Bright Lights of Svetlov Switch Review

Bright Lights of Svetlov is somewhat of an enigma to me. On one hand, there’s a very unique approach to telling an emotional and impactful story (and a very true and tragic tale at that.) On the other hand, the way it is told is through finicky and tedious gameplay that will put off most players very early on in the game.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is set in 1980 Soviet Era Ukraine, with the majority of the game played through the eyes of 3 family members who live in a block of apartments. Their story is told from the perspective of a soldier reading their diaries and slowly as you get to know the characters, a more sinister and dark story is unveiled.

The game is played from a 1st person perspective and rarely leaves the setting of the apartment you live in. There are letters and photos to discover and read, renovations to complete, and chores to be done. This is where I found the main problem of Bright Lights of Svetlov rears its head. The gameplay on Switch at least, is tedious and frustrating with fiddly controls that make the simplest of tasks like flicking on a light switch, a battle. The limited options mean you spend time fumbling through a dark apartment, walking at a snail’s pace, unable to find anything. Sometimes, you spend time frustratingly trying to press an elevator button, or mindlessly walk back and forth fetching items to install a light fitting. This slow burn made Bright Lights of Svetlov a slog to get through, and despite the game being able to be completed in an hour or so, that hour really dragged on.

Which is a real shame as the story pulled me right in, and then delivered an emotional gut punch of tragedy and negligence, and it’s this very same story that made me persevere with the game. The graphics are immersive and the game’s performance runs really well on the Switch console, but it’s certainly held back but the smaller display size in handheld, and overly sensitive controls. This is where my review will become rather divisive as I have seen other outlets and platforms award it with a higher score, so it would be up to you as the player to decide whether walking simulators are your cup of tea, and whether you might enjoy the game better on a different platform.

It is also worth noting that the developer (Sometimes You) is supporting the game and rolling out quality-of-life patches that have already arrived on other platforms.

All in all, Bright Lights of Svetlov tells an emotionally investing true story of life in 1980’s Soviet Era Ukraine, It looks and runs great, but the slow-paced gameplay may not be for everyone. For those who do play it, you will be treated to an engrossing story that will draw you in if you can look past the gameplay shortfalls. For me, I found the slow pace a little too frustrating, and back-and-forth fetch-style objectives a chore. Its unique approach to storytelling is its saving grace, and its affordable price point means if you like story over gameplay, this might be a game for you.

So What’s it Like?

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a throwback to Myst, crossed with Firewatch.