Developer Purple Tortoise brings a cozy, heartfelt entry to the world of 2D platformers with Lighting Lanterns, a gentle game about friendship, adventure, and the light that small acts of kindness can bring to the world. The Lighting Lanterns demo is available now as part of Steam Next Fest: June 2025, and it offers a warm, earnest experience that any lover of the genre will enjoy.

Our Brave Heroes

The game begins with a single protagonist: Kiko, a sweet tanuki who is determined to help the forest. According to legend, he can do so by lighting the forest’s lanterns. So begins his adventure as he sets off from home and journeys through the cozy woods.

Along the way, he runs into a couple friends. First is Tsubasa, a hesitant bird who finds this whole adventure affair a little suspect, but tags along just in case something goes wrong. He definitely doesn’t want to get involved, of course—until Kiko needs his help, that is. Helping means getting involved, but what else are you to do when someone needs you?

Not long after that, the two run into Momiji, a playful lantern spirit who decides to tag along on their adventure—after pulling a gentle prank on them, of course.

An Earnest Tale of Ordinary Kindness

Though they’re setting off to save their home, our protagonists aren’t thrilling heroes. They don’t have any extraordinary skills to speak of. They’re simply people who wanted to be helpful—whether it’s for the greater good or for a stranger who happened to walk by.

Herein lies the true heart of the game: small acts of kindness. Kiko doesn’t know for sure that lighting the lanterns will help the forest, but he knows that someone has to try, and so why shouldn’t that someone be him?

This small decision—this little bit of effort toward a better world—creates a ripple effect. Tsubasa has no interest in going on an adventure or saving the world, but he is concerned for this stranger who might need his help, so he tags along. Momiji’s intentions are less clear, but she happily helps her new friends on their journey with no questions asked.

Kiko’s efforts are even reflected in the forest itself. Lighting lanterns reveals bridges, platforms, and bouncing flowers that help him and the others get to where they need to go. Though he is one small creature, the game shows how his actions make the world and the people around him better.

Teamwork Gets You Through

Each of the characters brings a unique ability to the table. Kiko is the leader, and he’s the one who can light dark lanterns. Tsubasa can fly, making him perfect for exploring hard-to-reach areas and finding ways to open up the path for the other two. Momiji uses her magic to turn certain lanterns blue—revealing hidden paths or other secrets that help the team move forward. Players use this combination of abilities to solve straightforward puzzles, collect golden leaves for Kiko, and explore the forest.

Coziness is at the Forefront

If you’re looking for a challenging puzzle platformer, this isn’t the experience for you. Instead, the game moves at a leisurely pace, surrounding you with the warmth of an autumnal forest, softly glowing fireflies, and the budding friendship between three small creatures. The platforming is simple, and the gameplay lets you take your time, emphasizing exploration and collection over skill and challenge.

The narration is warm and sweet, though it can come off as robotic or stilted at times—possibly because the developer used voice technology to enhance their recorded narration. The story focuses as much on the characters’ inner thoughts as it does their actions, leading to amusing or heartfelt insights that help flesh them out even without a complicated plot.

All of this creates a simple yet earnest story that strikes a beautiful chord in the year 2025. Lighting Lanterns is a gentle adventure with a hero who can only do a little bit—but it just goes to show how meaningful a little bit can be.

Lighting Lanterns demo is available now as part of Steam Next Fest: June 2025.