Graphics in video games have come a long way, so it would be a shame to have some pretty visuals overshadowed by literal darkness. Because some games are so dark, you could even mistake them for a Zack Snyder DC movie. While not necessarily gloomy or eerie, their lighting suggests otherwise, making certain scenes an eyesore for players.
While players can adjust the gamma or brightness settings to make the dark scenes or areas brighter, it would also make the lighter areas annoyingly brighter or faded. Some video game developers sacrifice outright visual clarity for artistic expression or probably what they see as adhering to realistic lighting behavior. These games are some of the best examples and they need to be lighter.
7 Cyberpunk 2077
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Year of publication:
2020 -
Platforms:
Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows
If it’s bright it’s good, but once players enter buildings or dimly lit areas, Cyberpunk 2077‘s lighting system can be cruel to the eyes. This is a game that desperately needs flashlights. True, there are eye cybernetics that highlight objects and provide thermal vision, but they don’t illuminate the environment.
The easiest solution in Cyberpunk 2077‘s dark interior spaces is still a flashlight. Funny how the developers haven’t implemented that even after two years since it’s easy to realize. They could simply use vehicle headlights as makeshift flashlights. Some side missions in the game are even frustrating due to the poor lighting.
6 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
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Year of publication:
2019 -
Platforms:
Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order commits the same exposure error as Cyberpunk 2077 did. The outdoor areas are well lit and make use of impressive lighting. But some interior spaces simply suffer from the limited behavior of the in-game light. That infamous cave section in Zeffo takes the cake.
It’s a cave system that is dimly lit and impossible to traverse without Cal’s lightsaber as a flashlight. The funny thing is that there are light sources near the entrance and realistically should have reflected the light and illuminated the cave a bit more; if light behaved more realistically, players wouldn’t have to suffer through those cave or tomb sections.
5 Battlefield 3
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Year of publication:
2011 -
Platforms:
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
You may often wonder what developers were trying to achieve with Battlefield 3‘s lighting. Because it’s too dark and too light at the same time, depending on the scenario. Outer areas will burn players’ corneas with the heat of a thousand suns, while nighttime or inner areas might as well blind players to the need to squint.
Inside, it can get difficult to spot enemies hiding in dark corners, either because of poor lighting or an over-implemented Screen Space Ambient Occlusion in an attempt to make the game look photo-realistic. This is most evident in Battlefield 3‘s single-player campaign, which was not particularly well received.
4 Downfall 3
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Year of publication:
2004 -
Platforms:
Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Xbox
Downfall 3 went full horror, which was puzzling because its predecessors focused more on the action gameplay than jumpscares. So it’s understandable why the game continues to force players to trudge through dimly lit hallways. Yet for many people it is an unwelcome change of pace demise fans.
The lighting helped with the horror elements, but it also hindered player exploration, as it’s harder to see buttons, levers, and paths when players aren’t in firefights. The game does give players a flashlight, but the beam and lighting are ugly and almost dysfunctional.
3 Nioh
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Year of publication:
2017 -
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5
Nioh and the sequel both have oppressive and impractical dark lighting, but the former has it worse because it’s an older game with a more outdated graphics engine. This one soul-as if the game indoors is way too dark to enjoy without getting too stressed from falling and dying.
Caves and castles are the worst. Because despite having torches and lamps on the walls, they don’t do much to light the way. Heck, the flares don’t do anything at all. Even in outdoor spaces there were plenty of moments when NiohThe literal darkness can be unbearable, especially at night or when it rains.
2 The Dogma of the Dragons
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Year of publication:
2012 -
Platforms:
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
The Dogma of the Dragons is yet another JRPG that has cut back on its light sources. Again, during the day the sun reinforces why it should be more appreciated; because when it gets nighttime there is literally no light. It is one of the first RPGs to adopt real realistic nighttime hours.
At first it’s a good way to challenge and build the atmosphere, but eventually the pitch black nights and dimly lit dungeons become more of an annoyance. Those would have worked better in a first-person game if the developers were aiming for immersion.
1 Dark Souls (original)
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Year of publication:
2011 -
Platforms:
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Thankfully this genre starter has been remastered as the original version has some of the most useless lighting souls spell. Areas like Darkroot Garden, Oolacile, New Londo Ruins, Valley of Drakes are too dark with a terrible contrast.
Oh, there’s also this place called Blighttown, a perfect place for those who want to develop glaucoma from poor lighting and cause a stroke out of frustration. And if the game wasn’t clear enough that it doesn’t give a shittake mushroom regarding players’ visual comfort, the game introduces the Tomb of Giants area. Eyesight and common sense be damned.
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