Gleamlight

 Switch
Metascore
42

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 4 out of 7
  1. GameSpace
    Sep 14, 2020
    65
    While Gleamlight is beautiful visually to behold some of the developer's design decisions make the game frustrating to play at times. The game isn't exceedingly hard but there are times, due to its dark presentation, you're not sure which way to go. The design leaves too much to trial and error. The decision to use a "keep it clean" design for the user interface sometimes takes it a step too far. With this being said, the game does offer some fun for the better first half of the game, after that it grows a bit stale.
  2. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 6, 2020
    50
    Gleamlight is a mixed bag. There are enjoyable aspects here. Unfortunately, there are larger and more numerous negatives. At the end of my playtime I was left wishing the positive aspects were in a better game. Taking everything into account, I would skip Gleamlight.
  3. Pure Nintendo
    Sep 8, 2020
    50
    Gleamlight is a simple 2D platformer with a pretty premise but not a lot of substance to back it up.
  5. Hey Poor Player
    Oct 29, 2020
    40
    Gleamlight doesn’t feel finished. Had there been even the smallest amount of text or UI, I honestly feel like this would have been a more enjoyable experience despite the other issues; if anything, those issues were heightened simply due to the lack of critical components. I love what the developer had in terms of concept, but as far as execution goes, Gleamlight unfortunately fell flat. You can find far better 2D sidescrollers for less money; unless the developer makes some sorely-needed improvements, it’s probably best to let Gleamlight fall into darkness.
  6. The Digital Fix
    Sep 3, 2020
    40
    Gleamlight tries to mix-up a formula that we've seen before, and falls some way of short. Despite some interesting features, it's biggest problem is that it's not fun to play.
  7. Switch Player
    Sep 23, 2020
    20
    Hollow Knight this is not. With a flawed control system, dreadful music, and painfully unfair platforming, this is a game you will want to end as quickly as possible. Thankfully it is over in about an hour.
  8. Nintendo Life
    Sep 7, 2020
    20
    Gleamlight is worse than the majority of bad games. With most poor-quality titles, the rot is obvious from the word go. Here, the game doesn't show its true colours until you realise it's over. Surely, you'll think, it's going to pick up? It generally looks nice, after all. It was featured in at least one Indie World presentation, which is usually a mark of at least some quality. But no. It's atrocious. It's boring to traverse, feels bad to play, has an insultingly low amount of content and has nothing to recommend it. Hollow Knight is actually cheaper, and there are plenty of lower-tier Switch platformers more deserving of your time than this. FoxyLand. Goblin Sword. Polyroll. Get those three for the same price as Gleamlight, maybe less. They're not even that good, but they're ten times the game Gleamlight is. Oh! And the music's discordant clanging rubbish, too. We hope it gets a physical release so we can throw it in a bin.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
2.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 9 out of 11
  1. Meeleepit
    Sep 2, 2020
    0
    Gleamlight looks stunning via the videos but the game play lacks heavily .

    Character is slow and unresponsive,slashing of sword is heavy.    Gleamlight looks stunning via the videos but the game play lacks heavily .

    Character is slow and unresponsive,slashing of sword is heavy.
    Game is missing that oomph, the need to go on and finish it.

    Game play is boring and story is null.

    Would not recommend to buy.

    Wish i was able to get a refund.    … Full Review »
  2. annawest
    Aug 31, 2020
    3
    The game play is so short that makes all other good points worthless. To sum up, I think I totally waste my money buying this game.
  3. boothegoose
    Aug 22, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Firstly, both visually and mechanically the game is a pretty blatant rip-off of Hollow Knight. This would be ok if the developers had tried to make something out of it.

    However, Gleamlight is one of the laziest efforts I have ever seen by a dev team. The game is over in literally an hour. Well, at least that is where the level and game design stops. After defeating the last of three bosses, there are no new levels, nothing left to unlock... nothing.

    The remainder of the game consists of running back and forth through the same level with increasingly difficult enemies. There are some slight variations on where the buttons that open the doors are located, but that's it.

    As if that wasn't enough, the 1 hour of fresh gameplay that Gleamlight delivers is nothing else but mediocre. The movement is decent, with a dash and double-jump that can be combined in interesting ways. However, it becomes apparent very quickly that the most effective way to down enemies and bosses is simply to button mash.

    All in all, it is an extremely disappointing title. It definitely had potential, thanks to the thievery of the Hollow Knight model. But after running through the same thing 3 times, I gave up and started googling how to get a refund from the Nintendo Store.

    Do not waste your money on this. Just wait for Hollowknight Silksong    … Full Review »
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