Light & Shadow
Released Nov 2022
When a star falls in a nearby forest, it spurs Po onto a quest to find that light and bring it into their life. Light & Shadow is a shadow puppet platformer where you face your anxieties, push past depression, and seek moments of joy in a grey world. Finding your way isn't always easy, keep going!
92% positive · 179 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to get it
Free on Steam
Evaluation
Light & Shadow is a free-to-play narrative 2D platformer that launched on November 24, 2022 as a self-contained, story-complete package. The store description outlines a fixed set of content — 26 levels across 5 biomes, a defined narrative arc, and a list of mental health resources — with no mention of future updates, additional content, or an ongoing development cycle. The only DLC is a soundtrack released on January 3, 2023, which is a supplementary item rather than gameplay content. The sole developer news post, from March 4, 2023, is a bug fix update addressing crash issues reported by players. There have been no developer communications of any kind since March 4, 2023, and no announcements of future content or expansions have ever been made. The game appears to have launched as a finished product and received one round of post-launch bug fixing before development concluded.
Evidence
Store description defines a fixed content package: 26 levels, 5 biomes, a complete narrative arc. No mention of future updates or additional content.
Only DLC is a standalone soundtrack, released January 3, 2023. No gameplay content DLC listed or announced.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Flawed Designs
Achievements
25
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player
About this game
When a star falls in a nearby forest, it spurs Po onto a quest to find that light and bring it into their life.
Welcome to Light & Shadow, a narrative-driven 2D platformer in shadow puppet form, where you face your anxieties, climb out of depression, and find the moments of joy in a grey world. You'll puppeteer Po through 26 levels spread over 5 Biomes, where you will collect music notes and seek out key special moments in each level, which will help you push back the manifestations of Anxiety and Depression which will obscure your view and slow you down on your quest to find the star.
Inspired by “Po's Climb,” a shadow puppet performance by Sequoia Erickson, and in collaboration with Shadowland Theatre, Light & Shadow features an art style heavily relying on the trappings of a shadow puppet show. The cutscenes are recordings of live puppet shows, which tie the world together.
In support of the main concepts of dealing with anxiety and depression, Light & Shadow was built in collaboration with mental health professionals and a youth advisory committee, to evaluate the themes and moments in the game in order to ensure they were portrayed accurately and effectively.
Leaning heavily into a linear narrative, and inspired by the creative team's film and theater backgrounds, Light & Shadow takes you (and Po) on a journey of hope and heartbreak, excitement and anxiety.
Finding your way isn't always easy, keep going!
Features:
-25 Levels
-5 Different Biomes
-Unique Layered Musical Health System
-List of Mental Health Resources
Welcome to Light & Shadow, a narrative-driven 2D platformer in shadow puppet form, where you face your anxieties, climb out of depression, and find the moments of joy in a grey world. You'll puppeteer Po through 26 levels spread over 5 Biomes, where you will collect music notes and seek out key special moments in each level, which will help you push back the manifestations of Anxiety and Depression which will obscure your view and slow you down on your quest to find the star.
Inspired by “Po's Climb,” a shadow puppet performance by Sequoia Erickson, and in collaboration with Shadowland Theatre, Light & Shadow features an art style heavily relying on the trappings of a shadow puppet show. The cutscenes are recordings of live puppet shows, which tie the world together.
In support of the main concepts of dealing with anxiety and depression, Light & Shadow was built in collaboration with mental health professionals and a youth advisory committee, to evaluate the themes and moments in the game in order to ensure they were portrayed accurately and effectively.
Leaning heavily into a linear narrative, and inspired by the creative team's film and theater backgrounds, Light & Shadow takes you (and Po) on a journey of hope and heartbreak, excitement and anxiety.
Finding your way isn't always easy, keep going!
Features:
-25 Levels
-5 Different Biomes
-Unique Layered Musical Health System
-List of Mental Health Resources
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 21, 2026
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