The Town of Light Critic Reviews
23 Total Reviews
15 Positive Reviews(65.2%)
7 Mixed Reviews(30.4%)
1 Negative Reviews(4.3%)
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Digitally Downloaded
June 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.
Wccftech
June 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.
PlayStation Country
May 29, 2017
Mental illness is always a tough subject to pitch correctly. The Town of Light, to me, does an admirable job with a period tale filled with a bleak series of events. It’s a thought-provoking journey through a truly troubled mind. It might prove upsetting but I do feel this is worth consideration.
God is a Geek
June 6, 2017
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.
Multiplayer.it
June 6, 2017
The Town of Light is an intense and dramatic experience, though technically poor.
PlayStation LifeStyle
June 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.
DualShockers
July 27, 2017
The Town of Light is an experience with the power to enlighten many to the anguish of those few still lost in the dark.
GamePro Germany
June 8, 2017
A haunting, personal horror story that doesn't need jumpscares or cheap shcking moments.
COGconnected
June 6, 2017
The Town of Light is not perfect, and it defies the usual categories in many ways – frankly, given its lack of player agency, it’s even hard to call it a game. But it is a narrative experience every gamer should try. After you finish it, and put down the controller, Renée’s sad life story will haunt you in ways that no feral ghoul or shuffling zombie ever could.
GamingTrend
June 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.
PlaySense
June 29, 2017
A dark, intriguing and very grown-up story is The Town of Light's greatest draw, though long loading times and inexplicable framedrops keep it from reaching lofty heights.
TheSixthAxis
June 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.
Hardcore Gamer
June 6, 2017
I found it enjoyable, but I also have an interest in old medical and mental illness treatment practices. Someone looking for action or a Resident Evil style horror experience should skip this, but those looking for a good story in a beautifully bleak environment to explore at a leisurely pace would likely find some enjoyment in The Town of Light.
DarkZero
June 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.
Playstation Official Magazine UK
August 9, 2017
It's such a shame the visuals end up spoiling an otherwise harrowing experience.
Push Square
June 6, 2017
The Town of Light is a powerful experience that highlights a fascinating, if chilling, chapter in human history. The heavy atmosphere is achieved through the very real setting of Volterra, and Renée’s unfortunate tale of life inside its walls that represents the woes of many real people. The story meanders a little too far into obscurity and can become confusing, and some long load times scupper things further. While you won’t necessarily have fun in the traditional sense, it’s worth playing if you’re at all interested, as it contains some striking sequences that will stay with you long after you finish.
IGN Spain
June 6, 2017
A different kind of horror that could have been much better without its technical flaws and a bit more freedom.
PlayStation Universe
June 6, 2017
While The Town of Light is rough around the edges, both in technical and narrative terms, it does at least provide a different kind of horror compared to the current market. It's one based on a grim, bleak history of the treatment of mental health issues, and that makes for an unpleasant, yet fascinating experience if you can stomach both the subject matter and the low quality of the game's performance.
VideoGamer
June 9, 2017
The Town of Light has an interesting premise, but, however worthy an enterprise it is, the story is just too confused a journey to leave a real impact.
Twinfinite
June 28, 2017
Sticking with The Town of Light’s slow, meandering storytelling and linear exploration in the early chapters does pay off eventually, but if the dark and often distressing tale of Renee and the happenings in World War II era insane asylums doesn’t interest you, there is very little to see that wouldn’t be even more of a turn off.