Aurora, a young girl from 1895 Austria, awakens on the lost fairytale continent of Lemuria. To return home she must fight against the dark creatures of the Queen of the Night, who have stolen the sun, the moon and the stars.
In a light-bathed kingdom called Lemuria, a young girl named Aurora awakens. She has lost her family and is finding her way. The world she discovers is filled with fabulous creatures, enchanted forests and an artistic beauty drawn directly from watercolour painting and 19th-century illustrated tales.
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft, Child of Light is one of those rare games that proves the medium can reach the grace of a work of art. Behind its fairy-tale appearance lies a polished turn-based RPG, built around a timeline system: your characters' and enemies' actions register on a visible time bar, and interrupting an opponent at the right moment can completely change the course of a battle. Igniculus, the small firefly accompanying Aurora, can slow enemies on that timeline to give you the advantage.
We loved: The art direction. Child of Light uses the UbiArt Framework engine and its rendering evokes animated watercolours. Every screen is a visual composition; every area of the world breathes a distinct colour identity.
We liked: The writing in rhyming verse. Every line of dialogue and text in the game is written in rhyming couplets. This choice reinforces the feeling of stepping into a genuine illustrated tale rather than a conventional video game.
Our highlight: The local co-op mode. A second player can control Igniculus while the first guides Aurora. A subtle and highly effective way to include a less experienced player in the session without unbalancing the gameplay.
Our tip to help you: Master the interrupt system from the start. On the timeline, an enemy hit during its charge phase has its counter pushed back to the waiting zone. By combining Igniculus's slowing abilities with Aurora's fastest attacks, you can chain several turns without enemies acting at all. Prioritise enemies that use area spells, as they are the ones that can swing a fight in a single turn.
Who is this game for?
Child of Light is aimed at players aged 7 and over, particularly fans of accessible RPGs, visually poetic tales and games that aim to move as much as to entertain. An ideal experience for parents wanting to share a beautiful and engaging game with their children, or adult players seeking an RPG that stands apart from the norm.
