Platforms
- PCApr 3, 2014NAplayscoreNA0 Critics7.5465 Players
- Nintendo SwitchJan 28, 2020NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- PS VitaAug 11, 20157.5playscore8.05 Critics7.0572 Players
10 critic reviews · 2 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- I get that this is more like an interactive story than an actual game. But I’d like some more interaction and less story. The reality of Evans’s life is just a little too close to home for me, but this would be a good learning experience for someone trying to understand depression and other mental health issues.
Kaelyn Daugherty · Feb 28, 2020 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Actual Sunlight is a "game" only in the loosest sense of the word. It paints a portrait of deep depression and the hopelessness that it brings. It is not a title for the faint-hearted or for anyone who may already be depressed. However, if you're looking for an experience that will yield an understanding of those who suffer from debilitating depression -- and that is a worthy goal -- then Actual Sunlight may be the right choice.
Suzie Ford · Feb 25, 2020 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Actual Sunlight is a story worth experiencing, even if the format chosen to tell this tale is a little rough around the edges. Limitations with the engine, as well as a short story that feels rushed, make for a video game that won’t impress in many categories. Lengthy text-based sections will also cut some players out of the equation, but if you can get through this fairly rudimentary experience, then you will find one of the deeper and more necessary stories available.
Steven Green · Jan 31, 2020 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Ask the average gamer why they play, and the word "fun" is likely to appear in their answer. Evan Winter would answer differently, and along the same line, I cannot recommend Actual Sunlight as I would other games. It is not fun, but it was not created for your entertainment. If you are currently in the throes of depression, I implore you to hold off until you are in a better place. For all others, especially those in recovery, this is a beautiful and uncompromising portrait of despair.
Jowi Meli · Aug 15, 2015 Reviewed on VitaRead full review - Actual Sunlight's ability to stir discomfort is its greatest achievement. It depicts the difficulties of trying to beat depression alone, and while that makes for some pretty heavy material, it's successful in what it sets out to do. There's no punch pulling here; there isn't any back slapping to make you feel better about what you're seeing. As such, this won't necessarily improve the mood of anyone that's dealing with depression. It will, however, give perspective to someone on the outside looking in – and that's powerful.
Edwin Garcia · Aug 12, 2015 Reviewed on VitaRead full review - Actual Sunlight is an insightful look at how some people deal with depression, and the struggles of everyday life. It is a focused game that tells the story that creator Will O’Neill wants to, and is better off for it. Few games will make players this uncomfortable, and few handle serious topics with this much grace. It may not be enjoyable to play, but it is absolutely worth playing.
Tyler Treese · Aug 11, 2015 Reviewed on VitaRead full review - Actual Sunlight is a serious game for those that like inward thinking. While the gameplay is solely clicking and interacting with people and objects, you will find that the reflection invoked makes up for it.
Zach Price · Aug 11, 2015 Reviewed on VitaRead full review - Actual Sunlight has a powerful and emotional story to tell. It deals with issues people don’t really discuss, but with what amounts to roughly a 2-hour story, I was left feeling it was over before it had really begun.
Chelsea Beardsmore · Feb 06, 2020 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Actual Sunlight is one of the strongest text-driven video games I’ve played. Where many games like this focus on hours of writing, slowly drowning you in a vast sea of dialogue and story routes, Actual Sunlight does not. Other narratives might try to show you the path away from depression and how you can recover, but Actual Sunlight does not. Instead it paint you a stark portrait of depression, and the dark path that it often leads you down when you’ve already lost so much of your life to it.
Miguel Moran · Aug 11, 2015 Reviewed on VitaRead full review - It was a joy to play, although that may seem a terrible misuse of language, as it was enlightening in a way I’ve never experienced in a videogame. I can wholly recommend Actual Sunlight; it’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s an experience worth trying. I can guarantee you’ll learn something about the inner-workings of a depressed individual, and you never know when that knowledge will come in handy.
Ryan Davies · Apr 26, 2014 Reviewed on PCRead full review
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Community Reviews
- Rated on Switch
- Rated on PC
About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
Take a walk on the thin line between hope and despair in Actual Sunlight: A short interactive story about love, depression and the corporation.
Developer: Will O'Neill