Epic has announced the next free title to be made available via the Epic Games Store, and its the underrated surreal horror experience, Golden Light. First released in Early Access in 2020 and then launched in full last year, it’s a deeply unsettling survival horror FPS with roguelike and prop hunt mechanics and a lo-fi visual style.
Golden Light doesn’t actually have enough verified reviews to qualify for a score on Metacritic, but the few reviews that are out there are mostly in praise of the game for its deeply weird vibes and successfully-tense mashup of horror and roguelike gameplay.
Destructoid scored the game an 8.5/10 and said, “I honestly think that Golden Light is going to appeal specifically to people with a specific type of brain rot. My specific type of brain rot, where we like our wretched absurdity mixed in with the type of emotions that eat at you from the inside. It’s the torment that Golden Light nails in every aspect. It’s the perfect interactive demonstration of what it’s like to have a mind that never lets the light shine. The fact that it simultaneously manages to be a unique and enjoyable experience is probably a very important fact that I’m too busy staring at my shoes to appreciate.”
Meanwhile, Indiecator called it “an amalgamation of ideas and concepts that keeps me wanting to come back for more” while also dreading the tenseness and anxiety brought about by its atmospere.
Hooked Gamers scored Golden Light an 8.2, praising it for its nightmarish atmosphere and visuals, its “gorgeous lo-fi monstrosities,” and how it creates tension via a lack of explanation, exposition, or tutorials. It noted that repetitive level designs and an occasional lack of direction were its downfalls.
You won’t need to put down any money or subscribed to any memberships to get around Golden Light when it goes free on the Epic Games Store on November 10th, so make sure you get around it right here.
