Lightmatter

Lightmatter, a puzzle video game released in 2020, was developed by Tunnel Vision Games and published by Aspyr for Microsoft Windows. The player navigates a mountain range and laboratory from a first-person perspective, guided by a scientist named Virgil. An experiment has gone wrong, making shadows dangerous, so the player must use light-emitting objects to stay safe. A portable spotlight provides light but cannot be carried into shadowed areas, while a photon connector requires a clear line of sight between two nodes to create a steady beam.

The game was created by the Danish independent studio Tunnel Vision Games, a six-person team that spent over three years on development. The concept began as an idea among five friends at Aalborg University, who pursued it after graduation.

Programmer Benjamin Overgaard noted that the lighting system, built in the Unity engine, drew visual inspiration from photographer Serge Najjar and the games Manifold Garden and White Night. Co-founder Philip Nymann said the game was commercially successful, but the studio closed after release, unwilling to find new ways to monetize players. In 2025, the team released Lightmatter Anniversary, which includes prototype versions and developer commentary.

According to Metacritic, Lightmatter received "mixed or average" reviews.