Candleman [Switch]

Candleman is an interesting little puzzle-platformer from developer Spotlightor Interactive, wherein you play as a little candle trying to find his way in the world, without his flame burning out completely. It was originally conceived as a Game Jam idea under the premise of “ten seconds”. The core gameplay mechanics of Candleman involve dimly-lit levels that you must work your way through, with some areas being in almost complete darkness. As a candle, you can ignite your flame to gain visibility in darker areas, but this can only be for a maximum of 10 seconds, otherwise the flame will extinguish - inevitably leading to failure. Split into thirteen chapters, with DLC available to provide an additional three, the little candle must explore this strange and dull world in search of light, navigating a variety of puzzles and obstacles on the way.

Showcasing a very moody, dark aesthetic punctuated with brief moments of light, Candleman looks exactly how you’d think a puzzle game focused around candlelight would look. Levels consist of various platforms made up of wooden crates, books, pipes and more - that seems to emphasise just how small our little Candleman is. The sound design is well done, with lots of environmental sounds, and the clip-clopping of Candleman’s footsteps as they move from place to place, which helps you to judge your movement when in darkened areas. You can hear if you’re wading through water, and igniting your candle lets off a satisfying singe. Music is kept to a minimum, with lots of droning brassy sounds, mixed with lighter chimes that really add to the overall atmosphere.

Controls feel decent, which is crucial - being that the visuals are purposefully obscured by darkness, so you’ll need to ensure that you don’t use all of your flame too soon, otherwise you’ll find yourself bumping your way around a location, trying to keep track of which direction you’re going! Available for £12.59 on the Switch eShop, Candleman is ideal for someone looking for a clever puzzle game that isn’t too intense. I really enjoyed my time with Candleman, and found it to be a decent length - able to be completed within around 4-6 hours, so it’s got good value for money, and even more so if you can pick it up on sale!

In the end, we decided to give Candleman the Collecting Asylum rating of 7.5/10.

Have you played Candleman yet? What did you think of it?
Let us know in the comments below!

- V x

Thank you to Spotlightor Interactive for the Candleman Switch review code!