The game's a personal experience and is blunt in its approach. Because of its tone and inevitable ending, it really does feel like someone's view of the world crystallised in time. The game treats life as a rigid thing that resists change the older you get, and you don't really have the agency as a player to explore views beyond that. Not a game for everyone, but an interesting playthrough and insight. I'd recommend it if the topic and story piques your interest.
Game Tags
About This Game
Notorious: Widely considered to be one of the bleakest and best-written experiences in indie gaming, Actual Sunlight challenges you to confront the life of Evan Winter: An overweight, lonely and severely depressed young professional.
Fear the words, not the reading: Presented almost entirely in text, a mixture of sharp observation and pitch black humor captures your interest from provocative beginning to shattering conclusion.
Prepare yourself: Actual Sunlight is a uniquely unforgettable adventure that will etch itself into you as one of the most difficult, haunting and beautiful experiences you have ever had as a gamer.
Key Features
- An intense, heartbreaking story with themes of video game addiction, unsatisfying work and miserable solitude.
- Beautiful, original pixel and CG artwork invokes the streets, offices and sanctuaries of Toronto, Canada.
- Dark and moody original music sets a proper tone for the brutal indifference of real life.
Important Notice
Due to explicit language, Actual Sunlight is not appropriate for players under the age of 18.
It also deals with extremely mature themes, including depression and thoughts of suicide. Similar to other forms of art that tackle these issues, Actual Sunlight can be an extremely powerful emotional experience – before downloading it, please first consider what your reaction to a book, film or piece of music in a similar vein might be.
For immediate updates on the game, please follow Will O'Neill on Twitter:
Screenshots
User Reviews
I truly regret spending what little money I did on this.
[b] God, why does it feel like I've just sat in therapy that ripped my heart out? [/b] After finishing this game, I genuinely sat in the darkness for 10 minutes, staring at the screen and rethinking my life choices. I've been looking for something that would hit me hard, but I didn't expect this short story to be this... [i] brutal [/i] towards me. I feel sad, sure. But I also feel kind of empty. Pained. [b] Seen [/b] in ways I didn't expect. Maybe it did rip me open and didn't offer to stitch me back together - but I think this is the first time a game has made me feel [i] "you're not the only one who's ever felt this way" [/i]. This is not a game you play - it's one you survive. It may not be for everyone, but for some of us... it feels like it was written [i] about [/i] us. [b] Thank you. [/b]
System Requirements
Minimum
- OS *: Windows 7
- Processor: Intel Pentium III 800 MHz
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: 1024x768 High Color +
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 100 MB available space
FAQ
How much does Actual Sunlight cost?
Actual Sunlight costs $4.99.
What are the system requirements for Actual Sunlight?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows 7 Processor: Intel Pentium III 800 MHz Memory: 512 MB RAM Graphics: 1024x768 High Color + DirectX: Version 9.0 Storage: 100 MB available space
What platforms is Actual Sunlight available on?
Actual Sunlight is available on Windows PC, macOS.
Is Actual Sunlight worth buying?
Actual Sunlight has 50% positive reviews from 4 players. Metacritic score: 77/100.
When was Actual Sunlight released?
Actual Sunlight was released on Apr 3, 2014.
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