Lamplight City

A great detective game, it's not for the faint-hearted. Well-written and with multiple character paths to choose from, Lamplight City isn't for puzzle seekers but will satisfy those looking for a great mystery.

88%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, stability

88% User Score Based on 577 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $14.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$14.99

Buy NowGet on Apple Store

About

"Lamplight City" is a detective adventure game set in a 19th-century city grappling with poverty and crime. As private investigator Miles Fordham, you must solve five cases, interrogating suspects and gathering evidence while dealing with the ghostly presence of your deceased partner. Your choices and methods will impact your reputation and relationships as you seek justice and uncover the truth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 577 reviews

story157 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Wonderful visuals and steampunk aesthetic that immerses players in a richly crafted world.
Engaging narrative with genuine consequences for player choices, making each case feel impactful.
Great voice cast that brings the characters to life, enhancing the overall experience.

Players can easily lock themselves out of cases due to dialogue choices, leading to frustrating dead ends.
The game is light on puzzles, relying heavily on dialogue, which may not appeal to all adventure game fans.
Some characters and plot elements feel underdeveloped, leading to a less satisfying conclusion.

story
344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
51%
3%
The story of "Lamplight City" is a compelling detective narrative set in a richly crafted Victorian steampunk world, featuring well-developed characters and engaging dialogue. While the game emphasizes storytelling over traditional puzzle-solving, some players found the linearity and potential for missed plot points frustrating. Overall, the writing and voice acting received praise, contributing to an immersive experience that keeps players invested in the unfolding mysteries.
- “The story is thoughtfully written, with sharp dialogues and unique characters that add depth and personality to each case.”
- “From its captivating storyline to its meticulously crafted steampunk atmosphere, this game delivers an immersive experience that kept me hooked from start to finish.”
- “The story is engaging and each case is fun to solve, though not unduly challenging.”
- “Parts of the storyline fell a bit flat though.”
- “Instead of giving you multiple viable options that change how the story progresses based on what you choose, Lamplight City has exactly one 'correct' sequence of events for each case, and if you make a choice outside that correct sequence, you don't get to see events playing out differently as a consequence of the choice you made.”
- “The story is, unfortunately, pretty straightforward and does not make me feel like I am playing a different kind of detective game, as the teaser video promises.”
graphics
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style and nostalgic homage to classic 90s point-and-click adventures, evoking titles like "Gabriel Knight" and "Monkey Island." The steampunk aesthetic and detailed environments contribute to an immersive atmosphere, although some users noted inconsistencies in quality and occasional awkwardness in character portraits. Overall, the visuals, combined with solid voice acting and a captivating story, enhance the game's appeal, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Captivating conversations, stunning visuals that highlight classic America, and compelling narratives for each scenario are standout features.”
- “The game's artwork is superb with an atmospheric soundtrack as well.”
- “Absolutely glorious artwork and loads of detail has been packed into every screen.”
- “The graphics are bad, music is good, atmosphere is good.”
- “Graphically, the game is pure 1990's despite being released in 2018.”
- “The game graphics are fine and that is literally the only plus for this game; the storyline is exhausting and tedious, there are too many unnecessary click points and there is virtually no enjoyment.”
gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The gameplay of *Lamplight City* is primarily dialogue-driven, focusing on conversation choices that significantly impact the narrative and investigation outcomes. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics that allow for failed cases and multiple endings, others find the lack of traditional point-and-click elements and the potential for locking oneself out of solutions frustrating. Overall, the game offers a blend of engaging storytelling and detective work, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more conventional gameplay experience.
- “The game’s investigation mechanics keep you on your toes, allowing for different story paths based on your choices, which makes every playthrough feel fresh and unique.”
- “The main investigation mechanic is dialogue: you'll progress through the cases by questioning witnesses, chasing down leads, and stringing clues together.”
- “Interesting worldbuilding, engaging gameplay that straddles the line perfectly between not too easy but not so hard you become frustrated, and a fun variety in stories for each case.”
- “The gameplay is where it gets problematic.”
- “The gameplay is very basic, though.”
- “Interesting story but heavily let down by flawed game mechanics which can essentially lock you out of solving the case correctly as a result of choosing a 'wrong' dialog option.”
music
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
29%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the immersive experience with a fitting soundtrack that complements the pixel art and voice acting. Many reviewers highlight the exceptional work of composer Mark Benis, noting that the music effectively sets the mood and contributes to the game's overall aesthetic. Overall, the combination of beautiful music, strong voice acting, and engaging sound design creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The pixel art and atmospheric music perfectly capture the mood, while the voice acting brings a warmth and realism that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The music adds a really nice atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack from Mark Benis is both incredible and incredibly varied with around forty tracks detailed to the level of piano notes coinciding with the flickering of a street lamp.”
- “Voice acting tends to be good to great, but the music lacks variety.”
- “The music and sound complement the art, and the voice acting is great.”
- “The title music is atmospheric, and the game provides dramatic music when needed at the right times.”
atmosphere
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
15%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, immersive qualities, combining beautifully drawn graphics, atmospheric music, and strong voice acting to create a captivating steampunk setting. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to draw players into its gritty, engaging world, with well-crafted storytelling and character development enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention minor flaws in graphics or pacing, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly contributes to its appeal.
- “The atmosphere of the game instantly draws you into its time period; the writing is fun and clever, and finding the proper solution to each case can be tricky without being unfair.”
- “From its captivating storyline to its meticulously crafted steampunk atmosphere, this game delivers an immersive experience that kept me hooked from start to finish.”
- “The fictional city of New Bretagne, and its various districts, are beautifully realized, and the atmosphere throughout is tremendous - it really feels like one big believable city as you travel between the different neighborhoods.”
- “Compared to the above-mentioned Unavowed, which truly excelled in moody pixel-art goodness, Lamplight City at times feels a bit amateurish and rushed in its backgrounds and character portraits, with the latter also having its share of uncanny valley moments, detracting from the overall atmosphere.”
- “As a lifetime fan of point-and-click adventure games, I was waiting for Lamplight City with great expectations, mostly because the published videos and screenshots promised a cool classic gameplay along with a dark and mysterious atmosphere.”
- “While the steampunk atmosphere is present, it's light and provides some interest and amusement.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, often blending dark themes with lighthearted moments. Players appreciate the witty commentary from characters, particularly Bill, whose mix of annoyance and humor adds depth to the experience. Overall, the game successfully balances immersive storytelling with a charming sense of humor, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures.
- “So while the subject matter is grim, there’s always a spark of humor to complement it.”
- “The writing is truly excellent, the pixel art is gorgeous, the music is fittingly creepy much of the time, great characters all around, competent voice acting, and some witty humor.”
- “Great voice acting, witty and funny dialogues.”
- “Your partner Bill is briefly a highly annoying physical presence at the start of the game, making stupid, unfunny, annoying, and poorly voice-acted comments on everything.”
- “It's not funny and charming; it just makes him seem like a complete tool.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
25%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-crafted narrative that evokes a range of feelings, from heart-wrenching moments to satisfying conclusions. Players appreciate the engaging character interactions and the depth of the story, which culminates in a touching ending. However, some critiques mention a lack of character investment and a less compelling storyline, which can detract from the overall emotional experience.
- “It's gorgeous and the story is emotional and satisfying.”
- “Well-written, engaging story that gets a little heart-wrenching at times.”
- “The ending was very touching.”
- “However, this game has no characters I care about, a boring storyline, and it is an effort to keep playing it thus far.”
- “The emotional depth is lacking; I found it hard to connect with any of the characters or their struggles.”
- “Despite the game's attempts at emotional storytelling, I felt completely detached and uninterested in the outcomes.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability due to its multiple solutions for puzzles, impactful choices that influence the story and endings, and the opportunity to explore different outcomes. While some users noted a lack of variety in dialogue and options, many emphasized the game's ability to engage players through its challenging mechanics and memorable characters, encouraging repeat playthroughs.
- “For this reason, it has great replayability.”
- “You have multiple ways of solving some puzzles and you can arrest the wrong person; these choices ripple through the game, adding a lot of replay value.”
- “The game has high replay value because the choices you make in-game influence the ending that you receive.”
- “The ability to 'fail' a case seems to lean towards replayability, but there simply isn't enough variety, if any, in the dialog or options of the game to warrant a repeat playthrough.”
- “Because each case has multiple allowed solutions and there are decisions that affect the story, there’s plenty of replay value to be found.”
- “Less replayable”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the streamlined mechanics that reduce tediousness typical of classic adventure games, others find the need to replay for optimal endings and excessive dialogue to be exhausting. The game is praised for its character depth and engaging visuals, but those who dislike lengthy conversations may find it tedious. Overall, it appeals to fans of narrative-driven games, though it may not suit everyone’s taste.
- “Some of the negative reviews bring up that you can get locked out of solving a case depending on your actions and that having to replay the game to get the best ending becomes very tedious.”
- “The storyline is exhausting and tedious, there are too many unnecessary click points and there is virtually no enjoyment.”
- “I get that this is a dialog-heavy game, but sometimes I felt like I was grinding for conversation.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs and issues, particularly related to case restarts and performance on Linux, while others experienced a smooth and bug-free experience. Overall, the game appears to have stability concerns that may affect gameplay for some players.
- “The good thing is that it's not buggy; it works fine and smooth.”
- “The game runs incredibly stable, with no crashes or major issues.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my gameplay, which really enhances the overall experience.”
- “The game is buggy.”
- “Buggy and there's no way to restart cases without restarting the entire game if you haven't made multiple saves and just relied on autosave.”
- “Slightly buggy on Linux; I had to close and restart the game occasionally as the input response deteriorated over time.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The character development in the game is highly praised, featuring a unique narrator and a compelling backstory that evolves throughout the adventure. Players appreciate the intertwining of personal and political themes, alongside engaging puzzles and well-executed voice acting that enhances the overall storytelling experience.
- “This was an outstanding blend of an adventure game and a crime solver - loved the character development, the unique approach to the narrator, and the intertwining of the cases as Miles marched toward the inevitable conclusion!”
- “It has character development too and a decent backstory which grows throughout the game.”
- “Interesting story building and great character development.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “While there are attempts at character development, it often feels rushed and underexplored, leaving many storylines unresolved.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is praised for delivering A+ performances, with users highlighting the exceptional quality of both the writing and voice acting.
- “A+ performances all around.”
- “Actually, speaking of dialogue, I have to say it's really fantastic all around, both the writing and performances.”