Child of Light Reviews

Child of Light is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Unscored
May 6, 2014

I want to enjoy it more: the hybridity of the game is daring and to be applauded. There's obvious passion and idiosyncrasy here, which aren't things you can always say about games spat from the cogs of AAA development. But delightful though it looks, and as winsome as its talking mice are, the combination of frictionless overworld and my frustration with its battle system left me feeling enervated. A less than fabulous fable, then, with a not so fairytale ending.

Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 28, 2014

Child of Light is a bright spot in a genre overwhelmed by mediocrity. Beautifully retro, yet modern, and incredibly addicting–Ubisoft Montreal has created a rich world and style that is unlike anything I've played before.

Read full review

Apr 28, 2014

Players attracted to the visuals and style may be alarmed to find the combat so frequent (and the writing uneven), but anyone even mildly interested in JRPG combat should give this game a look. Issues aside, it's a clear sign that even big-budget studios can stray from the beaten path with success. And there is no doubt many players will fall in love with its blend of whimsical storytelling, engaging combat, and an attention to detail that deserves particular appreciation.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
May 8, 2014

Parts of the game don't work, but they don't take away from what it's trying to do.

Read full review

Apr 27, 2014

It is a blending of genre and style that is an unexpected treat, and already one of the year's role-playing game highlights.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2014

Child of Light is a game that should not be missed, especially by RPG fans. If someone asked me to give them an example of why video games are considered art, Child of Light would be that game. Child of Light is easily an early contender for Game of the Year.

Read full review

6 / 10
Apr 30, 2014

Child of Light perhaps doesn't shine as bright as it might, but it's nonetheless quite a dazzling sight.

Read full review

90 / 100
Apr 30, 2014

Between its artistic strengths and its addictive gameplay Child of Light is a fairy tale well worth the price of admission that I wish more studios would take notice of.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
May 29, 2014

Child of Light is an artist's RPG through and through. Combat is more thoughtful than intimidating, the story is at once archetypal and clever, and the game's visual and auditory flare is truly something to behold.

Read full review

Apr 27, 2014

While its writing can make one cringe now and then, Child of Light is an overall charmer of a game, with a beautiful audiovisual style and clever twists on simple RPG concepts. Lovely stuff!

Read full review

9 / 10
Apr 27, 2014

Child of Light has a few flaws, but these don't prevent it from being an instant classic. A lot like Braid in 2008, this will be a title that comes to represent a whole new generation of 'artsy' affairs, and while its running time leans a little on the short side, its excellent battle system and outstanding art style will ensure that you enjoy every minute while it lasts. If you're looking for something a little different for your PS4 – or you just want to reward the poor writer who had to spend months slumped over a rhyming dictionary in order to concoct the cunningly clever plot – then this is very much a must buy.

Read full review

May 1, 2014

Offering high-quality gameplay and a beautiful world to explore, Child of Light is one of this year's downloadable standouts.

Read full review

8 / 10
May 27, 2014

Child of Light is nothing short of a delight of appealing mechanics and marvelous artistic component, set to enchant those looking for a charming RPG. Its storylines could use some additional development, as well as more tasks outside the plot's line, but this remains a solid choice.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

May 6, 2014

Someone will likely prove this statement wrong, but there hasn't been a game that's run this far with the storybook conceit, and if there is, it's a near-certainty it wasn't executed with this much beauty, heart, and care.

Read full review

Liked
May 20, 2014
Child of Light - Video Review (Wii U) video thumbnail
Apr 28, 2014

A lovable combination of classic Japanese RPG adventure and European folklore, dressed to look like a gorgeous, hand-painted platform game. It's a little too slight for classic status, but it still has some of the old magic and mystery of the nineties Square Enix greats. It's superb value for a download title, and unmissable whether or not you played and loved its inspirations.

Read full review

EGM
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Apr 30, 2014

Gorgeous to see and hear and engaging as far as gameplay is concerned, Child of Light is an excellently built game with a forgivably wonky augmentation system but an underdeveloped narrative. Its artists very clearly knew what they wanted it to be, but couldn't quite manage to orchestrate effectively. Play it, soak up its beauty, but expect a jejune take on fairy tale yarn-spinning.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Apr 28, 2014

The visuals, the gameplay, the music, the story, and everything else — when all of these elements come together perfectly and form a true world. A world that takes no effort to get lost in, a world that takes you far away. Individual parts of a game are huge, to be sure, but it is a world that we as gamers truly crave, a world that takes us to an experience beyond anything we previously could have imagined.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Apr 28, 2014

Child of Light portrays this through polish, style and grace And for its troubles, a perfect score

Read full review

Apr 28, 2014

Child of Light is a beautiful adventure through a whimsical fantasy world, but its story lacks emotional resonance.

Read full review