Genre: Platforming RPG | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Release Date: 2014
Published by Ubisoft, the game is Microsoft Windows, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The story follows Aurora who must bring back the sun, the moon, and the stars that are being held by Queen of the Night.
Campaign
Child of Light presents a beautifully told coming-of-age tale wrapped in a fairy-tale narrative that feels both timeless and refreshingly original. The story follows Aurora, a young Austrian girl who awakens in the mysterious land of Lemuria after falling into a deep slumber. From the outset, the game paints a vivid picture of a world plunged into darkness, with the moon and stars stolen by the Queen of the Night. Aurora must recover them and confront the darkness to return home and reunite with her father. What elevates Child of Light beyond a typical RPG is its poetic delivery—dialogue is written entirely in rhyme, adding to the game’s storybook charm.
The characters Aurora encounters—like the jester Rubella, the warrior Oengus, and the mouse archer Finn—are delightfully quirky and feel purposefully designed to reflect different tones, emotions, and themes in the journey. The protagonist herself is one of the strongest aspects of the story; her arc from fragile child to empowered heroine is handled with grace. The antagonist, Umbra, also stands out—her presence casts a long shadow over the narrative, and her symbolic ties to grief, loss, and selfishness provide surprising depth for a fairy-tale villain.
The campaign is also emotionally resonant, dealing with heavy themes like love, loss, and bravery without ever becoming overbearing. The game strikes a careful balance between whimsy and weight. While some side characters could have used more development, the overall narrative experience is heartfelt and compelling. The structure of the story—broken into chapters with hand-drawn illustrations—only furthers the feeling that Child of Light is an interactive fable worth reading and playing through.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Gameplay
Gameplay in Child of Light combines traditional JRPG mechanics with innovative twists that feel both modern and nostalgic. At its core is a turn-based combat system reminiscent of the Active Time Battle (ATB) from older Final Fantasy titles. The innovation lies in the Interrupt mechanic: players and enemies share a timeline at the bottom of the screen, and attacks timed correctly during the cast window can interrupt foes, adding a satisfying layer of strategy to every encounter.
Each party member has their own unique skills and specialties. Aurora herself is a versatile fighter, capable of both offense and healing. Companions like Finn use elemental magic, while Oengus serves as a heavy hitter. Swapping characters mid-fight and pairing abilities based on the situation keeps combat fresh. What also stands out is the use of Igniculus, a firefly companion controlled with the right stick or second player. Igniculus can slow enemies or heal allies in real-time, adding an active support mechanic that keeps players constantly engaged.
Outside of combat, exploration is a joy. Aurora gains the ability to fly early on, and the side-scrolling world is filled with secrets, platforming challenges, and collectibles like Oculi—gems that can be combined to enhance stats or grant elemental resistances. Puzzles and light environmental interactions break up the pacing and offer a welcome reprieve between fights. The level design encourages curiosity, with secret passages and hidden treasure chests scattered across beautifully designed zones.
There’s also an RPG progression system where players can unlock new skills through branching skill trees, encouraging different playstyles. The mix of strategic turn-based combat, exploration, and progression gives Child of Light a surprising amount of depth.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Production
From an artistic standpoint, Child of Light is breathtaking. The game runs on Ubisoft's UbiArt Framework engine—the same engine that powered Rayman Legends—which allows for painterly visuals that come to life like an interactive watercolor painting. Every location in Lemuria feels distinct and hand-crafted: windswept cliffs, haunted forests, ancient ruins, and otherworldly skies feel ethereal and dreamlike. The visual identity of the game is a standout, and one of the most defining features of the entire experience.
The animations are equally strong—character movements are fluid, spell effects are vibrant, and even enemy designs reflect the fairy-tale gothic aesthetic. Lighting and particle effects are used subtly but beautifully, with flickering lights, shimmering auras, and glowing trails accentuating the dreamlike feel.
The soundtrack, composed by Canadian artist Cœur de Pirate (Béatrice Martin), is nothing short of magical. The score features melodic piano and sweeping orchestral arrangements that shift in tone depending on the situation—whimsical during exploration, melancholic during story beats, and intense during combat. Each track enhances the emotional resonance of its moment without ever overpowering it.
Voice acting is minimal, relying more on text and expression, but the vocal performances are still notable in their delivery through rhyme and cadence. The use of rhyming verse for every bit of dialogue is a bold creative choice, but it works incredibly well in establishing tone and atmosphere, even if it occasionally feels forced.
Production-wise, Child of Light is a showcase of how powerful storytelling, audio, and visual elements can come together in perfect harmony to create a memorable, cohesive experience.
Rating: 5 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Child of Light is a rare gem—an indie-style RPG produced by a major studio that blends captivating storybook visuals, emotionally rich storytelling, and satisfying turn-based combat. With strong characters, a haunting score, and memorable design, it is a beautiful, heartfelt experience that excels in both style and substance. Child of Light gets 5 out of 5.
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