The Light in the Darkness

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The Light in the Darkness is a single player action game with drama and historical themes. It was developed by Voices of the Forgotten and was released on January 26, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The Light in the Darkness tells the story of a working-class family of Polish Jews in France during the Holocaust. It is the first videogame to portray the Holocaust accurately, releasing free for educational purposes.

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Single-Player

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game provides an emotional and educational experience, effectively conveying the historical context of the Holocaust.
The story is nuanced and well-told, allowing players to connect with the characters and their struggles during a dark period in history.
It's free to play, making it accessible for anyone interested in learning about this important subject matter.

Gameplay is slow-paced and lacks interactivity, often feeling more like a walking simulator than a traditional adventure game.
The graphics and character designs are criticized for being ill-fitting and sometimes poorly executed, detracting from the serious subject matter.
Technical issues, such as bugs and controller compatibility problems, hinder the overall experience.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The game's story is a poignant and educational exploration of a Jewish family's experiences during the Holocaust and the Axis occupation of France, blending personal narratives with historical events. While some reviewers criticize it for feeling more like propaganda or an experiment than a traditional adventure, many appreciate its nuanced and impactful storytelling, which serves to humanize the historical context and educate players about the Holocaust. Overall, it is recognized as a significant and beautifully told narrative, despite its mechanical frustrations and limited replay value.
- “It's a short but effective game to give a brief glimpse at what the Jewish people experienced during WWII, and it definitely isn't a happy story.”
- “A great personal story of a family during the Holocaust, but also a story about what the hell happened to France at the time.”
- “The story is nuanced and real, and accurate to the actual events, and with fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors being alive, this game will only become more essential.”
- “Game feels like propaganda more than a story.”
- “Soft lock also, the game's plot in the first chapters implies that France will win World War II when Poland was attacked by Nazis - it's not like France and the UK refused to help Poland when they called for help against the Nazis.”
- “Stereotypical story seen in movies about World War II from the perspective of civilians.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews; some players find the cel-shaded, cartoonish style ill-suited for the serious themes, while others praise the visuals as beautiful and well-executed, complementing the strong narrative. Overall, the graphics are seen as a notable aspect, though opinions vary significantly.
- “The graphics of this game are absolutely beautiful.”
- “But this game has both; it has a good story and great graphics.”
- “Great graphics.”
- “The graphics are the least appealing feature of 'The Light in the Darkness': the characters are all cel-shaded, Pixar-esque cartoons with bulging eyes, which is bafflingly ill-fitting for the serious subject matter.”
- “Horrible art style, slow gameplay, and muting music doesn't work on cutscenes.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The gameplay has been criticized for being slow and frustrating, with some users finding the mechanics lacking. Additionally, issues such as an ineffective music mute option during cutscenes detract from the experience, while the art style and character designs have also received negative feedback. Despite these drawbacks, some players appreciate the educational aspect of the game.
- “Mechanically, I found it a bit frustrating, and the character designs a little uncanny, but it's a good way to educate oneself and humanize the story of the Shoah.”
- “Horrible art style, slow gameplay, muting music doesn't work on cutscenes.”
- “Mechanically, I found it a bit frustrating, and the character designs a little uncanny.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, with many expressing that it evokes strong feelings, including sadness and reflection on historical events. The narrative not only educates but also resonates on a personal level, leading to a profound emotional experience that players appreciate. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to convey the weight of history through an emotional lens.
- “The ending got me a bit emotional, but it is very educational, and I recommend this game to everyone and anyone.”
- “This game made me cry... so many things lost.”
- “I want to thank the developers for this beautiful view of a part of history (beautiful in an emotional way).”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The music in the game features French classical pieces that occasionally enhance the emotional weight of certain scenes, but overall, it fails to leave a lasting impression. While some users praise the soundtrack as outstanding, others criticize the game's art style and technical issues, such as the inability to mute music during cutscenes.
- “Outstanding music.”
- “The soundtrack consists of some French classical music, and there are a couple of moments when it adds to the tension or tragedy of the scenes, but ultimately it is nothing to write home about.”
- “Horrible art style, slow gameplay, muting music doesn't work on cutscenes.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is seen as a valuable tool for educating players about the Holocaust, though some users find the mechanics frustrating and the character designs somewhat unsettling. Overall, it effectively humanizes the narrative despite its design flaws.
- “Mechanically, I found it a bit frustrating, and the character designs are a little uncanny.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Light in the Darkness is a action game with drama and historical themes.

The Light in the Darkness is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

The Light in the Darkness was released on January 26, 2024.

The Light in the Darkness was developed by Voices of the Forgotten.

The Light in the Darkness has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

The Light in the Darkness is a single player game.

Similar games include 35MM, Martial Law, My Memory of Us, Seen, Relive and others.

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