Favourite video game level with a "darkness" gimmick?

[Ikagura Ikagura]

It could be an added challenge to be completely in the dark and having to find a way to make light (which could be used for puzzles) or even having enemies that fears light so you could progress.

It also brings an unique aesthetic compared to the rest of the game, seeing your character only as a silhouette.

The Dark Palace in ALBW and some of the underwater levels in DKC Tropical Freeze and Rayman Origins/Legends both had a level where you had to find light fishes to progress.

 

[iisoide]

I guess all of Alan Wake?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

There's a couple of nerve-wracking ones in The Last Of Us that got my blood pressure up, I think in Pittsburgh and around Salt Lake City (it's been a while).

 

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

Jak 2/3 count? I mean thats technically light-based but not really right imo.

I always enjoyed the Krill level from Gears 1. It was one of the few levels in that game that really made it feel special. (Like the haunted house and the entire lambent level)

 

[semyaza]

silent hill just its misty instead of darky

 

[Turbo Kid]

 

[qw90700]

Dying Light 1 because when the night came you are fucked. Good night, good luck yo lol.

 

[Tonberry]

Darkwood

It has one of those obnoxiously narrow cone-of-vision mechanics, but not everything outside of it is black, it’s monochrome and light sources still show up in them, and dialogue shows up where the characters stand as if you can hear it even though it’s text-only.

At night, when you have to stay up and defend your hideout you can peer through cracks in your barricaded windows to try and catch a glimpse of what might be lurking outside, and random events happen in the darkness, forcing you to be on your toes constantly.

Whole game is like a masterclass in isolating darkness atmosphere.

 

[pr0xy]

The Tomb of the Giants from Dark Souls.

 

[MemeAlert]

 

[nobitakun]

 

[Turbo Kid]

 

[Frickinfrik]

SM3DWorld: that one shadow level.

DKC Returns: The Sunset Shadow level, it’s a visual treat.

 

[semyaza]

 

[Kamako]

One of the first that spring to mind is Bug Lite from Crash Bandicoot: Warped!

 

[PSVitaForever]

Only game coming to mind speaking of darkness used as mechanic is "Aragami", you can and must use darkness (shadows) to teleport and to move around stealthy.

 

[DollyCloudy]

Deltarune's chapter 4 has a lot of fun mechanics surrounding darkness, and is just very wonderful in general in every other way.

 

[Bomberman]

Tales of Symphonia I guess but those parts were not my favorite

 

[Bakuma1997]

DOOM 3

Jokes aside, the storm level on Plants Vs Zombies, no music, only brief flashes of light to see the map, is one of those random seed levels, so the tension is nigh

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

One of the first that spring to mind is Bug Lite from Crash Bandicoot: Warped!
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Speaking of But Lite there was a similar level in Klonoa 2: Dark Sea of Tears.