Pilfer: Story of Light

About

"Pilfer: Story of Light" is a 2D platformer game following Pilfer's journey to restore light in a darkened forest, with the help of his spirit companion Lumi. The game features over 30 levels with unique mechanics, various creatures to encounter, and unlockable costumes and challenge levels. With a charming storybook aesthetic, players explore diverse worlds, from overgrown jungles to mechanical honey factories, while battling Caligo's forces to save the Great Forest.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 88 reviews

story4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Pilfer is a charming and well-designed 3D platformer that successfully captures the essence of games like Super Mario Galaxy, offering a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
The game features unique level designs and mechanics, providing a variety of challenges that keep gameplay engaging and enjoyable.
With its cute characters, smooth controls, and a relaxing atmosphere, Pilfer is accessible for both casual players and those looking for a more challenging experience.

The game suffers from various minor bugs and technical issues, such as disappearing triggers and occasional control responsiveness problems, which can disrupt gameplay.
Some players may find the difficulty curve uneven, with early levels being too easy and later challenges requiring significant grinding to access.
While the game is enjoyable, its story is considered basic and not particularly memorable, which may leave some players wanting more depth.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The story of "Pilfer: Story of Light" is generally considered basic but effective, serving its purpose within the game. Many players appreciate the improvements over the developer's previous title, "Crow Story," noting emotional callbacks and a more engaging narrative. While some find the story mode a bit short, the overall experience is enhanced by cute art, great music, and a wealth of unlockable content, making it a standout platformer.
- “But if you search a lot deeper, you will find a hidden gem that is Pilfer: Story of Light.”
- “The callback to Crow Story and Kuroh made me cry a bit, and this game, as other reviews have stated, is incredibly inspired and hits that same niche as Mario Galaxy!”
- “Cute art, great music, fun story, and tons of unlockable cosmetics for Pilfer, lore, and tons of speedrunning potential!”
- “The story is basic and serves its purpose.”
- “All in all, the story is fine, nothing really special.”
- “Some might complain it's a little on the shorter end: the story mode probably took me about 6-8 hours while turning over every stone.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the magical atmosphere and complementing the colorful visuals and charming gameplay. Reviewers note that each level features unique tracks that reflect the passion behind their creation, making the soundtrack memorable and enjoyable, although some find it slightly forgettable at times. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's cozy and immersive experience.
- “Not only that, the music is a perfect touch for the game as it enhances the magical vibe the game has.”
- “While not exactly a groundbreaking title, Pilfer is an incredibly comfy platformer to just chill out with alongside some adorable animals, colorful environments, and charming and memorable music to accompany it.”
- “Every level has unique music that helps bring the level to life.”
- “The music is decent, though a little forgettable at best.”
- “Also, as I write this, the game's music is still playing because the executable is stuck running in task manager even though I have shut the game down.”
- “The levels are better, the music is better, the movement is better, the story is better.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, reminiscent of classic 3D platformers like Mario Galaxy, featuring unique level designs and a variety of mechanics. However, players have noted some clunky mechanics, such as inconsistent jumping and occasional bugs that can disrupt the experience. Overall, while the movement mechanics may feel janky at times, the game offers a nostalgic yet fresh platforming experience with engaging level variety.
- “An excellent cute linear 3D platformer with each level bringing something unique to the gameplay.”
- “Great platforming and level design and a few unique mechanics that make it stand out.”
- “It manages to live up to its influences from Mario games, especially Mario Galaxy, by offering a good dozen of different moves for the player, as well as a whole assortment of varied levels, each bringing its own new mechanic to the mix.”
- “It's simpler most of the time, with some clunky mechanics, like the perfect jump that works when it wants to, and the third challenge stage had one section that also required luck rather than skill.”
- “Texture bugs, gameplay bugs, you name it.”
- “Simple 3D Mario-type platformer game, movement mechanics a little bit janky but hopefully will improve in the next game as the developer hones their skills.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's graphics are praised for their cute and colorful aesthetic, featuring charming visuals and well-designed environments that enhance the gameplay experience. Each level offers a unique visual gimmick, contributing to a joyful exploration, while the overall design showcases a thoughtful restraint in collectibles. Despite the fluffy appearance, the graphics complement a surprisingly challenging gameplay experience.
- “Each level has a unique gimmick and aesthetic to it that never overstays its welcome and is a joy to run through and explore.”
- “What I love most about this game is the effort put into the graphics and of course the cute little creatures you meet in every world.”
- “The game has very cutesy graphics and actually shows restraint with its collectibles.”
- “Visuals are cute and colorful, but the overall aesthetic feels a bit too simplistic and lacks depth.”
- “While the graphics are colorful, they can sometimes feel overly cartoonish and may not appeal to everyone.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported that do not significantly disrupt gameplay.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, with many users noting that it successfully evokes a similar sense of wonder and immersion as its predecessor, despite not achieving the same level of excellence.
- “And while it doesn't reach the same heights that Galaxy did, it captures a similar sense of atmosphere pretty well!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have expressed that the game evokes strong emotions, particularly through nostalgic callbacks to previous stories, such as the crow story and kuroh, which have resonated deeply and even brought some to tears. The emotional depth is highlighted as a significant aspect, drawing comparisons to the heartfelt experiences found in titles like Mario Galaxy.
- “The callback to Crow Story and Kuroh made me cry a bit, not gonna lie. This game, as other reviews have stated, is incredibly inspired and hits that same niche as Mario Galaxy!”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be more tedious than enjoyable, indicating that it detracts from the overall experience.
- “More tedious than fun”
- “More tedious than fun”