Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 75 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 1.2 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Lightmatter surprises with a great story, visuals, and world-building. Unfortunately, it doesn't introduce enough new mechanics for puzzles to be interesting for the entirety of the game.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“It can't step out of the silhouette of its most brilliant predecessor, Portal.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Lightmatter has come up with an interesting idea that definitely has a lot of potential. Even so, it is no match for the king of this genre, Portal, from which it takes perhaps its greatest inspiration. Despite all this, I still have to rate the game very positively, because it offers a lot - nice visuals, imaginative logic puzzles, new game mechanics, challenges and those great cynical comments from an even better dubbed narrator.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It might have some problems with its difficulty curve, performance, and the way it's being sold, but Lightmatter is a very solid puzzle game that offers a decent amount of playtime, some very good puzzles, and a great story.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you want four hours of fun puzzles based around manipulating light and dispersing killer shadows, then you really can’t go wrong with Lightmatter.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Lightmatter's puzzles are shockingly smart, and getting that "Aha!" moment is brilliant. A little more refining and this may be a true first-person puzzle classic”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Lightmatter is a breath of fresh air to the easily forgettable puzzle genre. The game is an impressive package of well-crafted puzzles, gorgeous art style, and incredible sound design. Lightmatter requires players to forge their paths by illuminating dark areas using strategic use of lights and avoiding the deadly shadows.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“Lightmatter rests somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to first person puzzlers. It uses the basic light tools satisfactorily, and the sharp visual style and brisk pace help it succeed. Unfortunately some technical blemishes offset its better qualities.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Lightmatter is full of sarcastic, self-aware humor. The puzzles are incredibly well put together and satisfying to solve. Visually distinct with high contrast between light and dark areas, Lightmatter makes objectives clear.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“What makes Lightmatter work isn't the puzzles or the story but how well the two fit together.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Lightmatter is almost a tribute to Portal, but thanks to its puzzle and the catchy story, it is able to stand on its own feet.”
read full review ↗
INDIANTVCZ
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
PC Invasion
Niche Gamer
TechRaptor
Player.One
New Game Network
Marooners' Rock
Hardcore Gamer
SpaziogamesPatch history
- Welcome to Lightmatter 1.09Feb 10, 2020
- Introducing Lightmatter 1.05Jan 21, 2020