for. Just maybe keep the lights on while you play.
