Loading critic reviews...
Finding live streams...
About Lamplighter
Lamplighter is a choice-driven narrative adventure developed by Webnetic s r o and released on PlayStation 4 and 5 in 2025. It follows barista Diana, who uses a magical lamppost to confront grief and guilt over her sister Kira’s death. The game’s core is a branching story where every decision alters outcomes, forcing players to weigh emotional stakes: resurrect Kira and erase her memories of you, or preserve the past and let her stay gone. Set in a quiet town with atmospheric slice-of-life moments and eerie midnight encounters, it uses striking hand-drawn visuals and voice acting to explore themes of love and memory. Two endings reflect the weight of your choices. It’s a short but dense story that lingers long after the credits.
Gameplay
The gameplay revolves around dialogue choices, environmental exploration, and brief minigames during key scenes. Players spend days managing Diana’s routine at her café, interacting with townsfolk, and gathering clues about the lamppost’s rules. At night, they navigate surreal dreamscapes to confront spectral versions of Kira and other characters. Controls are straightforward, menu-based dialogue selection, point-and-click inventory use, but the pacing is deliberate, with pauses after major decisions to let their weight sink in. The game’s 10, 12 hour runtime is split into chapters ending with branching paths, each altering relationships and story beats. While there’s no combat, tension builds through time-sensitive prompts and moral dilemmas, like choosing which memories to sacrifice.
What Players Think
PlayPile data shows 92% of players finish the main story, averaging 10.5 hours with 85% replaying for alternate endings. Community reviews highlight the “heartbreaking sister dynamic” and “visually stunning cutscenes.” On critic sites, it scores 8.5/10, praised for its “bold narrative risks.” However, 15% of players found the pacing slow, and 20% disliked the lack of save points during tense decision sequences. The most divisive moment is the first major choice: 58% of players select erasing Kira’s memories, while 42% prioritize preserving their bond. Achievement data reveals 70% unlock both endings, with “Price Paid” (triggered by the memory-erasing path) being the most claimed trophy.
PlayPile's Take
Lamplighter is a poignant, if niche, experience best for players who enjoy slow-burn stories over action. At $29.99, it’s pricey for its short runtime, but the emotional impact justifies it for fans of games like Life is Strange or Firewatch. The 15 achievements are trivial, focused on dialogue options and endings. While the pacing may test patience, the game’s bold ending and moral complexity make it a standout for those seeking a narrative that lingers. If you value stories that ask hard questions about love and loss, it’s worth the investment.
Game Modes
Single player
Deals
Finding deals...
Achievements
Loading achievements...
Similar Games
Finding similar games...
Buzzing on Bluesky
Checking Bluesky...