The Light in the Darkness
| The Light in the Darkness | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Voices of the Forgotten |
| Director(s) | Luc Bernard |
| Producer(s) | Lexy Graves, Chantal Paz |
| Writer(s) | Lexy Graves |
| Engine | Unreal Engine |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) |
| Release | 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Educational |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Light in the Darkness is a 2023 educational video game created by French designer Luc Bernard. It tells the story of a Polish-Jewish family during the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied France. The game blends interactive storytelling with historical material, including archival photographs and documents, and is designed to teach young players about the Holocaust through an emotional, narrative-driven format.
The game was published by Voices of the Forgotten, a nonprofit founded by Bernard to promote Holocaust education through digital media.[1]
Gameplay
[edit]The game blends linear storytelling with brief dialogue options and small-scale interactive moments. However, it deliberately avoids traditional branching narratives or win conditions in order to reflect the historical reality and lack of agency faced by Holocaust victims. Bernard has described the experience as “an interactive film,” stating, “there’s no gamifying the Holocaust, there’s no winning the Holocaust.”[2]
Development
[edit]The game began as an unreleased prototype titled Imagination Is the Only Escape, originally announced in 2008 for the Nintendo DS. That version was designed to follow a young Jewish boy in Nazi-occupied France and teach children about the Holocaust. It drew early attention for its controversial subject matter but was never published.[3]
Years later, Bernard revisited the concept, evolving it into The Light in the Darkness — a more grounded and historically focused experience. The final game was released in 2023 as a free download.[4][5]
As of 2025, a director’s cut is in development and expected to be released in 2026.[6]
Reception
[edit]The game was widely praised by critics and media outlets for its emotional impact and educational value. Variety profiled Bernard’s use of games to engage young people with Holocaust history.[7] The Economist called the game “a new way to educate young people about the Holocaust.”[8] Reviews emphasized the game’s respectful approach to the subject matter and its potential to spark critical discussion.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ ""Holocaust Education Should Be Accessible to Everyone": Developer Luc Bernard Highlights Role of Video Games in Teaching Lessons of Past and Fighting Antisemitism Today". Combat Antisemitism Movement. September 13, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ Simon Parkin (June 10, 2023). "The Light in the Darkness review – a sobering free educational game that confronts the Holocaust". The Guardian. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ^ Pappu, Sridhar (2008-03-10). "No Game About Nazis for Nintendo". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- ^ Webb, Conrad Duncan (2022-02-02). "Light in the Darkness: Holocaust game will be first on Xbox to tackle genocide". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
- ^ Katherine Brodsky (September 14, 2021). "Can a Game Get Young Players Interested in Holocaust History?". Wired. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ^ "The Light in the Darkness: Director's Cut". Voices of the Forgotten. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ^ "'The Light in the Darkness' Creator Shares How His Video Game Can Educate People About the Holocaust". Variety. October 18, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ^ "A new video game educates young people about the Holocaust". The Economist. April 19, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2025.