Vigil: The Longest Night

Vigil: The Longest Night is an outstanding indie title for fans of challenging action platformers steeped in gothic horror.

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"Vigil: The Longest Night" is a Metroidvania-style side-scroller reminiscent of classics like "Salt and Sanctuary" and "Castlevania." In this game, players join protagonist Leila in her quest to protect her town, battle dark creatures, and uncover sinister plots. With a vast array of weapons, arcane abilities, and throwable items, players can customize their combat style to suit their preferences and the specific challenges they face. Exploration, complex combat, and a dark narrative await in this engaging adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,195 reviews

story178 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

Gorgeous art style and atmosphere that evokes a strong sense of dread and immersion.
Engaging combat system with a variety of weapons and skill trees that allow for different playstyles.
Rewarding exploration with numerous secrets, side quests, and collectibles to discover.

Confusing quest system with points of no return that can lock players out of content without warning.
Some technical issues, including bugs and performance problems, particularly with controller support.
The story can be convoluted and poorly translated, making it difficult to fully grasp the narrative.

story
683 mentions
26 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of *Vigil: The Longest Night* is a complex blend of cosmic horror and personal narrative, drawing inspiration from Lovecraft and games like *Bloodborne*. While some players find the plot intriguing and emotionally resonant, others criticize it for being convoluted, poorly translated, and difficult to follow, often requiring multiple playthroughs to fully grasp. The quest system is also a point of contention, with many quests being missable or failing without clear warnings, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Falling heavily in the action-RPG square of the metroidvania axis, you'll have to talk to villagers to get quests, puzzle out some cryptic clues, and make decisions that have huge effects on the story and progression - including making difficult trade-offs with no good solutions and where someone will suffer no matter what you do (well placed in an eldritch universe where most people die in horror and misery).”
- “It's so charming, fun, creepy, the music is excellent, the characters are wonderful and silly, the story is a fun tale of saving your sister from eldritch horror, and all of the 2D art is absolutely stellar.”
- “The story is compelling enough to maintain your interest, and drive you to interact with NPCs and complete their questlines without being overbearing and railroading your every movement and action.”
- “The story is convoluted and not really sure what happened even after completing the game.”
- “The story is very confusing and unclear; also, I'm not a fan of this type of 'quests' in a metroidvania, especially since it locks you out of certain quests early in the game.”
- “The story makes almost no sense other than bad guys being bad.”
music
277 mentions
57 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many tracks described as beautiful, haunting, and reminiscent of classic titles like Castlevania. However, some players noted issues with repetitiveness and occasional mismatches between the music and the environment, leading to a lack of variety in certain areas. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “Lastly, I want to mention the music, which is beautiful and brilliant at setting the mood of mingled awe and despair befitting a story where even the secret best ending is a nightmare.”
- “The music is always fitting with the atmosphere, and the game itself is fun to play.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely epic.”
- “For example, you'll go to one area and there's upbeat and intense music and you feel a bit of a rush and then you'll go to another and it's just silence, no music or anything.”
- “The biggest problem the game has, however, is the fact the music in the forest is absolutely incredibly loud compared to everything else that it gets very, very jarring.”
- “Not all of them were a hit - I found the music in the forest to be a bit too over the top for me and highly repetitive, and several of the boss soundtracks were not very memorable.”
gameplay
268 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Vigil: The Longest Night" is a blend of metroidvania exploration and souls-like combat mechanics, offering a mix of enjoyable combat and exploration, though it suffers from clunky controls and some repetitive elements. While many players appreciate the art style, atmosphere, and engaging lore, they also note issues with save mechanics, unbalanced enemies, and a lack of diversity in gameplay mechanics that can lead to frustration. Overall, the game provides a solid experience for fans of the genre, but it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a polished and innovative gameplay experience.
- “A really beautiful game with a great, dark atmosphere and super fun gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is very fluid and enjoyable, to the point where I actually enjoyed it more than I did Salt and Sanctuary.”
- “Vigil provides a good mix of tried-and-true gameplay via the metroidvania style with an aesthetic and story that is both creepy and compelling.”
- “Clunky mechanics.”
- “The gameplay was alright... the exploration and maps felt really bland and underwhelming overall though and it kinda killed it for me.”
- “But I have to point out that enemies are unbalanced like hell, there are a lot of one-shot moves and the only way to get stronger is to find hidden items in the game which grant passive buffs and as you might guess it's an awful mechanic.”
graphics
263 mentions
55 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its unique art style and atmospheric visuals that evoke a dark, gothic aesthetic reminiscent of titles like Bloodborne and Salt and Sanctuary. While some players noted issues with polish and occasional graphical bugs, the overall impression is that the visuals are beautiful, immersive, and effectively contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere. The combination of fluid animations, detailed character designs, and engaging environments has made the graphics a standout feature for many players.
- “The graphics are beautiful, the combat is fun, and the atmosphere is fantastic.”
- “The art style is great but it's very odd with the 3D main character running around while everything is 2D.”
- “The graphics chosen for this game help set the bleak tone for this world covered in eternal night.”
- “Graphics somewhere between a Vanillaware game and Newgrounds browser RPG, but not in a good way like 'The Vagrant' and just looks cheap.”
- “Definitely worth a try, even though the graphics look like a mobile game.”
- “Overall, it feels extremely unpolished, which is unfortunate, because the story isn't all bad, the setting is pretty decent, the visuals are alright, and the music is quite good.”
atmosphere
123 mentions
65 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, characterized by a beautiful art style, a dark fantasy setting, and a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and intrigue, drawing comparisons to beloved titles like Bloodborne and Hollow Knight. Overall, the atmospheric design, combined with engaging gameplay and exploration, makes it a standout feature that resonates deeply with players.
- “The atmosphere in this game is unmatched; the combat is fluid and satisfying, and the art style is so pretty for a 2D game.”
- “A really beautiful game with a great, dark atmosphere and super fun gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere is worth the price of admission, with amazing visuals and a brilliant soundtrack.”
- “The lead up to this weighty, occult atmosphere is a short traipse through an ossuary and 10 minutes of repetitive combat against two weak enemy types with no interesting or novel mechanics, together with some low stakes platforming.”
- “Despite lots of horrific set pieces, this game is written with such puerility that it completely misses the mark on creating a horrifying atmosphere.”
- “The biggest strength of this game is the art style and the atmosphere.”
grinding
29 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience, with some players finding it tedious due to long enemy encounters, backtracking, and a lack of meaningful rewards. While some aspects of grinding can lead to quick character progression or resource accumulation, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, making exploration and combat feel repetitive. Overall, the game offers a balance where grinding is necessary but can become frustrating, especially with the manual save system and limited character growth.
- “Wasn't too grindy and there are some great Steam guides for the collectible achievements.”
- “You either kill enemies in one or two hits, or you hack away at them for so long that it gets tedious, and you start skipping that enemy type whenever you see them.”
- “The bad: it's really easy to break the game with just 15 minutes of grinding mid-game if you wanted to, to the point where fighting isn't fun.”
- “Your character does not get stronger; you just get new movesets for your weapons, which does not feel very satisfying at all - this makes grinding for levels useless.”
stability
27 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability has improved since its initial release, with many players reporting no major crashes or game-breaking bugs during their playtime. However, some users still encounter minor glitches, particularly with animations, quest markers, and visual effects, which can detract from the experience. While the game is generally playable, certain areas and quests remain problematic, indicating that further patches may be needed to fully address these issues.
- “In my 21 hours of playtime, I experienced no game crashes, broken quests, or odd glitches.”
- “All of the quests I got are doable and not buggy at all.”
- “As for the game, I got this game for the Steam Deck and it runs great except for one rainy area.”
- “The game started out pretty clunky and buggy.”
- “I try to get into this game but it is just too buggy and janky.”
- “Lots of visual glitches, sound effects glitches, and quests breaking (had 2 glitch out and were not able to be completed) which, while some are ignorable, others when encountered just feel awful to experience.”
replayability
24 mentions
42 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game offers a solid level of replayability, featuring multiple playstyles, skill trees, and various endings that encourage players to explore different approaches. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth in character building, the inclusion of new game plus (NG+) modes and optional challenges enhances replay value. Overall, players appreciate the diverse combat options and the potential for varied playthroughs, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “Good amount of replayability considering you have 4 distinct playstyles (swords, axes, knives, bows).”
- “You do have multiple endings which does provide replay value.”
- “The inclusion of skill trees for the different weapon types is a nice way to diversify gameplay and add replayability as well.”
- “Just lacked some depth; the history could be longer and have more replay value, like Salt and Sanctuary.”
- “So the game has zero replay value.”
- “Overall, it's a fun game; I just hope there was more customization for your skills and content to keep replay value up.”
optimization
15 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly at 4K/60 fps on higher-end systems and offers a solid overall experience, players have reported occasional stuttering, minor clipping, and hit detection issues. Some users found the performance spotty even on recommended specs, and the lack of checkpoints can be frustrating. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and has room for improvement, it falls short of being fully polished.
- “There is definitely room for number crunching and build optimization.”
- “Very well optimized at 4K/60 fps, at least for my i7 9750 with 16 GB RAM and GeForce 2070 Super card.”
- “Overall a stellar metroidvania experience, lots of stuff to explore, getting the true ending was a lot of fun, performance was solid; I only had one serious FPS drop in the flooded area boss arena, beyond that no crashes at all.”
- “Poorly optimized, visually horrible, bad controls, awful gameplay. If you die, you lose all progress instead of simply starting from a checkpoint like any Metroidvania. It feels like a 90's game.”
- “The performance is also spotty, especially for the recommended specs.”
- “I do hope they address the occasional stuttering that occurs; it seems to happen no matter what resolution I set it at.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it features a plot with some intricacy and emotional weight, players often feel detached due to a lack of meaningful character development and a resolution that undermines initial investment. Many find themselves disengaged, either rushing through the story or feeling like they are replaying a familiar experience without emotional stakes, despite some redeeming qualities in combat and environment. Overall, the emotional connection is hampered by technical issues and a disappointing narrative progression.
- “All of this is wrapped up in a plot that might not be winning any awards, but still has enough intricacy and emotional weight to keep a player invested.”
- “It's certainly not The Witcher 3, but it made me feel a tiny bit like that.”
- “Finally, the resolution of the plot twist breaks any emotional investment into the world and its characters you established during the prologue - instead offering 'new', less likable characters with even sketchier writing and character development.”
humor
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is inconsistent, with some players finding amusing moments in bugs and quirky animations, while others feel the mix of dark themes and cheesy jokes can be jarring. Although there are funny easter eggs, the overall tone shifts between serious and humorous, which may detract from the experience for some.
- “There are some bugs here and there; I got to use a bow with the moveset of the sword, and it was funny.”
- “+ funny easter eggs”
- “Writing seems to go from trying to be dark, serious, and foreboding to having weird jokes and cheesy humor, which can get very jarring given the setting.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its complexity and depth, featuring rich content and multiple endings that enhance player engagement. However, some players feel that the resolution undermines earlier emotional investments by introducing less relatable characters with weaker development. Overall, the character and world designs are praised for their artistic quality, contributing to the immersive experience.
- “Rather complex, a lot of character development, lots of content and multiple endings.”
- “The world and character designs are fantastic and really draw you into the grim experience of the longest night.”
- “Love the art style and character designs.”
- “Finally, the resolution of the plot twist breaks any emotional investment into the world and its characters you established during the prologue - instead offering 'new', less likable characters with even sketchier writing and character development.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for being intrusive, with frequent ads that disrupt gameplay and make it difficult for players to focus on the action, particularly during boss encounters.
- “The constant barrage of ads makes it nearly impossible to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “It feels like the game is designed to push you towards microtransactions at every turn, which ruins the overall experience.”
- “The monetization strategy is so aggressive that it overshadows the gameplay, making it hard to focus on anything else.”