Gravelight by Adrien Tremblay

[raw]
made by Adrien Tremblay for Ludum Dare 58 (JAM)

Gravelight is a first person simulation game about digging up graves to build a collection of artifacts with special effects while evading groundskeepers.

Screenshots

1.png Title Screen

2.png The Graveyard

3.png Digging up a grave view

5.png Patrolling Groundskeeper

6.png Collection Menu

7.png Actively digging up grave

8.png Being chased by a groundskeeper

9.png Hovering over an artifact

Footage

https://youtu.be/o4GPriCE4uU

Instructions

You play as a graverobber. Your goal is to navigate the graveyard and dig up graves, collecting any artifacts buried with their occupants.

The graveyard is patrolled by multiple groundskeepers. If they spot you, they will begin chasing you and will not relent until they either catch you or you flee the graveyard.

Artifacts in your collection can be equipped. Each artifact type has a special magical effect. Up to five can be equipped at any time.

Once satisfied with the value of your collection, you must exit the graveyard through the main gate. Try and leave with the highest collection value you can.

Controls

[MOUSE] - Look around - Drag and drop objects

[W,S,A,D] - Move

[E] - Interact with graves and the main gate

[SHIFT] - Sprint

[C] - View Collection

Lore

The year is 1897. The town of Highcroft is in ruin. Brutally cold winters have devastated the fields. Common folk have resorted to ignoble and depraved measures for survival. Among these, is graverobbing. Many degenerate fortune-seekers pillage the tombs of their once prosperous ancestors.

Creation

This game was entirely made by a single lone wolf (me). The game was created using the Godot 4 engine. All models were created by me during the jam. All audio was recorded or generated by me during the jam. All game design and implementation etc... was done by me during the jam. No AI generated assets are in this game. I used ChatGpt for bouncing around high level game design ideas and for feedback on ideal Godot project structure.

How to have fun with this game

I hope the vibe and mood of this game is spooky enough to get people in a graverobber headspace and to roleplay. Each artifact has a special effect. There is synergy between them (order matters). So play around with different artifacts and orders.

Theme

The game is about collecting artifacts and building a collection of them ;)

Feedback

Have fun! I appreciate any feedback!

Download

  • Linux and Windows downloads are available on this page
  • Additional download links: https://adrientremblay.itch.io/gravelight

Ratings

Overall 244th 3.706⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Fun 341th 3.426⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 228th 3.545⭐ 35🧑‍⚖️
Theme 58th 4.279⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 451th 3.529⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Audio 367th 3.227⭐ 35🧑‍⚖️
Mood 334th 3.632⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 51🗨️

Feedback

penumbrah
Oct 07th · 01:47 UTC
I am an evil person who has stolen from those I did not know in their lifetime. shame on me and may misfortune fall upon myself and my descendants. But fr it was a cool idea and I liked the stat bonuses you get from the items
🎤 Adrien Tremblay
Oct 07th · 01:48 UTC
@penumbrah hahahaha. This game is evil person simulator for real
Nnnnneeeedddd
Oct 07th · 01:52 UTC
So, I really liked the graveyard, kinda whacky you can half hit the grave next to the one you're descecrating.

I did find the gravekeeper guys a bit forgiving, they never really notice you. Nice job adding all the items you can take.

Not sure if this is just a Godot thing, but my windows toolbar was visible even though it was 'fullscreen', and I couldn't alt-tab, or window it or anything. I was worried some of the game could be hidden at the bottom for a while.

Anyway, very nice work :)

Ah, also, side-note: I didn't know which one was the windows download on ldjam.com. I think your linux one is x86_64, which I think of as a windows thing (ik it isn't :sweat_smile: ) Anyway, just put 'Windows' maybe
🎤 Adrien Tremblay
Oct 07th · 02:00 UTC
@nnnnneeeedddd Yeah i'll try and get a true fullscreen windows build out! And yeah probably should have added logic to prevent digging the next grave over lol. Anyways not a game breaking bug :)
SlaQr
Oct 07th · 02:07 UTC
Fun little game. Being able to safespot the guards took away from it a bit, but I did have fun queuing up graves to dig before making a second pass to loot.
🎤 Adrien Tremblay
Oct 07th · 02:08 UTC
@slaqr Thanks! What does safespot mean?
SylviaChord
Oct 07th · 02:14 UTC
The tomb-raiding concept is quite intriguing, and the grave-digging steps are well-designed. However, the patrol mechanics seem somewhat oversimplified. Firstly, while digging, players cannot see the patrols approaching. There is no warning when they get close, and eventually, a voice line plays followed by an immediate capture. This mechanic could be reconsidered to create a more intense and logical sense of tension. Additionally, the music and sound effects need more suitable kits.
🎤 Adrien Tremblay
Oct 07th · 02:20 UTC
@sylviachord Thanks for the feedback! The groundskeepers to hum so theoretically the player can hear them approach, but the radius may be too small.
SlaQr
Oct 07th · 02:33 UTC
@adrien-tremblay i could safely loot a grave while the guards were walking into the other side of the fence.![Screenshot_20251006_223259.png](///raw/ac3/84/z/6e713.png)
🎤 Adrien Tremblay
Oct 07th · 02:40 UTC
@slaqr Ah lol. Yeah I didn't have time to implement actual pathing. So yeah, it gets a bit silly.
WormKingBoo
Oct 07th · 04:05 UTC
I love the spooky theme! And the balance of moving around the cemetery/shoveling/avoiding the graveyard keepers was nice - just the right amount of stuff to keep track of for me. Overall, I really enjoyed it 🪦🎃
qiqiqi
Oct 07th · 04:56 UTC
I didn't read the instructions and thought the keeper was my friend. I charged in and died immediately – scared me to death, haha! Anyway, the game is really fun with a spot-on atmosphere.
STLrain
Oct 07th · 05:00 UTC
Nice game, I like the concept! I think the groundskeepers should pose a bigger threat for more intense gameplay.
tinykidtoo
Oct 07th · 06:21 UTC
I love the atmosphere! Kept me looking up from the graves to check if I was safe. But ultimately I was never caught by either of the grounds keepers. So, I did a run where I just tried to agro them. Which was neat. Really well done.
Antarktis
Oct 07th · 09:42 UTC
COOOOOOLLLL!
Raylond
Oct 07th · 10:12 UTC
Pretty solid game here, well done!
It would be great to see different types of graves so you could figure out is there any good loot there and get some rings to increase loot found from the other graves before looting the juicy one.
Atmosphere is there and it kinda feels like it can be a pretty fun experience if driven into the right direction of the paranoia of being watched while desecrating the grave and trying to find loot or break into more secured gravesites.
You may be even having a pretty solid foundation for a bigger game here, keep it up! :)
bereg
Oct 07th · 10:23 UTC
Okay, the concept really works and is genuinely interesting. Though it could use a few more hints in some places. At first, I was just pressing E on graves, thinking that was all there was to it, and kept wondering why everything was empty. Later, I realized I actually needed to dig with the shovel. And only after unearthing every grave and collecting my $3,000 did I discover that items could be used for bonuses. That was probably mentioned in the initial instructions, but I didn’t pay it much attention.

I have to say, the core concept is awesome. The tension of quietly digging through graves while hearing guards nearby and not being able to raise the camera really gets your nerves going. On the other hand, it would be great if the difficulty ramped up more gradually and the guards weren’t quite so blind. Overall, it’s a great game. Congratulations!
Iluvatar
Oct 07th · 12:02 UTC
This is such a simple concept, but thanks to the atmosphere, graphics, audio, backstory and overall mood, the game is definitely one of my favorite so far! It is quite easy, but as I said my most favorite part of this game is the atmosphere so I would probably enjoy it even if it was a walking simulator haha. Graveyard in Victorian times??? COUNT ME IN!
tardis2snej
Oct 07th · 21:44 UTC
Great for a solo project! I liked the effects from the artifacts. The gravekeepers weren't really threatening, but when one of them talked to me I jumped haha
Well done!
D3kryption
Oct 07th · 23:56 UTC
Grave digging? hahah I love it! The item pickup sound was a bit loud but the atmosphere sound was really nice. Great job! :D I had fun playing this :D
GreenRadiation
Oct 08th · 00:21 UTC
The mouse sensitivity is incredibly erratic. But the gameplay concept is very interesting. The drag and drop is a bit clunky, but overall it adds a special flair to the gameplay. Great job!
Damyyr
Oct 08th · 00:48 UTC
If they're dead, they don't need those items right ? Right ?!

Cool concept, synergy system make me think of Noita. Those guard that never leave us made me laugh, constant pressure, loved it.

Also thank you to have for providing the public git, I was able to play directly even on mac; much appreciated.
Ciphereo
Oct 08th · 06:42 UTC
A game with a strong sense of atmosphere!
Alexanrd
Oct 08th · 16:39 UTC
Definitely not bad
Shram
Oct 08th · 17:06 UTC
it's a cool game, and the idea of robbing graves is fun)
Itzriceee
Oct 09th · 15:38 UTC
Great looking game!
oxbuddulaj
Oct 09th · 23:05 UTC
+1 on high mouse sensitivity and fullscreen not fullscreening on win10

decent core idea w/ a spice up as in bonus effects

menu music is simple but good enough to convey the mood; i wish i can make like that. dig/collect sfx raised my eyebrows though

grave contents design is meh, but the environment is really good overall; with those dress-coaters you made it memorable. thanks for the game!
Profugo Barbatus
Oct 12th · 06:13 UTC
Definitely would have appreciated a sensitivity setting, but worked as expected otherwise. I liked the premise, feels like a good prototype with bones that could be expanded on, more interactivity in rooting through the remains and the like. Really good showing for a jam weekend though!
JohnStarich
Oct 13th · 01:54 UTC
I found myself looking over my shoulder while sneaking around. Riveting!

Great ambiance music and crickets. The sound effect for "collected" was a little harsh, but the dig and walking were good. I wish it were a little more difficult to enjoy the struggle :smile:
PatUwU
Oct 21st · 17:04 UTC
Simple but cool graphics and good idea on theme. Great job!
ConCaerus
Oct 23rd · 17:19 UTC
Very cool idea for a game! I loved how interactive the digging and looting mechanics were!