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Flicker of Hope

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2020

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Quick resume

Flicker of Hope is a suspense thriller where you play as a small candle in the ruins of a dark cathedral. Though the halls are littered with victims of a mysterious plague, you are not the only soul left. Use the properties of a candle, and a trusty douter to prevent yourself from being discovered.

Global score

93/100

Genres

Indie, Adventure, Puzzle

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique candle protagonist and mechanics
    • Immersive atmosphere and visuals
    • Creative stealth gameplay
    • Free to play
    • Engaging short horror experience

    Cons

    • Short length with no save system
    • Camera and control issues reported
    • Some ai and bug problems
    • Limited story and character customization
    • Linear gameplay with limited exploration

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Value. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Continuation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players control a candle character with unique mechanics like hiding light and creating decoys, allowing personal decision-making in stealth and movement."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game involves platforming and stealth challenges with some skill required to manage melting wax and enemy avoidance, though some mechanics can be buggy."

    • Competition
      -5

      "The game is a single-player experience focused on personal progression without any player-vs-player or leaderboard elements."

    • Continuation
      -3

      "Short playtime (~30-60 minutes) and lack of save system encourage single-session play and may reduce habitual engagement."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay features."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Unique concept of playing as a melting candle with mechanics like light hiding and decoy creation shows creative gameplay design."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is focused on survival and evasion."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Immersive atmosphere and horror elements provide a strong escape from reality and stress relief."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily, attracted by the unique concept and free availability, with no obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different stealth tactics and use unique mechanics like decoys and light management to progress."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Linear but atmospheric environments encourage some discovery and navigation through varied cathedral rooms."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Limited customization or personalization; players use a fixed character and preset aesthetics."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Imaginative setting with a walking candle protagonist and supernatural enemies in a dark, plague-ridden cathedral."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; gameplay is solitary."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn to master stealth and platforming mechanics, though the short length limits long-term skill development."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention due to stealth and platforming challenges; not suited for background or casual play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship-building features."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements."

    • Progression
      3

      "Progression through levels and checkpoints with resource management of wax, though no item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Atmospheric and immersive but includes tension and some challenging moments, balancing relaxation and suspense."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Engaging visuals, lighting effects, and sound design provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story
      2

      "Minimal in-game story but atmospheric world-building and lore provided externally; narrative is subtle and interpretive."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Requires planning stealth routes, managing wax resource, and using decoys strategically to avoid enemies."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Stealth and chase sequences create suspense and moments of tension and relief."

    • Value
      5

      "Free to play with high-quality experience and unique mechanics, offering excellent value for time invested."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on evasion and survival."

    • Survival
      4

      "Core gameplay revolves around avoiding death by managing wax and escaping threats."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026