Lightmatter

 PC
Lightmatter Image
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

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  • Summary: Lightmatter is the atmospheric, first-person puzzle game inside a mysterious experimental facility where the shadows will kill you. Watch your movements closely through the sprawling tunnels and rooms or be swallowed into the vast darkness. The game tells a sci-fi story about a maniacLightmatter is the atmospheric, first-person puzzle game inside a mysterious experimental facility where the shadows will kill you. Watch your movements closely through the sprawling tunnels and rooms or be swallowed into the vast darkness. The game tells a sci-fi story about a maniac inventor who has created the ultimate power source called Lightmatter. Players must explore the facility in an attempt to discover the hidden plot, while facing challenging puzzles that require mastering different light sources to survive.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. 4Players.de
    Jan 16, 2020
    87
    Quotation forthcoming.
  2. PLAY! Zine
    Jan 13, 2020
    85
    Lightmatter is created as a spin-off to Portal games, but with very unique and challenging mechanics of using light sources. Using aesthetically pleasing high contrast graphics, players will learn to navigate through levels and solve puzzles that get more complicated with each passing level.
  3. Hardcore Gamer
    Jan 23, 2020
    80
    What makes Lightmatter work isn’t the puzzles or the story but how well the two fit together. Every new room is a different challenge and comes with its own chunk of story as well. It also helps that the game has a distinct art style, mostly blues and blacks but with everything clearly defined in bold solid colors. The player moves at a decent speed, and movement is nicely responsive so there’s never any impatience at enacting an attempt at a new possible solution. There’s an unanswered mystery as to the player’s identity, teased at but never revealed in any kind of believable way, but in the end it’s not important.
  4. Screen Rant
    Jan 15, 2020
    70
    Lightmatter is a little heavy on its influences, but nonetheless is a fascinating and tightly-wound first person puzzle game with plenty of tricks.
  5. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jan 22, 2020
    70
    Lightmatter is a very interesting Portal-like game, featuring some brilliant ideas and puzzles based on light and shadow.
  6. Eurogamer Italy
    Jan 16, 2020
    70
    Quotation forthcoming.
  7. Slant Magazine
    Jan 13, 2020
    60
    This is a game that tasks you with trying to escape the facility in one moment, then with helping to shut it down in the next. And because your motivations are so ill-defined, it’s impossible not to see your character as anything but a vehicle for solving puzzles, ensuring that Lightmatter is unable to step out of the silhouette of its most brilliant predecessor. And that’s a damning thing for a game that’s all about deadly shadows.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. cnheider
    Jan 15, 2020
    10
    This was the best game I have played for quite a while, really itched my portal scratch. Loved it.
  2. easyblakeoven13
    Feb 27, 2020
    10
    Sometimes a game comes along and is just a breath of fresh air. This game really made me think to solve puzzles and I only wanted more when itSometimes a game comes along and is just a breath of fresh air. This game really made me think to solve puzzles and I only wanted more when it was over. Kudos to the devs as you can tell they put their heart and soul into this game.

    Give this one a try, you won't regret it.    … Expand
  4. Tper
    Jan 15, 2020
    10
    Totally recommended.

    I only have 2 hours so far in the game, not sure how much I covered so far, but the story is gripping. So is the level    Totally recommended.

    I only have 2 hours so far in the game, not sure how much I covered so far, but the story is gripping. So is the level design and the art is great. The gameplay feels good and even though I felt lost a few times, it was not due to the game but because of myself. The music is super chill and I'm hoping for a way to have the soundtrack playing in the background.

    I'm happy that I kept away from getting spoiled until release, it was definitely worth it.    … Expand
  5. JJRambo
    Mar 6, 2020
    9
    smart puzzles, good story, art style looks really good. Had so much fun playing it
  6. AstiX
    May 3, 2020
    9
    GOOD

    Fun and enjoyable. Satisfying puzzles. Simple and pleasing aesthetics. Great voice acting.

    BAD

    Choppy/stuttery mouse movement.
  7. GameBoyAdv4002
    Aug 21, 2021
    7
    This game is... fine, really. If you like this kind of puzzle game, then it'll be really good. If you are like me, then you might not even beThis game is... fine, really. If you like this kind of puzzle game, then it'll be really good. If you are like me, then you might not even be convinced to finish it. It's a lot like Portal in many ways: a puzzler in which you complete a series of room with challenges based around altering a fundamental law of the universe. Unlike Portal, it has much less universal appeal. You are forced to disobey your GLaDOS figure several times, and it isn't anywhere close to as fun to here him get angry as it is to hear GLaDOS be angry. To be honest, you might have a better time just playing the extremely generous demo.… Expand
  8. Renovatia
    Apr 7, 2020
    6
    A First Person puzzle solver. Walk around and solve puzzles involving either a sort of a torch or a standing flashlight and finally both ofA First Person puzzle solver. Walk around and solve puzzles involving either a sort of a torch or a standing flashlight and finally both of them, in combination with moving objects such as doors, rotating bridges, hallways and so forth. The point of it is to create a path of light because shadows will kill you but you want to escape the facility you're in.

    Think of games like Portal (same developer), The Turing Test, Talos Principle and so forth.

    Suppose your path is a U shape but in-between there are, shadows, obstacles and moving parts so you need to drag light sources around to create a path to reach the exit. You may need to create an additional path first to reach an additional light source and retrace your stops to create the final path with your additional resource. Rinse and repeat.

    Almost all puzzles (but the last) were sort of easy in... hindsight. Halfway or so you know how to think and it all becomes a matter of figuring out in what order you should do things. Occasionally you need to place a light source very accurately on an odd spot so it shines through a narrow windows or opening.

    Eventually, things become repetitive, which is a huge risk when the elements you work with are few throughout the game. In a game which involves light, I'd expect puzzles to include lenses, mirrors and prisms, but that path wasn't explored at all (get it? get it?). It's only about doors, moving platforms and dark hallways. The puzzle-makers had an easy time with this game, that I'm sure of. You can find on the internet how these kind of puzzles are developed.

    Twice I had to consult a walk-through because the switches didn't work due to some bug. Reloading the game fixed it. The game also crashed four or five times (version 1.02), but luckily this game autosaves a lot. You cannot save manually and that's not needed anyway.

    I had to consult a walk-through two more times, but this time it was because my intelligence has no lower bounds, nor do the upper bounds resemble anything impressive. I'm sure Professor Miller, the game's snarky co-star would agree. I feel his insults are a little better than that of GlaDOS, but I have read a different opinion as well.

    The graphics are meh, as in minimal. Even more minimal that Portal, Talos Principle or The Turing Test. The surroundings are set in a stylish grey-ish tone. So it's not demanding on your PC, but despite that, there was some mouselag for some odd reason. I don't think they used any optimizing techniques.

    The ending is somewhere between OK-ish and bit of a dud. In hindsight it wasn't worth my time, but that's debatable. The "secret" alternative ending is even far less impressive. Everybody would agree on that one, I'm sure.

    If you're in for solving stuff without getting into the realm of ultra complex lateral thinking, then sure, buy this. There isn't much on the market when it comes to these kind of games. If you're in it for additionally a deep story with good and consistent story quality from A-to-Z then this game might be a tad too light for you. I feel this game is meant to cool off a river of lava with a few drops of water. I'm grateful for that, but I crave for more.

    I gave it a 6/10 because I know I'll forget about this game in a day or two. Though the story and reveal is OK, the resolution is underwhelming. Should you pay the full $/€ 20 for it? When it's on sale then the purchase is a no-brainer. Personally I don't mind a far more expensive puzzle-solver for equally more quality, but in this era of the First Person Shooter, microtransaction lootboxes and pricey DLC's, a successful pitch for a high-quality single-player non-action intelligent game is nearly impossible for investors to produce.    … Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

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