Dark Light (Game Jam Version)
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
The year is 1923, and you have been dispatched to a remote lighthouse to investigate a series of mysterious occurrences. According to reports, the lighthouse's light has been emitting a strange red glow for several days, but now it has gone completely dark.
As you approach the lighthouse, you sense that something is amiss – the air is thick with an eerie silence that seems to hang heavily in the desolate surroundings. As you begin your investigation, you realize that the lighthouse is hiding secrets that are far more ominous than you could have ever imagined.
You must tap into your problem-solving skills and use your intuition to uncover the truth behind the lighthouse's malfunction and the strange happenings that have been taking place there. Each puzzle you solve and every clue you discover brings you closer to unraveling the mystery and confronting the source of the strange occurrences.
Instructions
Left mouse button click to interact with the environment.
Move cursor arrow to upper centre of screen to open inventory.
Press Q to quit game.
Created in 14 days for Adventure Jam 2023
Game Designer
Kevin Wickenden
@polytelygames (itch.io)
Sound Designer
Javier Ventosa
@ventousa (itch.io)
Art Designer
Theodora Simpson
@poltergayst (itch.io)
Download
Development log
- Minor bug fix all versionsJun 11, 2023
Comments
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pretty good game, but I can't figure out the semaphore puzzle at all
Thank you for playing, the semaphore puzzle is solved by manually directing the light in the direction you hear the bell ringing out of the window, thus illuminating the boat and a semaphore signal, collect all 4 noting the symbol on the window of each and use the chart on the wall to gain the code to unlock the box on the lower floor. I hope that helps.
Thank you! that clears things up a lot!
The executable file in the Windows download doesn't seem to be working for me - are there any other prereqs I need to install first?
I'm sorry to hear this, may i ask which version of windows you are running?
Windows 11.
:-: Cannot solve this
Great vibe, I really felt I was alone somewhere I shouldn't be, the gray scale with bits of meaningful really added to it, and great sound. But I am not an avid puzzle game player, so i got stuck pretty quickly, i could have used some clues. oh theres a pdf! nice
Awesome game. reminds me of the movie "the lighthouse" which I haven't seen yet, but I bet it would be pretty similar to this.
Loved your game, the atmosphere of it is just perfect. The music and sound design choices are so good that perfectly fit the scene, I especially love the menu sound that plays when choosing between begin and leave There are some really good puzzle elements in this, overall a really solid game.
This is an amazing game. The graphics, sound design and especially the puzzles are all excellent. There is not a single thing to dislike. Well ... I could have done with a little less grunting and stair climbing. But considering that's down to my puzzle skills (or more accurately, lack of them), I can hardly blame the game, can I now? :)
Personally, I wasn't so much reminded of Rusty Lake as of Mateusz Skutnik's submachine series. Which is most certainly not a bad thing. The slightly unsettling vibes are somewhat reminiscent of the former though.
Puzzle difficulty was spot on for me. I didn't really get stuck, but I had to keep thinking the whole time. I do like escape games and solving problems felt very rewarding. Easily one of my favourite entries this jam.
Finished your game. I love the art style and the mysterious atmosphere in your game. The puzzles were quite difficult.
As you wrote, "You need to use your problem-solving skills and use your intuition," the game made me feel like I were completely on my own and had to think for myself. Wished there were at least some comments which give me some glues. I didn't actually know what to do and had to look permanently in the walkthrough.
It was still fun to play your game. Well done!
Very nice game, although I am absolutely stuck with the 4-digit code... 🤦♀️
Another game crashed my browser, won't replay, but would love to know the trick to that code
Wow - it's really good - both the atmosphere and sounds work quite well - I didn't finish it yet - but so far I'm enjoying it very much
The art style and the background music fits so well to give me the sense of desolation and mystery! I like how you play different piano notes everytime I swap the symbols.
Thank you for playing, the wonderful sound design is the work of Javier Ventosa @ventousa and the beautiful art design to Theodora Simpson @poltergayst
This has been really nice. Can't figure out what the 4 digit code is. Every combination I can think of doesn't work, starting at the top as 0 or 1. Can't seem to find the rope, either.
The semaphore appears to be a red herring.
Some of the inter activeness wasn't immediately obvious, or what to do, which made it seem like trial and error, specifically the discs on the dresser.
I have the bulb lit, so that's good.
Thank you for playing, I'm sorry for not replying sooner, but I wasn't notified of comments on this page and have just discovered them. Anyway I'm sorry the code had a bug with the last two symbols being inverted, it is patched with the latest version. The code is matching the symbols on the windows and the semaphore flag numbers. We worked right until the deadline for submission and would have preferred some more time to fine tune and play test, you are correct that it isn't always clear what is interactive, we used some text displayed, but not always, then you only have the slight difference in the change of mouser cursor to show you what to touch, but it's very subtle.
Hey There!
Not a problem. I think was a great entry for the jam. I really like these kind of escape games. It is not contrived, just nice and logical puzzles.
Good luck in the jam!