Lifespan Candle Game Review

Lifespan Candle Game Background

Lifespan Candle is a puzzle platformer where you have to get a candle to the level finish spot before you run out of wax.

Alessandro Pezzetti’s Havana 24 submitted this game to the Weekly Game Jam #160.

How to Play Lifespan Candle

Press the gray and black PLAY button on the loading screen to bring up the welcome screen. Walk over to the goal on the welcome screen to start the game.

You can move the candle around the stages using the WASD keys or the arrow keys.

If you make a mistake press the R key to restart the current level.

Basic Gameplay Advice

Bring the candle under a flame to light it. Have the candle run along the level and burn items in your path to clear a path to the goal. Reach the goal while the candle is burning to advance to the next stage.

This game contains 9 different stages. If you reach the goal location while still burning you beat the stage. If your candle burns out of wax you lose the stage and it reloads from the beginning.

On some stages you have to activate switches or buttons by standing on them or pushing a stone on them, so that you cause a gate to open or a platform to move.

You can push stones to use them as platforms, and even push a stone in position for another stone to fall atop it.

Some of the levels have small balls of wax which you can collect to make the candle grow bigger.

The candle flame is put out if water drips on it or if you submerge in water with the candle’s flame below the waterline. The melting candle acts as a bit of a level timer on some stages. Some levels require keeping the candle lit for the duration, while other stages may require you to put it out then light the candle again near the exit goal.

Advanced Playing Tips & Strategy

Some aspects of the game require tight timing and rhythm, like on the last stage when you try to slide the stone over the button, light the candle, dodge the falling water up top, then stay under the moving platform at the bottom to keep the candle lit.

If you play a clean stage and still have trouble with the candle burning out you may need to intentionally burn out the candle’s light earlier in the stage, then light it again near the end of the level.

Educational Aspects

This game can help kids improve hand eye coordination and improve critical thinking skills.

Player Age Recommendations

This game is quite challenging for students below middle school, though the originality and cuteness of the game makes at least the first few stages fun for all ages.