The Lighthouse

About

The Lighthouse is a single player action game with a thriller theme. It was developed by Shadow Knights Studio and was released on October 31, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

atmosphere12 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a high production value with beautiful graphics and an engaging atmosphere, making it visually stunning and immersive.
The story is interesting and keeps players on their toes, with a strong emotional connection to the main character.
Despite being short, the game shows great potential and has received praise for its attention to detail, sound design, and overall execution.

The game has been in early access for several years with little to no updates, leading to frustration among players who feel it is incomplete.
Many players feel the price is too high for the limited content available, often describing it as a paid demo rather than a full game.
Gameplay is short, averaging only about 1-2 hours, which has left many players feeling disappointed and wanting more content.

atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, combining spooky sound design, detailed visuals, and a compelling story that evokes a sense of isolation and danger, particularly in its lighthouse setting. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to oscillate between unsettling and normal, creating a rich, noir-inspired ambiance that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the attention to detail and the atmospheric elements reflect a strong commitment to crafting a captivating horror/thriller environment.
- “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.”
- “So much attention to detail, atmosphere, story, music... you can tell this game is a labor of love.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The story is widely praised for its interesting and immersive qualities, with reviewers noting the meticulous attention to detail in atmosphere, visuals, and music. While some describe it as a series of experiences rather than a linear narrative, the overall concept and execution are considered gripping and well thought out, contributing to a captivating gaming 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.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's graphics are consistently praised for their high production value and stunning art style, contributing to an immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the excellent visuals and seamless integration with the story and soundtrack, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
- “The game has a high production value; it's very well done art-style wise.”
- “Story, atmosphere, visuals, audio, it's all amazing.”
- “Well thought-out story so far, graphically stunning, very immersive, and the soundtrack fits perfectly!”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The gameplay is generally well-received, with players noting that it is enjoyable but limited to just one to two hours of content. However, some mechanics could benefit from further polishing, and minor adjustments could enhance the experience. Overall, while the gameplay functions adequately, its brevity hampers its recommendation.
- “What is there is pretty good, but with only an hour to two hours of gameplay, I cannot give it a recommendation.”
- “Cons: there are some gameplay mechanics that could be polished a bit more.”
- “Very small gameplay parts could be reworked a tad to my liking, but it functions completely fine as is.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its attention to detail and ability to enhance the atmosphere, contributing to a spooky and 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, 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!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a deep emotional connection to games that showcase significant passion and creativity, lamenting the heartbreak of seeing such projects fail to succeed due to a lack of publicity. This sentiment highlights the importance of recognition and support for innovative game development.
- “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.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users report mixed experiences with optimization, noting that performance can be inconsistent, particularly during certain puzzles and chase sequences. On a system with a GTX 970, 6th gen i7, and 16GB RAM, frame rates averaged around 45-50, indicating potential performance issues.
- “One puzzle and 'chase' are a bit obtuse, and my machine's performance was a bit all over the place. With a GTX 970, 6th gen i7, and 16GB RAM, I was averaging about 45-50 frames, especially during intense moments.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have reported a remarkably stable experience with the game, noting the absence of bugs or glitches despite its early access status. Overall, the game's performance has been praised as impressive for a title still in development.