Candleman: The Complete Journey

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 128 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Candleman: The Complete Journey Game Cover
A solid platformer clothed in a heartwarming story and topped with some brilliantly designed levels and challenges. The looks are the cherry on top of the cake - and there's always room for more candles.
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In Candleman: The Complete Journey, players control a sentient candle navigating dark, mysterious environments with strategic light-based puzzle mechanics. The game features 10 chapters of narratively-driven levels, testing problem-solving and exploration skills while conveying a poignant tale of self-discovery and perseverance. Embodying the spirit of a humble candle, players must balance light usage to reveal the path ahead while avoiding the dangers lurking in the shadows.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
story24 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Candleman features stunning visuals and a beautifully crafted atmosphere, making it a visually captivating experience.
  • The game offers a heartwarming story and unique gameplay mechanics centered around light and shadow, providing a relaxing yet engaging experience.
  • Each level introduces new mechanics and challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting throughout the journey.
  • The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, making platforming frustrating at times, especially with the fixed camera angles.
  • The pacing can be slow, leading to repetitive gameplay and a lack of challenge that may not satisfy seasoned platformer fans.
  • Some players may find the lack of significant gameplay depth and the reliance on trial-and-error mechanics to be off-putting.
  • story56 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its charm and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting its cute and heartwarming narrative that enhances the overall experience. While the gameplay may not be particularly challenging, the engaging storyline and beautiful visuals keep players invested. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a relaxing, story-driven platformer rather than an action-packed challenge.

    • “The poetry and storyline of the game is outstanding and they've made what could be a very boring game into an experience.”
    • “On top of all of this, the story, while simplistic, is beautifully crafted and made me really feel all of the emotions the candle was feeling as I went on the journey with him.”
    • “I'm a huge fan of the artwork and thought that went into making this game, and I was surprised by how deep the story and message behind it ended up being.”
    • “While the game's storyline and concept are sweet and heartwarming, I can't recommend this game unless you really enjoyed school - that is, senselessly learning all of a level's exact movements and timing by heart because you won't be able to see a thing due to the constant dark and impractical camera positioning/movement, yet getting punished when you can't repeat your lessons to the letter.”
    • “Ironically, though, once you beat a hard level, the levels following that may be extremely easy again, as the game does not build up its difficulty level, but just mashes random levels together to make a story.”
    • “The story was very loose.”
  • gameplay39 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics and level variety, with each chapter introducing new elements that keep the experience engaging and fresh. While the game is generally relaxing and visually appealing, some players find the pacing slow and the challenge level low, making it more suitable for casual play rather than intense platforming. Overall, it offers a creative take on puzzle platforming, with a charming atmosphere and clever use of light and shadow mechanics.

    • “Each chapter is unique and introduces new mechanics, and the game looks pretty good, given that it's been out for a while now and was developed by a small indie team.”
    • “The game mechanics are really creative and keep the game engaging from start to finish.”
    • “It's not very long (around 3-5 hours) and it's never especially difficult, but it constantly introduces you to new mechanics and new ways to interact with them as you play.”
    • “The atmosphere and graphics are impressive, the gameplay, however, is disgustingly slow and monotone.”
    • “Slow movement speed becomes grating, the campaign is a little bit too long and eventually starts to wear out its welcome, not enough gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The other downside comes from the puzzle platformer gameplay.”
  • graphics30 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style, vibrant colors, and impressive atmospheric effects, enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the clever use of light and color in the visuals, which complement the engaging gameplay and rich story. While the graphics are a standout feature, some players noted that the gameplay pace can be slow, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Beautiful art style.”
    • “The graphics are great, the mechanics are fluid.”
    • “It has stunning visuals, great sound and music, and a really sweet story.”
    • “Despite the graphical beauty, I couldn't be bothered to finish the game.”
    • “The visuals, the music, the narration, and of course the story.”
    • “If you couldn't tell from the artwork, the main draw of this game is the fact that you get to play as a candle with little legs, which ties into the main gimmick of the game: light.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as fitting and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience, though some find it forgettable or in need of improvement. While the soundtrack is often praised for its somber tone and suitability to the dark environments, opinions vary on its memorability and impact. Overall, it complements the game's stunning visuals and rich narrative, contributing positively to the immersive experience.

    • “The game has good music and graphics, and the gameplay is quite fun; I totally recommend it.”
    • “Graphics are good, music and sound effects are immersive, and the story is rich.”
    • “This game is so beautiful in terms of scenery and soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is appropriate but forgettable.”
    • “You play as a candle in almost exclusively dark environments, and the music is all very somber.”
    • “I think the music and the narration could be better, but it's not a big issue.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming story and touching themes, which resonate deeply with players, offering a sense of healing and empathy. While the gameplay can be challenging due to its mechanics, the narrative and character journey, particularly that of a little candle, evoke strong emotional attachments and provide a meaningful experience. Overall, it is praised for its ability to blend a simple yet profound emotional arc with engaging gameplay.

    • “If you're looking for a heartwarming experience, go ahead and give this one a go!”
    • “Not only is it a game, but a life experience; the hidden emotional support you'd like to hear when struggling.”
    • “But it is paired with a simple but moving emotional arc that kindled empathy within me.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impressive graphics and clever use of lighting and shadow, creating a captivating blend of dark and bright environments reminiscent of titles like Little Nightmares. While the gameplay may be slow and monotonous for some, the overall aesthetic and inventive design contribute to a unique and engaging experience. Players seeking a visually atmospheric platformer will likely find enjoyment in its artistic style and thematic depth.

    • “A (literally) dark atmospheric 3D puzzle platformer where a little candle needs to find its way out of a dark and dangerous world.”
    • “I love the dark atmosphere in some chapters and the bright one for others.”
    • “Candleman is a brilliant 3D platformer with clever lighting/shadow game mechanics and a nice atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere may certainly recall to mind the darker and sinister worlds of Little Nightmares or Black the Fall, but from what little I've played, there is enough inventiveness and fresh ideas to set it apart.”
    • “If you play Little Nightmares and like the overall atmosphere of the game, you will like this game.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players note that the game's mechanics, particularly the lack of replenishment for resources during levels, contribute to its replayability by encouraging strategic planning and experimentation with different approaches in subsequent playthroughs.

    • “The game's design encourages multiple playthroughs, as each run feels fresh and engaging.”
    • “I could see that being another replayability feature, given that nothing during a level ever replenishes your wax amount.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes makes you want to replay the game to explore all the possibilities.”
    • “I could see that being another replayability feature, given that as far as I could tell, nothing during a level ever replenishes your wax amount.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the absence of excessive collectibles, but express frustration with the game's checkpoint system, which can force them to replay tedious sections after failing at more challenging parts. This design choice contributes to a sense of grinding, as it disrupts the flow of progression.

    • “While I'm happy that the devs didn't fill the game with a bunch of tedious additional collectibles, there isn't much reason to retread your steps if you lit the candles in each level.”
    • “The mid-level checkpoint isn't really placed mid-level; sometimes it's placed after the easiest section, right before another long easy section. So when you get to the more difficult part and fail, you have to redo the tedious easy section.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's performance varies significantly across different hardware configurations, leading to a divided player experience.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimizing performance.”
    • “The frame rates are consistently high, and the loading times are minimal, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
    • “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game is praised for its stability, featuring a bug-free experience and consistently smooth framerate.

    • “The game runs bug-free and maintains a smooth framerate throughout.”
    • “I experienced no crashes or glitches, making for a very stable gaming experience.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't encountered any issues during my playtime.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Candleman: The Complete Journey

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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