Lantern of the Deep

Lantern of the Deep is an adventure game about descending into a dark ocean with only your lantern and curiosity. You swim through drowned ruins, solve environmental puzzles to open paths, and slowly piece together what happened to the city below. It's atmospheric in a way that mobile games rarely pull off.

There's no combat and no timer pushing you. Progress comes from observing, matching symbols you find carved into walls, and paying attention to the light. A couple of puzzles had me stuck until I noticed a detail I'd swum right past, and that click of understanding is the whole appeal.

The sound design deserves a mention; with headphones the muffled hum of the deep makes it genuinely immersive. It's a short-ish game, but it's the kind you'll remember.

What we liked

• Beautiful, moody atmosphere
• Clever environmental puzzles
• Relaxing, combat-free pace