Nocturnal (2025)

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Game was fun at first, but after getting the silver and gold keys, I must have missed the Bronze key and got soft locked in the room that requires it. Would have loved to see the rest of the game but I was already so far in with no way to die so I would have to replay the entire game to get to that point.

6/10

fun game. you should play it

GAME OF THE YEAR! It's going to take losing my sanity to beat it but it's fine don't need it anyway

Nocturnal is a game that I really enjoyed for its simple but effective idea of turning fire into the heart of both combat and exploration. I play as Ardeshir, a soldier returning to his homeland of Nahran after a mysterious Mist has covered the island. I liked how quickly the game establishes that the flames around me are not just a weapon, but one of the most important tools I have for surviving this strange and dangerous place. The combat is straightforward, but I found it satisfying once I got used to the timing. My flaming sword lets me cut through enemies while also giving me a way to push back the Mist. Attacking feels especially rewarding when I can use fire to control the space around me rather than simply focusing on damaging whatever is in front of me. The combat is not incredibly deep, but it has enough weight to make each encounter feel deliberate. The fire mechanic also works surprisingly well with exploration. I can ignite parts of the environment to activate mechanisms, clear certain obstacles and reveal routes that would otherwise remain hidden. I really liked this because it makes the central mechanic feel connected to the whole game instead of being something th…