Candleman: The Complete Journey

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 163 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

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 163 reviews
story27 positive mentions
replayability2 negative mentions
  • Candleman features beautiful visuals and a charming story that resonates emotionally with players.
  • The gameplay mechanics are unique, utilizing light and darkness effectively to create engaging puzzles and platforming challenges.
  • It's a relaxing experience suitable for all ages, with a gentle difficulty curve that makes it accessible for beginners.
  • The camera angles can be frustrating, making it difficult to judge jumps and navigate certain sections of the game.
  • Some players found the controls to be stiff and unresponsive, leading to frustrating moments during platforming.
  • The game can feel repetitive at times, with some levels lacking variety and challenge, which may lead to boredom for more experienced gamers.
  • story78 mentions

    The game's story is characterized as sweet, simple, and touching, often described as a charming journey of a little candle seeking light, with a strong emotional resonance and moral lessons woven throughout. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and music that enhance the narrative experience, although some note that the story is minimal and unfolds gradually, primarily through short text snippets after levels. Overall, the narrative is engaging enough to keep players invested, making it a recommendable choice for those who enjoy story-driven, cozy platformers.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 is minimal and secondary to the actual gameplay - there are only short cutscenes between some of the levels and every chapter.”
  • gameplay72 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics and well-designed puzzles that keep players engaged throughout the experience. Each chapter introduces new gameplay elements, enhancing the overall atmosphere and providing a relaxing yet challenging platforming journey. While the game is visually impressive and features a soothing soundtrack, some players find the pace slow and the difficulty level manageable, making it suitable for those seeking a casual gaming experience.

    • “The game mechanics are innovative, inventive, and precise.”
    • “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 gameplay is quite straightforward, yet it remains challenging enough to stay entertaining the entire time.”
    • “The atmosphere and graphics are impressive, the gameplay, however, is disgustingly slow and monotone.”
    • “But the gameplay is just you going from point A to B in the dark, lighting X amount of candles along the way.”
    • “I guess if you're into die-and-repeat mechanics you might appreciate it, but this one is definitely not for me.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and artistic style, which effectively create an immersive and atmospheric experience. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and the way the visuals evolve throughout the game, enhancing both the gameplay and the storytelling. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, engaging sound design, and clever mechanics makes it a standout title in the platformer genre.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and combined with the audio and the playstyle, the game successfully manages to tell the story of the candleman and drag you into a vibrant and immersive world.”
    • “Candleman is a delightful platformer with nice graphics.”
    • “Despite the graphical beauty, I couldn't be arsed to finish the game.”
    • “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.”
    • “Most of the time you will be playing in the dark as you are trying not to use the candle's flame too much or that would be the end of the journey.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as fitting and enhancing the atmosphere, with a mix of ambient sounds and somber tones that complement the dark environments. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and calming, others note that it can be forgettable or lacking in traditional musical elements. Overall, the sound design, including environmental noises and music during cutscenes, is praised for creating an immersive experience.

    • “The sound design and music is so good, I would listen to Mister Candle's metal pitter-patters all day if I could.”
    • “There are some beautiful levels and the music is equally great.”
    • “The game manages to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere thanks to the beautiful visuals and the calming sounds and music at times with a certain degree of ASMR.”
    • “The soundtrack is appropriate but forgettable.”
    • “You play as a candle in almost exclusively dark environments, and the music is all very somber.”
    • “Candleman does not actually have traditional background music, instead relying on an ambient soundtrack to fill the void of silence.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impressive graphics, beautiful visuals, and immersive sound design, creating a calming and fairy-tale-like experience. While some players appreciate the distinct atmospheres across different chapters, others feel that the gameplay detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen more as an atmospheric experience rather than a challenging platformer, appealing to those who value ambiance over difficulty.

    • “A (literally) dark atmospheric 3D puzzle platformer where a little candle needs to find its way out of a dark and dangerous world.”
    • “The game manages to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere thanks to the beautiful visuals and the calming sounds and music, at times with a certain degree of ASMR.”
    • “Candleman is a brilliant 3D platformer with clever lighting/shadow game mechanics and a nice atmosphere.”
    • “It completely killed the atmosphere which was previously gentle and peaceful.”
    • “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.”
    • “There is an ambient noise in the background which creates atmosphere.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players expressing deep attachments to inanimate objects, particularly a candle, and finding the story both heartwarming and touching. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke empathy and provide a satisfying, healing experience, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, it is described as a beautiful journey that resonates emotionally, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “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.”
    • “A thoughtful ending that is very touching and healing.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game's replayability is considered somewhat limited, as players feel the price may not justify the duration and replay value. However, the lack of replenishable resources during levels adds a unique challenge that could encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The market price of 15 euros is, in my opinion, perhaps a bit much for the duration and replayability of the game, but it is definitely not too much.”
    • “The market price of 15 euros is, in my opinion, perhaps a bit much for the duration and replayability of the game.”
    • “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.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both unintentional and endearing, with players finding amusement in their own clumsiness and the emotional attachment to quirky characters, such as a sentient stick of wax. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to evoke laughter through relatable experiences and clever design.

    • “It’s an adorable quest, and it’s hilarious when I think about how emotionally attached I got to this sentient stick of wax, but that speaks only to the developer's credit.”
    • “[b]Check out my [url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/ucjtq9htq19vhvyu-u4fomng?]YouTube channel[/url] for hilarious playthroughs of other such games!”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate the absence of excessive collectibles, but express frustration with the game's checkpoint system, which can force them to repeat lengthy and easy sections before facing more challenging parts, contributing to a sense of grinding.

    • “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

    Overall, users report that the game's optimization is generally solid, with smooth performance across various hardware configurations. However, some players have noted occasional frame rate drops and minor bugs that can affect gameplay experience. Overall, the optimization is considered satisfactory but could benefit from further refinement.

    • “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 never encountered any issues during my playthrough.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Candleman: The Complete Journey

Play time

7hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
7-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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