Lightmatter

Lightmatter's puzzles are shockingly smart, and getting that "Aha!" moment is brilliant. A little more refining and this may be a true first-person puzzle classic

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"Lightmatter is a single-player Science Fiction Adventure game with an intriguing story, stellar gameplay, and fantastic visuals. As a visitor to the world debut of Lightmatter, a revolutionary renewable energy source, you'll encounter mind-bending technological wonders and a life-changing experience, as described in a personal invitation from Virgil, CEO of Lightmatter Technologies."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 655 reviews

story95 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Engaging and clever puzzles that provide satisfying 'Aha!' moments.
Strong visual style and unique mechanics involving light and shadows.
Witty dialogue and voice acting that enhance the overall experience.

Relatively short gameplay time, averaging around 4-5 hours.
Technical issues such as crashes and frame rate problems on certain systems.
Some puzzles can feel repetitive and lack variety in mechanics.

story
223 mentions
43 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story in Lightmatter is generally described as simple and predictable, yet engaging enough to serve as a backdrop for the gameplay. While it draws comparisons to Portal with its humor and narrative style, many reviewers noted its clichés and lack of depth, though some appreciated the witty dialogue and character development. Overall, the story is seen as a solid complement to the puzzle mechanics, providing just enough intrigue to keep players invested without overwhelming them.
- “The story is simple but effective and creates a charming sense of mystery.”
- “The story has surprising depth and character development for a game that can be 100%'ed in about 5 hours.”
- “The game's core mechanic of shadows = death is a fascinating concept that's executed well and allows for a creative variety of puzzles, presented alongside stellar voice work and an interesting, well-paced story.”
- “The only things that did disappoint me were the game's incredibly predictable story and seeming pride at being inspired by Portal.”
- “The story is passable, though the antagonist is fairly one-dimensionally cartoonishly evil/mad.”
- “There are also a bunch of plot holes.”
gameplay
174 mentions
39 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Lightmatter is characterized by its unique light and shadow mechanics, which create engaging puzzles that are generally well-executed but can feel repetitive due to a limited variety of mechanics. While the game offers a visually appealing experience and a clever narrative, many players noted that the puzzles are not overly challenging and the overall gameplay duration is relatively short, typically lasting around 3 to 4 hours. Despite its similarities to the Portal series, Lightmatter manages to carve out its own identity, though some reviewers expressed a desire for more depth and complexity in its mechanics.
- “Great puzzle game that uses various light-based mechanics and interesting realistic environments.”
- “The game's core mechanic of shadows = death is a fascinating concept that's executed well and allows for a creative variety of puzzles, presented alongside stellar voice work and an interesting, well-paced story.”
- “I love the mechanic of using light to make a path because you can't touch shadows; it's very unique, and I had a lot of fun solving the puzzles.”
- “However, whilst similar in style to the portal games, it's really not in the same league: the game mechanics are quite limited and so some of the puzzle solving can be a bit repetitive; the graphics are a bit cartoonish (though that probably helps performance on my older PC); and it's relatively short - none of the puzzles are likely to have you scratching your head for more than a few minutes.”
- “$20 for 3 or 4 hours of gameplay is not that great.”
- “Puzzles only really come in two varieties and, while the puzzles that are there are pretty interesting, you only have 2 (and maybe a half) mechanics to interact with so once you understand the mechanics, there's not much challenge beyond thinking about the few very limited things you can do with your light sources.”
graphics
108 mentions
37 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique, stylized art style that blends cel-shading with a monochrome palette, creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere reminiscent of titles like Portal and Antichamber. While some players appreciate the cartoonish visuals and their impact on performance, others find them simplistic or lacking in texture detail. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, contributing positively to the immersive experience, despite occasional technical issues and personal preferences regarding the art style.
- “The art style is fantastic, a bit reminiscent of Antichamber with the ultra-high contrast for the shadows, while otherwise keeping a slightly Portal-esque atmosphere.”
- “Stunning visuals combined with superb voice acting bring you into the immersive world of Lightmatter, and the free demo offers the perfectly balanced taste of what's in store for you.”
- “I love the heavily contrasted toon-shaded visuals and it works very well with the shadow mechanics.”
- “However, whilst similar in style to the Portal games, it's really not in the same league: the game mechanics are quite limited and so some of the puzzle solving can be a bit repetitive; the graphics are a bit cartoonish (though that probably helps performance on my older PC); and it's relatively short - none of the puzzles are likely to have you scratching your head for more than a few minutes.”
- “It felt as if the developers didn't want to do the graphics work so they settled on this.”
- “I guess there was an effort to appear distinct and cool, but I found the line-art style and pale palette to be rather boring.”
humor
67 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a strong point, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue, clever portal references, and engaging narration that keeps them entertained throughout. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, overall, it adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay, making it enjoyable and reminiscent of the Portal series. The quirky characters and their interactions contribute to a fun atmosphere, although a few critiques mention that not all attempts at humor land successfully.
- “The story is interesting with funny dialogue.”
- “Looks great, feels great, hilarious dialogue and references, and best of all, it's fun!”
- “So, as my final thoughts, I enjoyed Lightmatter a lot, and I really recommend it. It's a very well done game, puzzles are great, characters are good, the story is simple but works, and all this sense of humor is as nonsensical as Portal 2, which is fantastic.”
- “Mostly uninteresting puzzles, and completely unfunny attempts at humor.”
music
40 mentions
35 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging soundtrack and ability to create a cool atmosphere, while others criticize it for being dull and repetitive, lacking intensity during key moments. References to Portal are noted, but some players feel the game leans too heavily on these influences, which detracts from its originality. Overall, while there are standout tracks during emotional scenes, many players found the ambient music uninspiring, leading some to prefer their own background music instead.
- “Good puzzles, neat aesthetic style, great music.”
- “The music and voice overs are engaging and the landscape is your basic industrial complex with lots of moving parts, buttons, levers, etc.”
- “Although a bit heavy-handed at times, the story, voice acting, music and overall art direction make this an easy buy for puzzle fans on the fence.”
- “The music didn't help either.”
- “Pretty dull soundtrack, doesn't really change depending on what's happening.”
- “Though the music for the endgame rush could have used a little more intensity.”
atmosphere
20 mentions
60 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Lightmatter's atmosphere is characterized by a unique visual style that combines a cold, menacing aesthetic with a striking light versus darkness mechanic. The game features a captivating blend of subdued colors reminiscent of titles like Antichamber and Portal, enhanced by excellent art design, voice acting, and music that collectively create an immersive experience. While the atmosphere is generally praised, some players feel that the overt references to other games can occasionally disrupt the intended mood.
- “The game plays its light versus darkness aesthetic to magical effect, creating an appealing and atmospheric mixture of subdued purples, blues, white, and black.”
- “Sound is subtle but works really well, voice acting is really well done and music creates a cool atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels like the game 'Portal'.”
- “Very entertaining game with well-designed puzzles and some excellent voice acting and art design, although the number of overt references can be a bit much sometimes as it jars quite a lot with the atmosphere it tries to build.”
- “Lightmatter's visual style is unique and incredibly well thought-out, blending a cold and menacing atmosphere with a novel gameplay mechanic: light keeps, shadows destroy.”
optimization
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some players experiencing smooth performance while others struggle with framerate issues, particularly on average computers. While the cartoonish graphics may aid performance, the overall optimization is considered lacking, leading to a mixed experience. Despite these issues, some users report that once levels are loaded, gameplay can be quite smooth.
- “Performance is not bad at all although I can't say it's the best of the best. The game ran really smoothly, so I wouldn't say my experience was bad. If anything, just a few FPS drops before each level, but once charged, smooth as butter.”
- “The graphics are a bit cartoonish (though that probably helps performance on my older PC).”
- “Performance is... weird.”
- “It might have some problems with its difficulty curve, performance, and the way it's being sold, but Lightmatter is a very solid puzzle game that offers a decent amount of playtime, some very good puzzles, and a great story.”
- “However, while similar in style to the Portal games, it's really not in the same league: the game mechanics are quite limited and so some of the puzzle solving can be a bit repetitive; the graphics are a bit cartoonish (though that probably helps performance on my older PC); and it's relatively short - none of the puzzles are likely to have you scratching your head for more than a few minutes.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game experiences notable stability issues, with frequent bugs and crashes, particularly when entering new level areas. Players have reported needing to adjust settings, such as the FPS limiter, to mitigate these problems. Despite these glitches, the overall experience remains enjoyable.
- “However, as much as I had fun while doing the puzzles, the game is quite buggy. There were two instances of bugs I found, one of them kept making my game crash constantly, and to fix it, I had to change the FPS limiter settings to 60 instead of unlocked.”
- “Can be a little buggy and crash in later levels, but usually only when you enter a new level area.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a few standout songs that enhance key moments, but the overall ambient music is criticized for being repetitive and dull, leading some players to prefer their own music instead. Overall, the game does not evoke feelings of cheating or exploiting mechanics, maintaining a sense of integrity in gameplay.
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length of approximately 3.5 hours and the inherent nature of puzzle games. However, its addictive qualities keep players engaged, even if they may not return for multiple playthroughs.
- “It's not the toughest and doesn't have a whole lot of replayability, but it is addictive and will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “Do note that it is a fairly short game (it took me only 3.5 hours) and puzzle games by their nature have limited replayability.”
- “It is a fairly short game (it took me only 3.5 hours), and puzzle games by their nature have limited replayability.”
- “The game is quite brief, lasting only about 3.5 hours, which inherently limits its replayability.”
- “Given its short length of around 3.5 hours, the game lacks significant replayability, especially for a puzzle genre.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game unfolds gradually, with some reviewers noting a predictable ending. Despite its short playtime of around 5 hours, the story offers surprising depth and meaningful character growth.
- “The story has surprising depth and character development for a game that can be 100% completed in about 5 hours.”
- “Character development happens slowly, allowing players to truly connect with the characters.”
- “Character development happens slowly, and the ending is a little bit predictable.”
- “The story has surprising depth and character development for a game that can be completed in about 5 hours.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find that while some grinding tasks can feel tedious, the majority offer rewarding "a ha!" moments when the solution is finally discovered, making the experience more engaging overall.