The Lamplighters League

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 378 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Lamplighters League Game Cover
Thrilling in all the right ways, The Lamplighters League is a love letter to the adventure genre in film. It’s a love letter to rogues and scoundrels that made those stories an essential part of our cultural history.
Starting at €49.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

The Lamplighters League is a pulp adventure game where players sneak, steal, and shoot their way through missions. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, the exclusive Nocturne playable character, a digital art book, and the original soundtrack. Nocturne is a mysterious skirmisher with teleportation abilities and shocking attacks, adding an extra layer of strategy to gameplay.

  • Cloud
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Play Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 378 reviews
story83 positive mentions
optimization15 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming 1930s pulp adventure setting with engaging characters and witty dialogue.
  • Gameplay combines real-time stealth with turn-based tactics, offering a unique and enjoyable experience.
  • The art style is stylish and visually appealing, complemented by a fantastic soundtrack and solid voice acting.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and lag during gameplay, particularly in recon mode.
  • The difficulty scaling can be inconsistent, with some missions feeling overly punishing while others are too easy.
  • There are several bugs and control issues, such as clunky movement and targeting problems, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • story360 mentions

    The story in "The Lamplighter's League" is generally considered basic but engaging, serving as a backdrop for entertaining character interactions and dialogue. While the narrative features a unique pulp fiction setting and intriguing characters, some players find the mission structure repetitive and the overall plot lacking depth. The game excels in character development and atmosphere, but it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of variety in mission design, which can detract from the overall storytelling experience.

    • “The art style is great, the plot is fantastic, and the characters and voice acting are sharp and immersive.”
    • “The story is interesting and engaging.”
    • “A fun story with interesting villains.”
    • “The story is nonexistent.”
    • “The story does not add much to the game.”
    • “The final mission is underwhelming with no real emotional punch and no real closure.”
  • gameplay140 mentions

    The gameplay of "Lamplighter's League" is characterized by a blend of turn-based tactics and real-time stealth mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like XCOM and Shadowrun. Players appreciate the variety of unique characters and abilities, which contribute to a rich strategic experience, though some find the mechanics clunky and the difficulty spikes frustrating. Overall, while the game offers engaging gameplay and a charming atmosphere, it suffers from technical issues and repetitive elements that may detract from long-term enjoyment.

    • “Gameplay is where this game really shines, with about a dozen unique characters with their own personalities, abilities, and passives.”
    • “It is a phenomenal experience that combines a charming setting with surprisingly in-depth gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is a ton of fun, and the characters are really well written.”
    • “Clunky mechanics and controls make this a no for me.”
    • “The gameplay gets stale very quickly.”
    • “The mechanics are horrible, the movement is atrocious, stealth is virtually non-existent and generally during battle one is overwhelmingly out-gunned and out-manned.”
  • graphics59 mentions

    The graphics of Lamplighter's League are characterized by a unique, cartoonish art style that effectively complements its 1930s setting and narrative, drawing comparisons to both XCOM and classic comic aesthetics. While many players appreciate the vibrant visuals and character designs, some report performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical glitches, particularly on mid-range hardware. Overall, the game's artistic presentation is praised for its charm and thematic coherence, despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “The art style is very stylish, looks unique, and combos very well with the story, vibe, and gameplay of Lamplighter's League.”
    • “It is oozing with theme, the graphical style works wonderfully, and the details and lore weaved into the world are fantastic.”
    • “The setting is colorful and charming, the graphics simultaneously lush and frugal, the soundtrack cinematic and period-immersive.”
    • “I'm above recommended specs and getting ~50 fps at minimum graphics settings :/ high graphics gives me ~30 fps.”
    • “This game is remarkably hard to run at playable framerates on anything but the finest graphics cards; with my 1070ti my frames peak at 50 and generally hover in the mid-30s on basically minimum settings.”
    • “Semi-frequent graphical glitches and stuttering are annoying, but mostly fine on my mid-range machine.”
  • optimization42 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and poor UI responsiveness, even on high-end systems. While some find the game playable despite these hiccups, others highlight that the optimization needs considerable improvement to enhance the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the engaging writing and captivating lore seem to mitigate some of the frustration for players.

    • “While there were some performance hiccups and balancing issues (difficulty ramps up quickly and then towards the end, it sporadically gets easier and harder), they didn't overshadow the game's captivating lore and memorable characters.”
    • “There are some performance issues but not so much that it impacts the game that much.”
    • “Performance of the game could be better (turn off motion blur!), but I feel like it has the setting pretty nailed, and there are lots of ways to progress your agents to make the game interesting.”
    • “The biggest problem is likely the stuttering and extremely poor UI.”
    • “Performance is atrocious.”
    • “The game seems pretty badly optimized, with lots of stuttering and freezes whenever there's a lot of movement going on in real-time mode.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and fitting integration into the 1930s setting, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the fantastic orchestral and jazz soundtracks, which effectively elevate key moments and complement the game's aesthetic. Additionally, the voice acting is praised for its believability, further enriching the immersive experience.

    • “What I really love about this game is the 1930s setting, the world-building (through notes), the phenomenal soundtrack, and the incredible art style of the game.”
    • “The music is perfection, lifting you up when you win, ramping up the tension in key moments while a subdued melody swells at the base.”
    • “Great atmosphere, flawless period soundtrack, good voice work, unique characters, solid combat system, and a fairly straightforward, but well-executed narrative.”
    • “The sound, music, and voiceovers are lacking.”
    • “The music is just rife with the beauty of the treasure hunting genre, but it still isn’t difficult enough.”
    • “The music is jazzy, smooth, bouncing, and dramatic in all the right places, but it doesn't elevate the overall experience.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth, nearly bug-free experience, while others have encountered significant issues such as crashes, glitches, and performance problems. Many users noted that while there are occasional bugs and optimization concerns, the game is still playable and enjoyable for the most part. Overall, the stability appears to vary widely among players, with some experiencing frustrating technical difficulties and others finding the game relatively stable.

    • “I know it got a bad rap at launch, but this played well, was bug-free, and offered a solid 30-40 hours of playtime.”
    • “I have encountered only a single bug throughout my playthrough, so my experience was pretty much bug-free.”
    • “It has been nearly bug-free for me; I only had one incident with equipping an item to Ingrid before she was capable of having a second item. However, that's been it.”
    • “Buggy as all hell.”
    • “Lots of performance issues, crashes, bugs, glitches.”
    • “The game seems pretty badly optimized, with lots of stuttering and freezes whenever there's a lot of movement going on in real-time mode.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive graphics, engaging lore, and exceptional audio elements, including voice acting and a fitting soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of setting, particularly reminiscent of the 1920s-1930s pulp era, with comparisons to classic series like Commandos. Overall, the combination of these elements creates a captivating and enjoyable experience that enhances gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible, the voice acting is top notch, and the tactics are fun to play.”
    • “Great atmosphere, flawless period soundtrack, good voice work, unique characters, solid combat system, and a fairly straightforward, but well-executed narrative.”
    • “I am not sure when I have encountered such a devoted atmosphere in a game lately.”
    • “They really nailed the Jules Verne / Indiana Jones atmosphere.”
    • “I personally like this game; its setting and the atmosphere being shaped by an eldritch background.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the random elements and varied team compositions that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the missions too specific and the gameplay loop repetitive. The potential for future updates and character additions could enhance replay value, but current limitations and ease of gameplay may deter some from returning.

    • “The undrawn hand is somewhat RNG-dependent when it comes to what cards you draw at the end of a mission, which can understandably frustrate some players; but that just adds more replay value in my book.”
    • “It's kinda short and has lots of random elements, so it has a lot of replay value.”
    • “If they are, it sort of reduces the fun in replayability a bit.”
    • “There are more polished games with better replay value out there.”
    • “Minus the dog**** ease of the game, my major gripes with myz was that there was almost no replay value (missions all very 'level specific' and there weren't very many of them. full game completion in under 24hrs) and the game was astoundingly easy if you had a little patience.”
    • “The gameplay loop is at risk for being repetitive and with no serious choices or dialogue options it makes the replayability a bit of a letdown as well.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many noting that the repetitive gameplay and lack of meaningful rewards detract from the overall experience. The management of multiple game elements often slows down progression, leading to a sense of exhaustion rather than enjoyment. While some find value in the game, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind can quickly sap the fun out of the experience.

    • “Managing each of the 3 independent clocks slowed down the main story progression in a way that felt a little grindy - with the most impactful missions not offering much in the way of tangible reward, and vice-versa.”
    • “The primary gameplay loop is parts repetitive, parts clunky and parts plain tedious.”
    • “It's got all the things I should like but the gameplay is so tedious and slow that it feels like a bore to play.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted through unique and imaginative character designs, such as Lady Zorana Nicastro, which contribute to a grounded and relatable narrative. While the game may lack the environmental and mission variety of titles like X-Com, its strong character aesthetics and engaging dialogue enhance the overall experience, making the characters memorable and integral to the gameplay. The combination of tactical combat and rich character design creates a compelling atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “Yet, the character designs, aesthetic, dialogues, addictively thrilling base gameplay loop, and fantastic orchestral soundtrack by Jon Everist allow me to accept these flaws as flaws that really only serve to give the game character and make it feel more grounded and relatable, just like its own protagonists.”
    • “It’s not got the environmental and mission variety of an X-COM, but the character design is excellent and the tactics are really crunchy and enjoyable.”
    • “X-COM-style tactical combat and light base/upgrade management by way of Shadowrun: Hong Kong, 30s adventure serials, Indiana Jones, Call of Cthulhu, and with a dash of Overwatch character design.”
    • “House Nicastro, run by Lady Zorana Nicastro, is essentially a character design that resembles the medieval torture device known as 'the iron maiden'—a metallic sarcophagus with spikes arranged to inflict maximum pain over time on whatever poor soul is trapped inside.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking the depth and complexity that would make the characters truly engaging.”
    • “Despite the interesting setting, the characters fail to evolve or show any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by witty dialogue and strong voice acting, particularly the comedic portrayal of Lord Wolfram Strum, which adds a satirical twist to the character. Players find the humor to be consistently entertaining, making it a standout aspect of the experience.

    • “The voice acting and dialogue is absolutely witty and funny.”
    • “Witty dialogue offers humor along the way.”
    • “The humor throughout the game is awesome.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game struggles to deliver an emotional impact, particularly in its tutorial and final missions, which are perceived as unfair and underwhelming. While some players appreciate the wholesome adventure elements, the lack of emotional depth and closure may deter others from fully engaging with the experience.

    • “The final mission is underwhelming with no real emotional punch and no real closure.”
    • “Absolute kryptonite for level 9 edgelords, but I recommend it to everyone else who enjoys wholesome adventure and beating up Nazis.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as predatory and reminiscent of a cash grab, especially in light of its troubled development and release circumstances. Users recommend alternative titles like Jagged Alliance 3, which offer better value without exploitative practices.

    • “If you are looking for a tactical game with a strategic layer, go check Jagged Alliance 3; it's cheaper, much better, and without predatory monetization.”
    • “Feels like a cash grab rather than a passion project.”
    • “Not drumming up much advertising fanfare, laying off 80% of the staff months before the game came out, calling it a failure not even a week after it gets released, a release window of which is surrounded on all sides by heavy hitting highly anticipated AAA titles... it's sus as heck.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy The Lamplighters League

Play time

28hMedian play time
36hAverage play time
18-65hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games