Narrative adventures often live or die by their ability to make players care about the journey rather than the destination. WILL: Follow The Light sets out with an intriguing premise, casting players as lighthouse keeper Will as he leaves behind his isolated post after a devastating disaster leaves his hometown in ruins and his son missing. What follows is a deeply personal search that gradually expands into an exploration of grief, regret, family bonds and the emotional distance that can develop between generations. The narrative tackles weighty themes with sincerity, and while its strongest moments arrive later in the adventure, the journey toward them can sometimes struggle to maintain momentum.
The opening hours are among the game’s most effective. Daily lighthouse duties create a believable sense of routine before everything is disrupted, grounding the player in Will’s world before the larger mystery begins. There is a genuine sense of authenticity in the way maintenance tasks, weather readings and communications are handled, helping establish both character and setting. Unfortunately, the pacing becomes uneven once the broader adventure gets underway. Long stretches of quieter exploration and backtracking occasionally dilute the urgency of the central premise, and some supporting characters fail to convey the emotional weight that the story demands. Despite these shortcomings, the underlying mystery surrounding Will’s family remains compelling enough to carry the narrative through to its conclusion, which delivers several effective revelations.
Gameplay is built around exploration, environmental interaction and puzzle solving rather than action. Sailing aboard Will’s yacht Molly serves as the mechanical centrepiece of the experience and is easily one of its most memorable features. Managing sails, monitoring weather conditions and navigating across vast stretches of ocean creates a satisfying sense of isolation and self-reliance. The slower pace won’t appeal to everyone, but it aligns well with the reflective nature of the story. Dog-sled sequences provide welcome variety and rank among the game’s highlights, although they are introduced only briefly and feel somewhat underutilised.
The puzzle design delivers mixed results. Many environmental challenges feel naturally integrated into the world, encouraging observation and experimentation rather than abstract problem solving. The lantern mechanic, which allows players to reveal memory echoes and hidden clues, introduces an interesting narrative layer to exploration and ties directly into the game’s themes. However, puzzle quality varies considerably. Some solutions feel intuitive and rewarding, while others suffer from vague signposting or trial-and-error design. Certain interactions can also feel awkward with a controller, particularly when manipulating objects or assembling puzzle components, creating moments of unnecessary friction.
Visually, WILL: Follow The Light consistently punches above the weight one might expect from a debut project. Built in Unreal Engine 5, its northern landscapes are frequently striking, whether depicting storm-lashed seas, frozen mountain passes or abandoned coastal settlements. The game excels at conveying loneliness through its environments, and some sailing sequences achieve an almost cinematic quality thanks to the interplay of weather, lighting and scale. Not every aspect of the presentation reaches the same standard, however. Character models, facial animations and some NPC interactions lack the polish seen elsewhere, occasionally undermining dramatic scenes that rely heavily on emotional performances.
Audio work proves equally important to the overall atmosphere. The soundscape of crashing waves, howling winds, creaking wood and distant environmental effects constantly reinforces the feeling of being alone against an unforgiving wilderness. The soundtrack is used sparingly but effectively, allowing quieter moments to breathe before stepping in to support key emotional beats. Voice acting is more inconsistent. While some performances capture the introspective tone successfully, others struggle to communicate the urgency and desperation at the heart of the narrative, reducing the impact of several pivotal scenes.
WILL: Follow The Light is a game whose ambitions occasionally exceed its execution, but its strengths are substantial enough to make the voyage worthwhile. The deliberate pacing, realistic navigation systems and emotionally driven storytelling create an experience that feels distinct from many contemporary narrative adventures. Its uneven narrative rhythm, simplistic puzzles and technical rough edges prevent it from fully realising its potential, yet the atmosphere generated by its world remains remarkably effective. Players willing to embrace a slower, more contemplative adventure will discover a heartfelt journey through loss, family and self-reflection that lingers long after the credits roll.
Score: 6.8/10