The Town of Light Reviews

The Town of Light is ranked in the 23rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Digitally Downloaded
Lindsay M.
Top Critic
Jun 16, 2017

I cannot thank the developer enough for The Town of Light. Not only are we beginning to acknowledge the injustices our ancestors committed, we are exploring how to prevent it from happening again by telling these important stories instead of burying them.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
9 / 10
Jun 15, 2017

What LKA has created here transcends being "just another video game"; The Town of Light is an incredibly important insight into a dark part of history that, thankfully, most of us are too young to have lived through.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 2, 2017

I had one of the worst times of my gaming life whilst playing through The Town Of Light, I felt constantly on edge and uncomfortable throughout the entire experience. With this in mind, I absolutely LOVED my time with the game, I just wish it was a bit longer and quicker at times.

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85 / 100
May 21, 2016

The Town of Light is a thoughtfully written, painstakingly designed walking simulator set in an early 20th century asylum. Though load times and sections that are less than intuitive cause frustration, they do not dissuade my recommendation. You'll quickly become caught up in the story of Renee, a young girl whose circumstances were depressingly real for many women during that time.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 7, 2017

The Town of Light tackles some very controversial themes in such a direct way that it's impossible not to be emotionally invested in Renée's story. Vastly enhanced by the faithful recreation of the Volterra asylum, The Town of Light manages to be an incredibly engaging experience thanks to the narrative flow, which drags players into this Hell on Earth and doesn't even let them go after the game's incredibly bittersweet ending. Actual gameplay may be lacking, but don't let this put you off you if you like psychological horror games and have the stomach to witness straight on the horrors inmates had to go through.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2016

The Town of Light is a powerful experience and you'll certainly be affected by its story. There are a few issues with music breaks and some of the things you'll see may provide too upsetting, but overall you'll never forget your time in Volterra.

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8 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2017

I'm not so foolish as to ignore that some of the game's missteps are just that. However, LKA should be commended for being one of only a few developers in recent memory who has endeavored to express this much humanity and depth for the community of the mentally ill and in a way that is so subversive. The Town of Light is an experience with the power to enlighten many to the anguish of those few still lost in the dark.

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8 / 10
Feb 26, 2016

[The Town of Light is] a game that tries to open people's eyes to the very real problem of mental health

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8 / 10
Jul 14, 2017

The Town of Light is a harsh horror game where the horror is very real – it is something that could certainly happen to us or to a loved one. What Renée had to go through, and how it changed her and made her into the person she is in the present day is something that you certainly will not forget.

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77 / 100
Jun 8, 2017

A haunting, personal horror story that does not need lazy jump scares or cheap shocking moments to be effective.

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75 / 100
Jun 8, 2017

There are plenty of engaging moments, despite the annoying puzzles, that make this game worth recommending. It's also a great representation of mental illness, portraying the patients not as cackling sociopaths, but as victims of tragedy. While it's not for everyone, especially those who want a more "in-your-face" kind of horror, the historical setting and creeping dread make for a very memorable experience.

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75 / 100
Jun 6, 2017

Great story overcomes lacking gameplay.

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GBAtemp
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2017

A dark and depressing exploration of a dark and depressing aspect in history. If you like the idea of that it will probably deliver.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2017

The Town of Light is the type of game that is going to make you think.

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7.4 / 10.0
Jun 26, 2017

Get engrossed in this decent psychological thriller.

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7 / 10
Jun 6, 2017

The Town of Light isn't a game you play for fun. There's nothing enjoyable about the true face of mental illness nor the fear and isolation it engenders. Instead of aiming to reward players with a sense of enjoyment, LKA.it strives to help them empathise with the character of Renée and the unspeakable horrors she's forced to endure. There's a sobering, meaningful story to be witnessed and while its delivery is imperfect, The Town of Light still makes for one of the most thought-provoking games of this year.

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Aug 3, 2017

If you're intrigued by The Town of Light's exploration of mental health and abuse and can stand a slower-paced, less-than-challenging game, this one might just cure what ails you.

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7 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2017

If you're looking for a feel-good gaming experience, it's probably best to steer clear of The Town of Light. It's a darkly haunting narrative that touches on a subject matter that doesn't get anywhere near enough attention nowadays, while also avoiding falling into the trap of sensationalism. As long as you can get past some of its legitimate structure issues, not to mention a general lack of a cohesive gameplay thread, it provides a depressing, yet unforgettable quest into a person's descent into madness. While this is definitely not an experience that I plan on putting myself through ever again, it will undoubtedly stick with me for a long time.

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3.5 / 5.0
Jun 6, 2017

The Town of Light is an ambitious game to cover such heavy subject matter.

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7 / 10
Jun 6, 2017

The Town of Light is a beautiful title, with great sound and reworked voice-overs that improve on the original release, but it needs harder puzzles, some work on the camera and maybe be a bit darker to give the flashlight some purpose. Besides that, The Town of Light accomplishes what it promises, and is a game people need to try, because it is something different to experience within the video game medium.

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