Actual Sunlight

About

Actual Sunlight is a single player action game. It was developed by WZOGI and was released on April 3, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Actual Sunlight" is a critically acclaimed visual novel that explores depression, hopelessness, and social anxieties in a raw and unfiltered way. The game follows the life of Evan Winter, a 30-something office worker, as he navigates through his mundane existence and grapples with his inner demons. Its deep and thought-provoking narrative challenges players to confront the harsh realities of mental health issues.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 381 reviews

story23 positive mentions

gameplay8 negative mentions

The writing is deep and introspective, providing a poignant portrayal of depression and existential struggles.
The game offers a unique perspective on mental health, allowing players to empathize with the protagonist's experiences.
The minimalistic gameplay and focus on narrative create a powerful emotional impact, making it a memorable experience.

The game is very short, lasting only about an hour, which may leave players wanting more depth and exploration.
There is a heavy reliance on text, which can be overwhelming and may not appeal to players looking for traditional gameplay.
The themes of depression and suicide are presented in a bleak manner, which could be triggering for some players.

story
229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
87%
3%
The story of "Actual Sunlight" is a poignant exploration of depression, following the life of Evan Winter as he grapples with feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing. While some praise its honest and impactful writing, others criticize its linearity and lack of interactivity, suggesting it functions more as a short narrative than a traditional game. Overall, the narrative resonates deeply with those familiar with mental health struggles, though its somber tone may not appeal to everyone.
- “One of the standout features of 'Actual Sunlight' is its storytelling.”
- “The story of 'Actual Sunlight' is a deep look at someone with depression; there's really no sugarcoating here, and it feels very nuanced because of it.”
- “Actual Sunlight is best described as an interactive short story portraying a man fighting a losing battle with depression; as the protagonist's dark thoughts get the best of him, his hate for himself and his own life send him down an ever darker spiral.”
- “The story is dark, has a warning for a reason.”
- “It's clearly using the vehicle of simple-input SNES era JRPGs to tell a deeply personal story.”
- “It's just a poorly-written short story and a waste of the 20 minutes or so that it takes to finish.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
77%
13%
The gameplay in "Actual Sunlight" is minimalistic and primarily revolves around exploration and reading extensive text, with little to no traditional mechanics or interactivity. Players engage with the narrative through simple actions like walking and clicking, which serve as a vehicle for the game's emotional storytelling rather than providing a robust gaming experience. This approach may appeal to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay, but it may leave others seeking more engaging mechanics disappointed.
- “The simplicity of the gameplay allows players to focus on the narrative and the emotional journey of the main character.”
- “Its powerful storytelling, minimalistic gameplay, impactful visuals and sound design, exceptional writing, and authentic voice acting make it a standout title that deserves recognition.”
- “The gameplay aspect has you interacting with objects and people as you walk around in an old-school JRPG perspective.”
- “Actual Sunlight doesn't have much gameplay to speak of; it's mostly a reading experience, as you walk around, talk to people, and explore your environments.”
- “There's not much more 'gameplay' except for walking around your depressive character in a generic environment and talking to objects and people.”
- “The gameplay isn't very difficult as it is mostly clicking and interacting with the items in our protagonist's daily life, and noting his comments regarding such things.”
emotional
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a deeply impactful journey that explores themes of depression and mental health, often leaving players feeling drained yet reflective. While some find it profoundly touching and relatable, particularly for those familiar with such struggles, others criticize it for lacking genuine emotional connection or depth. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a raw, thought-provoking narrative, but caution is advised for players who may be sensitive to its heavy themes.
- “The simplicity of the gameplay allows players to focus on the narrative and the emotional journey of the main character.”
- “It's vivid, straight to the point, heart-wrenching, and most importantly it's so realistic.”
- “Actual sunlight is an experience...a bleak, raw, thought-provoking, emotional journey that is sure to stir strong emotions in its audience.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic pixel art style that effectively conveys themes of isolation and depression, though opinions vary on its execution. While some appreciate the simplicity and find it visually appealing, others criticize it as bland and amateurish, suggesting that the visuals could have better complemented the game's emotional narrative. Overall, the graphics serve the story but may not satisfy players seeking more sophisticated visual experiences.
- “The game features pixel art graphics that convey a sense of isolation and emptiness, mirroring Evan's state of mind.”
- “But behind its simple graphics is an incredibly powerful story.”
- “With its simplistic visuals and interactive fiction type gameplay, Actual Sunlight is a pleasure to look at, whilst its dark and somber story counteracts its visuals.”
- “The graphics are mostly flat, basic, and bland; environments are constricted; and the narrative choices given to the player are ultimately illusions -- exactly how Evan feels about his own life.”
- “While the writing is quite good at a couple moments, the whole game feels pretty amateurish in about every sense--it's graphically crude, and the sound and level design aren't very interesting.”
- “I understand that this is a game about depression, but graphics and sound could have been used to convey tone much more effectively, even with RPG Maker.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its haunting and atmospheric qualities that enhance the storytelling, while others find it repetitive and lacking in uniqueness. Overall, the soundtrack is described as either fitting but not particularly impressive, or as a minimal component that fails to elevate the experience. While a few players enjoyed the music, many felt it did not meet their expectations for a story-driven game.
- “The soundtrack is haunting and atmospheric, perfectly complementing the tone of the game and immersing players in Evan's world.”
- “A poignant story of depression and loneliness, with intelligent dialogue, a realistic set of characters, and beautiful music.”
- “The music and sound effects are okay, and the graphics are good; it was made in RPG Maker Ace, so you can have an idea about it.”
- “There's some music and other things, but overall it's nothing impressive.”
- “The music is repetitive and has very few unique atmospheric songs.”
- “The story is well written, but it's not enough: the graphics are minimal, the music is minimal, there are no challenges, and there are no meaningful interactions.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dark, cynical wit and sardonic commentary, often reflecting the protagonist's deep-seated self-loathing and loneliness. While it starts with relatable and light-hearted moments, the humor gradually reveals a more profound sadness, serving as a veneer for deeper emotional struggles. Overall, the writing is praised for its insightful and poignant take on the human condition, balancing moments of levity with a stark portrayal of mental health challenges.
- “The writing at first is sardonic, darkly humorous, cynical, and somewhat light-hearted.”
- “The game has some funny, almost self-aware moments, which very nearly endeared the game to me.”
- “The writing, while often trenchant and gloomy, offers moments of humor and insight into 'the human condition'.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game has minimal replayability, primarily due to its linear narrative and lack of choices or branching paths, resulting in a singular experience that offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs.
- “If you're depressed, all it amounts to is an hour of self-hate, with less replayability than Depression Quest.”
- “No replay value.”
- “There is no replay value due to lack of choice and consequence or any branching scripting.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a haunting soundtrack that effectively immerses players in its world, although some users find the music repetitive and lacking in unique tracks. While the overall tone is praised for its emotional depth, expectations for a more interactive experience may not be fully met.
- “The soundtrack is haunting and atmospheric, perfectly complementing the tone of the game and immersing players in Evan's world.”
- “I was attracted to this because I was in a depressive mood; I heard this game had atmospheric music that I wanted to listen to for at least 2 hours, feeling a good interesting story.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, effectively reflecting the bleakness of the protagonist Evan's life. This repetitive nature can feel overwhelming, emphasizing the game's darker themes.
- “It is slow and very tedious and feels much more real because of it.”
- “Certain moments are incredibly tedious.”
- “You will simply witness Evan's life, as the tedious, dark, desperate routine that it is.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not directly address the aspect of "optimization" in a gaming context, instead focusing on broader themes of capitalism and existentialism. Therefore, no specific insights on optimization can be derived from the provided texts.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers criticize the game's character development, noting that it is minimal or nonexistent, even with a significant time jump in the narrative. The short length of the game further exacerbates this issue, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters.
- “This could be partially due to how short the game is (an hour or maybe two if you're a slow reader), but even if it was longer, I don't think it would've helped, as none of the characters go through any sort of character development at all, even with the three-year time jump.”
- “The characters feel flat and unchanging throughout the game, making it hard to connect with their stories or care about their outcomes.”
- “Despite the potential for growth, the characters remain static, leaving the player feeling unsatisfied with their arcs.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, with some expressing frustration to the point of not wanting to play the game again, even for completionist goals.
- “I won't be playing it again, even to try to unlock the buggy achievement.”