Moonlit Hope

A first-person puzzle game inspired by the likes of Myst.

Use WASD to move, and click on things to interact.

There are 3 puzzles in total. I would suggest trying the "rotating statues" puzzle in the foggy area first, as it was the first puzzle that was designed.

I didn't have time to create a proper ending, so the screen simply fades out when you've beaten the game.

KNOWN ISSUES:

• Some interactable objects may not be revealed when the game loads. To ensure correct behavior, rotate the moon a full cycle by clicking on the red pedestal in the center of the stage four times.
• It's possible to get softlocked in the "concentric cylinders" puzzle by moving too quickly while shadows are moving. Refer to the spoilers section for a way out.
• As above, it's also possible to get softlocked in the "maze" puzzle. Some of these shadows, however, are impassable even when cheating. You would have to really intentionally get stuck in here, but it's possible to get so stuck that the only option is to restart the game.

SPOILERS:

Click to expand:

• A cheat to move faster or get out of softlocks:
  Cheat

  • You can hold Shift to sprint, which also allows you to walk over shadows. Doing so can break or forcibly solve the puzzles, so for best experience, please only sprint when moving across the open area or when getting out of a softlock.
• The rotating statues puzzle:
  Hint 1

  • The fog in this puzzle allows you to walk over shadows, but this fact is not relevant to the solution. This was simply done as a convenience because this puzzle doesn't use the shadow collision mechanic.
  Hint 2

  • The taller statues' shadows will activate the eyes of the smaller statues when aligned properly.
  Solution

  1. Move the moon to cast shadows away from the entrance.
  2. Use the outer cranks to rotate the four outer statues to face into the shadows so that their eyes light up.
  3. Then rotate the center crank to align the middle statues.
  4. The cranks will vanish and the door will open. Take note of the floating green sigil here.
• The concentric cylinders puzzle:
  Hint 1

  • The range at which you can interact with objects is likely greater than you think. Use the crosshair to determine if something is interactable.
  Hint 2

  • Each cylinder has a hexagon on it that reveals an interactable sigil when in shadow. These sigils cause the cylinders to rotate 90 degrees, but will deactivate and undo the rotation when exposed to light.
  Hint 3

  • You can use the pedestals to move the moon while the cylinders are rotating.
  Hint 4

  • The innermost cylinder's sigil has a panel which will keep it shaded at certain angles.
  Solution

  1. Move the moon to cast shadows onto the outer cylinder's sigil to reveal it.
  2. Interact with the first cylinder's sigil. While it is rotating, use the pedestal located to the right to move the moon and keep the sigil in shadow.
  3. To the left, an opening in the first cylinder has revealed the third cylinder's sigil. Interact with it.
  4. Use the pedestal furthest from the puzzle's entrance. This will move the moon to cast a shadow onto the second cylinder's sigil, and also cause the first cylinder to reset and give access to the second's sigil.
  5. Interact with the second cylinder's sigil. While it is moving, use the pedestal to your left to move the moon and keep the sigil in shadow.
  6. Now, all three cylinders have aligned to give you access to the center. Take note of the floating green sigil here.
• The maze puzzle:
  Hint 1

  • You cannot walk over shadows normally, but if the shadow is lit by a mysterious light source, it can be traversed.
  Hint 2

  • Each hand sigil will create artificial shadows and lights when interacted with.
  Hint 3

  • Each hand sigil will create artificial shadows around its own pillar, but create artificial lights around another pillar which is on the opposite side.
  Solution

  1. Use either pedestal to move the moon and walk into the maze.
  2. Interact with either of the sigils which are on the pillars furthest from the locked door.
  3. Walk out and around to the other entrance, where you can now cross over the shadow which was previously blocked.
  4. Interact with the sigil located around the back side of the same pillar which had the first sigil you interacted with.
  5. Navigate to the locked door. It will open automatically. Take note of the floating green sigil here.
• Finale:
  Solution

  1. Each of the three puzzles rewards you with knowledge of a green sigil. These sigils corresponds to an interactable green sigil located around the green platform.
  2. Interact with those three sigils located around the green platform. They will turn white when activated. Ensure that no other sigils are activated.
  3. When the correct three sigils are activated, the game has been beaten.

CREDITS:

• Apples - Art, design, coding
• Arnenia - Music, sounds

THIRD-PARTY ASSETS:

• Beholden - Font
• FilmCow Sound Effects Library - "sliding door large close 3.wav"