Mothlight

About

Mothlight is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Samu and was released on July 25, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Mothlight" is an RPG set in a unique world composed entirely of Dreg Ore, a pure metal formed from human bodies melted in the black sea. Players explore this world, gear up, and fight bizarre bosses while thriving in civilization built on Dreg Ore continents. The story revolves around Neethan threatening Augus amidst the game's harsh time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 337 reviews

story90 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging story that captivates players, drawing them into its dark and surreal world.
The art style and soundtrack are both praised for their creativity and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, making it a memorable experience.
Mothlight is a free game that offers a surprising amount of depth and quality, making it a hidden gem among indie RPGs.

The gameplay can feel simplistic and easy, with many players finding combat to be unchallenging and lacking in depth.
Some players experienced issues with the user interface, such as character sprites blocking important stats during battles.
The game can be confusing at times, with unclear directions leading to aimless wandering and difficulty in progressing through the story.

story
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The story of "Mothlight" is a compelling blend of dark themes and abstract storytelling, centered around Enzo, a feline character navigating a haunting world filled with eldritch horrors. While some players found the narrative engaging and emotionally impactful, others noted its linearity and occasional convoluted elements. Overall, the game is praised for its unique art style, captivating soundtrack, and the depth of its storytelling, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.
- “Mothlight is a great little RPG, a mood piece with a well-written story and captivating world.”
- “The story is so intricate and beautifully written and executed.”
- “The characters, the world-building, the lore behind it all, the story, etc. is all just beyond awesome.”
- “Who would've guessed the combination of an eldritch horror story, an indie RPG, and horrific imagery would be so... underwhelming?”
- “The plot and characters are both quite feeble and nebulous.”
- “The story felt as if the writer had little time to write.”
music
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and unique qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of experimental and engaging tracks. While many players found the soundtrack to be a standout feature that complements the game's art and story, some noted that certain songs can be grating or not to their taste. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's immersive and captivating atmosphere.
- “The uniqueness of the creatures and horrors in this game along with the soundtrack being something new to me lead the whole game to be an overall amazing experience.”
- “The music, that's another part which I honestly enjoy; it brings that sense of thrill, the action of how combat and scenery unfolds, the music practically breathes life into the game and it does it pretty well at that.”
- “The soundtrack (which has 3 hours of music) is filled with bizarre melancholic sounds from experimental post/math-rock to melodically strong or confused rock pieces; it was super atmospheric and my ears loved it.”
- “Lastly, I highly recommend turning down the volume; there are some really bad songs and sound effects that get grating very fast.”
- “Mothlight also suffers from quite strange music that sometimes didn't fit the theme of the world.”
- “Now for the music... it's not at all bad, but it isn't great.”
graphics
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and captivating art style, often compared to titles like "Undertale" and "Off." Players appreciate the hand-drawn aesthetic, which effectively complements the game's dark themes and engaging story, although some noted that the overworld graphics can be basic. Overall, the visuals, combined with a strong soundtrack, create an immersive experience that resonates well with players, despite some criticisms regarding simplicity in certain areas.
- “The art style and eldritch-inspired designs for the apostles absolutely captivated me, not to mention the amazing soundtrack and story.”
- “The soundtrack, visuals, and ideas were all so unique and stylish; really fantastic work on this, and I wish more developers would take the plunge to make unconventional heartfelt creations like this.”
- “I absolutely love the art style and the fact that it's hand-drawn, and how grotesque everything is, along with the fact that the artist turned his fears and problems into something beautiful.”
- “This game has graphics, alright!”
- “Paint art style money can buy.”
- “The overworld graphics are rather basic and unassuming for the most part, but the visuals truly come to life in combat.”
gameplay
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
56%
12%
The gameplay of this RPG Maker game is generally considered standard and simplistic, often overshadowed by its engaging story and unique art style. While some players appreciate the laid-back mechanics and the ability to skip battles, many find the combat tedious and lacking in challenge, with repetitive turn-based mechanics that do not require much strategy. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize narrative and aesthetics over gameplay depth.
- “Borrowing itemization and mechanics similar to Dark Souls, you venture through different 'zones' with the colorful and simple environments contrasting the black and white hand-drawn style of the various creatures and characters you will encounter.”
- “The gameplay is fairly excellent, but there are a few technical issues; the only ones that I found were sprite bugs that were really minor.”
- “The gameplay was enjoyable, and the battle system runs relatively smoothly and wasn't too repetitive.”
- “Beyond that, the gameplay is just abysmally bad, and while most people aren't playing this for the gameplay, I think the creator tried too hard to avoid commenting on it.”
- “That being said, the gameplay is by far the weakest part of this game.”
- “The gameplay is fairly bland, but no grinding is required and most combat sequences are outright skippable if you don't feel like playing too much of the turn-based gameplay.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
28%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its compelling and immersive qualities, blending unsettling art styles, engaging soundtracks, and rich lore to create a unique experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a Lovecraftian vibe, filled with dread and intrigue, although some note that the atmosphere can wane in certain areas. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements significantly enhances the game's tone and player engagement.
- “I really liked the writing and tone of the game, and it was only amplified by both the art, music, and atmosphere.”
- “But the story is engaging and easy to follow, the worldbuilding really draws you in, and the atmosphere is amazing - both the art style of the characters and the awesome noise rock & acoustic soundtrack really give the game the kick it needs.”
- “On that note, the second I left the first area, I found that the atmosphere was basically dead.”
- “Mothlight started out strong for me with its unsettling atmosphere.”
- “The sound design and music were in accord with the atmosphere of the game and you could really feel that time was spent on building that link between the sound design and environments.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
22%
57%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, with many noting that it avoids the typical grind-heavy mechanics common in RPGs. While some battles can feel tedious and repetitive, especially with easy bosses, the lack of required grinding and the option to skip combat sequences are seen as positive features. The game offers a streamlined experience with little need for leveling up or excessive enemy encounters, making it accessible for those who prefer a less grind-focused gameplay.
- “I'm really glad it isn't grindy; the most grinding there is involves killing enemies in the Augus fields for coins.”
- “There's little to no grinding, no leveling up, battles don't overstay, and while they happen, they're accompanied by great music.”
- “There's no grinding aspect, which is one thing that I was expecting.”
- “The pacing gets a bit tedious later on with battles having stronger enemies and the slow animation transitions not helping this very well, but the story mitigates this with its strong telling.”
- “Despite the really good visuals, the gameplay isn't very fun (the final boss battle is especially tedious in that I was just hitting the enter key over and over) and a lot of the bosses were extremely easy to take down (Idris' berserker move basically kills all bosses in like 3 turns); the explanation of mechanics is really lacking.”
- “The only downside is that you have to save over and over, going back to checkpoints every time you make any progress, because if you die without saving, you'll have to do everything all over again, which gets pretty tedious.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, highlighting its unique blend of dark themes, heart-wrenching character moments, and a captivating soundtrack. The hand-drawn visuals and custom animations contribute to a sense of soulfulness, evoking feelings of sadness and attachment, particularly in relation to its unconventional storytelling and cosmic horror elements. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a deeply moving experience that resonates with players on multiple levels.
- “The soundtrack, visuals, and ideas were all so unique and stylish; really fantastic work on this, and I wish more developers would take the plunge to make unconventional heartfelt creations like this one!”
- “I adored the dark themes and art direction, complete with emotional character moments, some of them heartbreaking.”
- “All in all, it's a great game, a little sad, but it's free, so what do you have to lose... other than... well... happiness... I've never felt more emotionally attached to a goddamn moth in my entire life.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
Character development in the game is noted for its unique and visually appealing designs, contributing to a surreal atmosphere. However, some players find the pacing and execution of character arcs inconsistent, leading to moments where development feels unclear or lacking. Overall, while the character and monster designs are praised, the depth of character development may not fully meet expectations.
- “The character designs and designs for the monsters are fun, eerie, and twisted.”
- “Character design is fantastic and captures the sort of surrealist monstrosities the enemies (and allies) are well, both in overworld sprites and battle sprites.”
- “This game has such great lore and characters, even character design!”
- “Mothlight also has some noticeable jank in pacing and execution, with backtracks in some parts and character development that doesn't really quite make sense sometimes.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is noted for its unexpected juxtaposition with darker themes, providing a unique and enjoyable contrast that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the clever use of comedic elements, such as quirky sound effects and whimsical spells, which contribute to the game's charm and visual appeal. Overall, the humor is described as distinctive and effective, adding depth to the world-building.
- “The themes addressed in the game are far darker than I expected, but I appreciated the world-building and the humor.”
- “Great visuals, soundtrack, and funny.”
- “What stands out for me is the art style and a sense of humor I can't quite put my finger on but loved, pug party spell though, pug party.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from numerous glitches and bugs, which detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the combat system is described as simplistic and becomes increasingly easy in later stages.
- “There are some odd glitches, and the combat is as primitive as it is easy (especially at later stages).”
- “It is very buggy.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for its unforgettable adventure, but it lacks significant replay value, making it less appealing for players seeking multiple playthroughs.
- “While this game lacks any real replay value, it offers an unforgettable adventure.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying the game feel redundant.”