The Lighthouse
- October 31, 2019
- Shadow Knights Studio
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"The Lighthouse" is a first-person thriller where you play as Private Investigator James Irvine, searching for a missing woman named Lily Beaumont in the abandoned property of Maine's wealthiest family. Solve environmental puzzles and obstacles using the lighthouse's light and your flashlight, while avoiding a dangerous presence. The game features unique and memorable 1960's-inspired environments and a gripping, haunting story.
Reviews
- The game has high production value with beautiful graphics, immersive atmosphere, and solid voice acting.
- The story is engaging and has great potential, with players expressing excitement for future updates and content.
- Gameplay mechanics, while still needing some polish, are enjoyable and the puzzles provide a good challenge.
- The game has been in early access for an extended period with very few updates, leading to frustration among players.
- Current gameplay is very short, averaging only 1-2 hours, which many feel does not justify the price.
- Some gameplay mechanics are clunky, such as character movement and interaction with objects, which detracts from the overall experience.
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, combining detailed visuals, haunting music, and sound effects to create a spooky and unsettling environment. Reviewers highlight the effective use of isolation and noir elements, particularly in the context of a lighthouse setting, which enhances the overall creepy experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature, reflecting the developers' dedication to crafting a compelling and atmospheric horror/thriller experience.
“So much attention to detail, atmosphere, story, music... you can tell this game is a labor of love.”
“I've always loved the idea of a horror/thriller game at a lighthouse as it's very isolated, dangerous, and atmospheric, and this game captures that very well.”
“The way everything is presented to you at first is a little unsettling, then seemingly normal, and right back into creepy with sprinklings of noir atmosphere.”
“Spooky atmosphere created by music and sound effects with a handful of tasks.”
- story8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its interesting and immersive nature, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere, detail, and music. While it is described as a series of experiences rather than a linear narrative, the overall concept and execution are considered exceptional, contributing to a gripping and visually stunning experience.
“So much attention to detail, atmosphere, story, music... you can tell this game is a labor of love.”
“Such an amazing concept and storyline.”
“Well thought-out story so far, graphically stunning, very immersive, and the soundtrack fits perfectly!”
“It is like a series of experiences threaded together rather than a coherent story.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are highly praised for their exceptional quality and artistic design, contributing to an immersive experience that complements the story and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the stunning visuals and seamless integration with the audio, emphasizing the overall high production value.
“The game has a high production value; it's very well done art-style wise.”
“Excellent graphics.”
“Well thought-out story so far, graphically stunning, very immersive, and the soundtrack fits perfectly!”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with solid mechanics, but it is criticized for being too short, lasting only one to two hours. Some users feel that certain gameplay elements could benefit from further refinement. Overall, while it functions adequately, the brevity limits its recommendation.
“Very small gameplay parts could be reworked a tad to my liking, but it functions completely fine as is.”
“What is there is pretty good, but with only one to two hours of gameplay, I cannot give it a recommendation.”
“There are some gameplay mechanics that could be polished a bit more.”
“The game is only about one hour of gameplay.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its attention to detail and ability to enhance the spooky atmosphere, contributing significantly to the immersive experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack is well-composed and fits seamlessly with the game's story and graphics, reflecting the developers' dedication to creating a captivating audio experience.
“So much attention to detail, atmosphere, story, and music... you can tell this game is a labor of love.”
“The music is quite wonderful as well.”
“Well thought-out story so far, graphically stunning, very immersive, and the soundtrack fits perfectly!”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the sound effects are decent, the music doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't match the game's overall tone.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a deep emotional connection to games that showcase significant passion and creativity, lamenting the heartbreak of seeing such projects fail due to a lack of publicity and support.
“Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing an amazing game that obviously has a lot of passion behind it never come to fruition because it just didn't get the publicity to keep it going.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing inconsistent performance, averaging around 45-50 frames per second on mid-range hardware. Additionally, certain puzzles and chase sequences are noted to be somewhat unclear, potentially impacting the overall experience.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on mid-range hardware.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how well the game runs on my setup; the optimization really shines through.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game, making it accessible for a wider range of systems.”
“One puzzle and the 'chase' sequence are a bit obtuse, and my machine's performance was inconsistent. I have a GTX 970 with a 6th gen i7 and 16GB of RAM, and I was averaging about 45-50 frames, especially during intense moments.”
“The optimization is lacking; I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on a high-end setup.”
“Despite having a powerful rig, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have reported a high level of stability in the game, with no bugs or glitches encountered, even in its early access phase, indicating a commendable effort from the developers.
