Golden Light

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,835 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Golden Light Game Cover
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In "Golden Light," descend into the Meat Zone, a horrific roguelike realm filled with dark comedy and procedural terrors. Armed with randomized weapons, face talking toilets and bicycles, and grotesque consumables like corrupted fetuses and meat apples, all to save your loved one. Procedural levels and spooks add to the eerie atmosphere, where even props can turn hostile.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,835 reviews
gameplay54 positive mentions
stability9 negative mentions
  • Unique and surreal atmosphere that keeps players engaged and intrigued.
  • Innovative mechanics, such as eating weapons for health and randomized item effects, add depth to gameplay.
  • Strong sound design and visuals that enhance the horror experience.
  • Gameplay can feel frustratingly difficult and punishing, with unclear mechanics and navigation.
  • The removal of multiplayer features has disappointed many players who enjoyed co-op gameplay.
  • Randomized elements can lead to unfair situations, making progress feel more reliant on luck than skill.
  • gameplay208 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by its unique and bizarre mechanics, such as eating weapons for health and navigating through randomly generated levels filled with strange surprises. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge of the roguelike elements, others find the mechanics confusing, repetitive, or frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about the overall enjoyment. The game's atmosphere and art style are often praised, but many reviewers note that the gameplay can feel clunky or lacking in engagement, making it a polarizing experience.

    • “The gameplay is really a blend of many different genres, so it's hard to describe, but it pulls it off very well, along with amazing art direction, sound design, and soundtrack on top of that.”
    • “This game has really unique mechanics, from shooting yourself to appease the world, eating your weapons, taking the risk whether the randomly generated effects of pickups should be thrown as bombs or eaten, etc. Once you figure out what is happening, the gameplay loop is really fun.”
    • “The core gameplay loop consists of exploring and looting the randomly generated levels full of weird surprises and surviving by any means necessary while trying to advance to the next floor.”
    • “This game suffers from the same issue a lot of other horror games suffer from; it's an effective horror game with atmosphere, tension, fear of losing items and upgrades (roguelike gameplay), until you get to the point where you're too powerful and all tension and fear disappears.”
    • “In the beginning, it's very confusing and the game will only offer you very cryptic tips on how to play, but the core gameplay is a roguelite, where you search for keys in every stage, fight against monsters with rather bad melee/gun mechanics and/or try to stealth, which is also not made that good in my opinion.”
    • “The gameplay feels very random, the controls are annoying to use, and while it supports a gamepad, it requires a keyboard for important functionality.”
  • graphics123 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many praising its unique and bizarre aesthetic that effectively creates an unsettling atmosphere, reminiscent of retro horror titles. While some players appreciate the intentionally low-quality visuals and surreal design, others find them off-putting or repetitive, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Overall, the art style is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive qualities, despite some criticisms regarding its execution and navigation challenges.

    • “An amazing game with a very unique aesthetic and game style.”
    • “The atmosphere and aesthetic is surreal, bizarre, and uncanny.”
    • “The art style and atmosphere synergize perfectly, the monsters stay nerve-wracking even after you get used to them, and the levels stay interesting to explore simply due to that feeling that there's always something 'more' to find.”
    • “The in-game graphics are deliberately distorted and low poly assets were used, so the game looks pretty ugly on purpose.”
    • “The visuals are lost in a limbo between being ironically awful and just outright lazy.”
    • “The graphic style can be very hard to look at sometimes, and the game does have its fair share of bugs.”
  • story105 mentions

    The game's story is described as intriguing yet ambiguous, often leaving players to piece together its meaning through surreal and metaphorical elements. While some appreciate the depth and complexity of the narrative, others find it confusing or lacking coherence, with many preferring the gameplay experience over the story itself. Overall, the narrative is a mix of horror, humor, and existential themes, appealing to those who enjoy abstract storytelling but potentially frustrating for players seeking a straightforward plot.

    • “The plot of this game is still a mystery to me, but it is intriguing and encourages further play.”
    • “The underlying story here is a great depressing one when you put the pieces together.”
    • “Golden light is a visual spectacle with incredible sound design and an enchanting story.”
    • “The plot kind of blurs away as a new one settles in and there is literally no explanation why this adventure is even happening.”
    • “The notes you find that would supposedly immerse you in the story do the exact opposite; they are often nonsensical gibberish and you immediately pick them up and throw them away.”
    • “The story is so heavily fractured and layered in visual metaphors that there's really no coherent story, and it's all up to interpretation.”
  • atmosphere91 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie, surreal, and unsettling qualities, effectively immersing players in a nightmarish world filled with grotesque imagery and haunting sound design. Many reviewers highlight the unique blend of horror and dark comedy, which creates a distinctive ambiance that keeps players on edge, although some note that the tension can diminish as players become more powerful. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, making it a memorable experience despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible, but this is one of the weirdest games I've ever played.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing and really plays a big role in how the game feels and what makes it scary.”
    • “The atmosphere, sound design, and game feel all combine beautifully into a strange feeling I can only say I've experienced in hypnagogic fever dreams and now constantly crave any time I play a different game.”
    • “The atmosphere is terrifying and oppressive, which is only improved by the more low-grade graphics style.”
    • “The combination of grotesque imagery and comedic absurdity is both disturbing and darkly humorous, making the game's atmosphere stand out in a crowded horror game market.”
  • music55 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals, creating a unique and immersive experience. Some players find the soundtrack to be stunning and integral to the game's charm, while others describe it as abrasive or distorted, contributing to a sense of unease. Overall, the sound design, including the music, is noted for its high quality and effectiveness in establishing the game's eerie tone.

    • “And the music is stunning, it really holds everything together perfectly.”
    • “The music ties the whole game together bringing home the 'alone' feeling.”
    • “Phenomenal sound design and a banger soundtrack.”
    • “From lightning, graphics, rendering, pixel density, storytelling, game objects, level progression, controls, the combat, the weapons, sounds, music, even the menus, every choice was nailed down to be the worst experience you can have.”
    • “The game’s sound design is tailored to match Golden Light’s deranged visuals – distorted screams, unnerving chatters, and cacophonous music come together to create an audio equivalent of aggravated assault.”
    • “If you can stand the music and sound, it's the roguelike you should play instead of Pixel Dungeon.”
  • humor52 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a unique blend of grotesque imagery and absurdity, creating a darkly comedic atmosphere that stands out in the horror genre. Players appreciate the balance between humor and horror, with many finding the game's quirky dialogue and bizarre character designs both entertaining and unsettling. While some moments may detract from the overall tension, the game's ability to evoke laughter amidst fear is frequently highlighted as a refreshing and engaging experience.

    • “The combination of grotesque imagery and comedic absurdity is both disturbing and darkly humorous, making the game's atmosphere stand out in a crowded horror game market.”
    • “One of the standout features of Golden Light is its ability to strike a balance between horror and humor.”
    • “This game somehow manages to find the perfect balance between witty, humorous moments and moments of true fear of the unknown.”
    • “If you want to play a horror game while an unfunny friend constantly quips about it and completely ruins the vibe, feel free to leave that on.”
    • “These 'comedic' moments do make the game weirder and quirkier, but detract heavily from the game's atmosphere. In contrast to the initial confusion from picking up an eye with fingers, there's now immediately some stupid voice going 'It's a 100% heal, eat it!!!!' This hurts the way the game felt so much since the intrigue, dread, and mystery of the gut is just reduced to 'Hey dingus, I'm trying to mess with you here, listen to my unfunny interjections.' Thank god you can turn them off in the 'more hints and lore' section.”
    • “Not funny insane, just insane insane.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits strong replayability, driven by its roguelike elements, procedurally generated levels, and a variety of items and monsters. While some players experience frustration due to randomness, many find the gameplay engaging and fun, especially in co-op mode. The potential for future content updates further enhances its replay value, making it a compelling choice for players seeking varied experiences.

    • “Golden Light's roguelike elements provide replayability that's addictive.”
    • “It is a fun, competent, scary, and highly replayable game.”
    • “Game has a lot of replayability and the co-op is fun with friends.”
    • “Also, while contributing to replayability, the procedurally generated levels can sometimes result in moments of frustration when the odds seem unfairly stacked against you.”
    • “The 'stealth' is awful; at best, it has the same amount of depth as a Call of Duty game and about as much replay value as one.”
    • “So the replayability never seems to truly die.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players experiencing deep feelings of joy and nostalgia, while others report frustration and anxiety due to its navigation challenges. Notably, the game has evoked strong reactions, including physical discomfort and emotional breakdowns, highlighting its ability to impact players profoundly, whether positively or negatively. Overall, it seems to elicit a wide range of emotions, from wholesome fun to intense distress.

    • “It's such a perfect game that it makes me want to cry.”
    • “I cannot remember the last time a game made me feel on-edge the same way this game has.”
    • “This game actually pushed me to the edge of an irl emotional breakdown.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability, particularly in multiplayer mode, is criticized for being buggy and unpolished, leading to synchronization issues that detract from the experience. While the single-player mode functions well, the multiplayer aspect can be a frustrating "buggy mess," though some players still find enjoyment in the chaos. Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with significant room for improvement.

    • “The co-op was buggy af to begin with.”
    • “I really wanna enjoy it, but the multiplayer aspect is so buggy and bad that I can't give it anything more than a 5.5/10.”
    • “A buggy mess in the multiplayer.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing it as a chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment. The randomness of success and the lack of engaging content contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel more like a time sink than a rewarding challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Absolutely miserable to play, tedious to explore, and your success or failure seems uncomfortably random.”
    • “Randomly generated tedious gameplay without any plot, story or sense.”
    • “Slow and tedious mechanics make it a chore to play, leaving me more frustrated than entertained.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players experiencing significant performance drops and stuttering, even on mid-range hardware. Many users feel that the visual style does not justify the high resource demands, and there are calls for better accessibility options, such as adjustable field of view. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance gameplay and performance.

    • “If you're playing on a potato laptop like myself (i7-4710HQ, NV 840M 2GB VRAM, 12GB RAM), then remember to use the Unity exclusive fullscreen launch command ('-window-mode exclusive') for the best performance. Just toggle in the options menu fullscreen off and back on once to register true fullscreen, and it'll remember it from then on and run great (60 FPS so far).”
    • “I feel like that attention should have been placed more on improving gameplay, optimization, and level design.”
    • “Needs optimization, better mapping and navigation, and more ambient variety.”
    • “I'd like to first point out that despite the more pixelated stylistic look of the game, I've been personally experiencing quite a few glaring performance drops. While I do only have a 1060, the game is using so much CPU and GPU power that it doesn't seem justified given the visual and technical aspects.”
    • “While it has issues for me in the surprisingly inconsistent performance, and the gameplay feels a tad clunky with stuttering issues, it's good.”
    • “Also fix the FOV already; it's not any sort of 'artistic choice.' It's clear that this is still optimized so poorly that giving the user an option to change it would probably tank most computers into sub-30 FPS when set to anything actually sane.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is subtly woven into the experience, with players appreciating the humor and unique character designs that enhance the overall atmosphere. The protagonist's journey through a surreal environment allows for gradual growth and exploration, making the character's evolution feel organic and engaging. Overall, the combination of inventive gameplay and artistic style contributes to a rich narrative experience.

    • “The character designs are a lot of fun and the humor is great, lightening the mood and helping to set the tone for what would otherwise be very similar to the worst nightmares I had as a child.”
    • “I'm really enjoying this game; its subtle character development allows me to see small bits of her throughout the game, pushing me forward as I navigate a fleshy, uncanny labyrinth of unpredictability and explore an oddly calming purgatory afterlife hub area with my trusty weird bike, where I can collect myself and find new secrets, shortcuts to lower floors, and more.”
    • “If not just for the art style, if not just for the inventive gameplay, if not just for the unique character designs and worlds, but for everything this game tries to do and how it succeeds.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for not delivering the fun experience promised in its advertising, leading to a perception that the game's bizarre nature does not justify its financial model.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the gameplay and makes it feel more like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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