Bright Lights of Svetlov

About

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a single player simulation game with a historical theme. It was developed by Vladimir Cholokyan and was released on September 14, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Bright Lights of Svetlov" is a narrative-driven adventure game set in a fictional Soviet-era city. Players uncover the town's secrets and decide its fate through their choices and interactions with citizens. The game features a distinct art style, immersive soundtrack, and multiple endings based on player decisions.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 118 reviews

story28 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers an immersive atmosphere and a gripping narrative that effectively transports players to a Soviet apartment in the 1980s.
The story is based on true events, providing a unique and emotional experience that resonates with players.
Despite its short length, the game successfully engages players with its mundane tasks that serve to enhance the storytelling.

The gameplay can feel tedious and clunky, with pixel hunting and unclear objectives leading to frustration.
Technical issues, such as bugs and missing translations, detract from the overall experience.
The game defaults to Russian language settings, which can be inconvenient for non-Russian speakers and may hinder immersion.

story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The story of "Bright Lights of Svetlov" is a poignant and immersive narrative set in the USSR during the 1980s, exploring the lives of ordinary people through mundane tasks that reveal deeper themes and unexpected twists. Players appreciate the subtle storytelling conveyed through interactions, letters, and voiceovers, which culminate in a touching and thought-provoking conclusion based on true events. Despite some technical shortcomings, the game's atmospheric portrayal of Soviet life and its gripping narrative have resonated strongly with players, making it a memorable experience.
- “Once I realized that this was going to be the core loop of the game, finding things around the apartment and doing chores while the story was subtly told in the background through newspapers, letters, and voiceover, I immediately knew that I was going to like this game.”
- “The narrative takes a while to reveal itself but the payoff is very worth it, especially knowing this is based on a true story.”
- “Just finished playing this game and I gotta say it is remarkable, what an amazing story it really touched my heart...the ending was incredible.”
- “There are plot threads that come and go, that are momentarily important before being annulled or diverted by other things.”
- “The story seemed a little confusing and strange for the sake of being strange at first, but the ending is unexpected and interesting.”
- “I liked the atmosphere a lot and it looks good but I think filling the entire game with tedious tasks between the story was a bad move.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
3%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a bygone era, particularly the Soviet atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions through its detailed graphics, sound design, and storytelling, despite some technical shortcomings and occasional tedious gameplay elements. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a unique and atmospheric experience, with many noting its emotional impact and engaging narrative.
- “Huge thanks to the authors for creating such a great atmosphere and narrative!”
- “I would recommend it to anyone who likes niche indie games with a unique setting and mysterious atmosphere.”
- “Atmospheric game with great attention to details that comes from models to texts and sounds!”
- “To be honest, I didn't expect this game to be more than just a few minutes of Soviet apartment atmosphere, like some of the cheap doomer simulators.”
- “Very accurate reconstruction of the Soviet atmosphere of that time.”
- “Oh boy, the atmosphere of this game brought back some memories.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is primarily a first-person adventure focused on item interaction and progression, set against a narrative-driven backdrop that maintains player curiosity despite its mundane tasks. While some players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and voice acting, others find the mechanics repetitive and slow-paced, with certain bugs detracting from the experience. Overall, it offers a slice-of-life feel that may appeal to those who prioritize story over action.
- “An effective way to tell a surprising story, the gameplay never feels mundane, despite being comprised mostly of mundane tasks, and it keeps you curious until the end.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it’s a first-person adventure, where you pick different items and use them in order to progress.”
- “I like the gameplay, and the voice acting is actually great.”
- “Gameplay is basically a Soviet family routine.”
- “Current gameplay is a little bit boring after a while when using just mouse and keyboard.”
- “Gameplay is mostly seek and click, so it's mundane after a couple of chapters.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and atmospheric quality, featuring impressive lighting and a nostalgic aesthetic. While some reviewers note that the technical aspects may be limited, the overall visual experience is enhanced by the authentic voice acting and engaging narrative, making it a visually appealing walking simulator.
- “It's a graphically beautiful game with very nice lighting, and a great walking sim with native voice acting.”
- “Bright lights of Svetlov has beautiful graphics and a nice atmosphere.”
- “I really love the atmosphere, the graphics are beautiful and it was very nostalgic :) too bad the game was very short, I would play it for hours if I could :)”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently highlight the emotional depth of the game, often expressing profound feelings such as heartbreak and nostalgia. The combination of a touching narrative set against a backdrop reminiscent of the USSR, along with the exploration of familial tragedy, creates a poignant atmosphere that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions while maintaining a chilling yet mundane tone.
- “I'm crying, this game breaks my heart for the second time... but I still love it ♡ because this is the best game with the atmosphere of the USSR and with an interesting, touching story.”
- “This game was very well made, emotional, and scary at times.”
- “[b]Bright Lights of Svetlov[/b] is a touching, short and sweet walking sim that places you in a 1:1 recreation of the typical provincial small-town khrushchyovka, and in the role of an observer of a familial tragedy.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music and voice acting in the game are highly praised, contributing positively to the storytelling experience. However, a bug related to the gramophone can disrupt gameplay.
- “The background sounds and soundtrack are great.”
- “Both voice acting and music are quite good, and I liked the way the story was told.”
- “The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a short while.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The audio mixing is poor; the music often drowns out important sound effects, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization aspect of the game is criticized for lacking notable performances, which may be attributed to the reliance on post-it notes for delivering key lines, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
- “There are no notable performances, possibly because the most impactful lines are delivered through post-it notes.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's atmosphere and visuals, but many criticize the excessive grinding required between story elements, finding it tedious and detracting from the overall experience. The clunky gameplay further exacerbates the frustration, making it difficult for some to engage with the narrative.
- “I liked the atmosphere a lot and it looks good, but I think filling the entire game with tedious tasks between the story was a bad move.”
- “The story might be interesting, but the gameplay is so clunky and tedious that I couldn't get into it.”

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Review – Bright Lights of Svetlov (PS5)
Waytoomany.games
70%

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Frequently Asked Questions

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a simulation game with historical theme.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Bright Lights of Svetlov was released on September 14, 2021.

Bright Lights of Svetlov was developed by Vladimir Cholokyan.

Bright Lights of Svetlov has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a single player game.

Similar games include Marie's Room, The Descendant, Ether One, Serena, Paradise Lost and others.

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