DaRmaZat Can a man truly escape his past by sailing into the middle of nowhere? In WILL: Follow The Light, TomorrowHead Studio‘s debut title, we meet Will, a lighthouse keeper who is as capable behind the helm of his boat, Molly, as he is scarred by life. As a single father, grieving his late wife Ila, and wrestling with the shadow of an alcoholic father, Will’s life seems shaped by loss and isolation in the far north – but not devoid of resilience. That very tension becomes the beating heart of the game’s emotional core.
What begins as a routine maintenance shift at Will’s remote lighthouse – complete with practical upkeep tasks and memory-laced tutorial moments – is shattered by an unexpected radio warning and a catastrophic storm. When his friend Greg arrives early to relieve him, Will learns his hometown has been devastated, almost war-zone-like in its destruction. Radio operator Cassandra, his father, and even Thomas, Will’s son, are missing. His solitary routine is shattered, and Will has no choice but to find the strength to bring them back. Flashbacks to his childhood deepen the narrative, exploring his complicated relationship with his father and his lifelong bond with the sea.
If there are two things WILL: Follow The Light nails perfectly, they are the storytelling and the sheer variety in gameplay. The emotional weight is heavy, but it’s balanced by surprising side quests that reveal the humanity hidden beneath Will’s trauma. I especially loved the moments spent on the Molly and the dog sled traversal. Being out on the open water and in the snow both feel incredibly authentic. The sailing mechanics often feel so convincing that parts of the experience become genuinely educational. On one hand, you experience the absolute power and freedom of being a captain; on the other, you are hit with the harsh reality of desolation and the need for self-reliance. It looks and feels convincingly realistic, making the maritime elements more of a simulation than just a backdrop.
What also deserves praise are the puzzles. They are unique and follow a very logical flow – accessible enough to keep you moving, yet demanding enough to require some technical insight. You’ll find yourself assembling mechanical objects, operating cranes, and figuring out power diagrams. Some tasks, like flipping fuses in the right order, do repeat, but they generally feel well-integrated into the world.
However, the game isn’t without its frustrations. In a bit of an old-school move, there are no quest markers. While this helps immersion, it often genuinely confused me, making it difficult to figure out where to go or what to do next. Combine this with the lack of manual saves and somewhat infrequent auto-checkpoints, and you might find yourself wasting time if you quit the game and return later, struggling to remember exactly how you solved that technical puzzle before.
WILL: Follow The Light runs super smoothly on PC, and visually, its Unreal Engine 5 environments are a standout, with richly detailed landscapes. The atmospheric soundtrack, too, adds a beautiful, emotionally layer. However, the character presentation struggles to keep up. The NPCs often feel like stiff, copy-paste objects with lackluster animations and lip-syncing that feels years behind the scenery.
Additionally, the UI could have been much tighter as well. While conversations often provide multiple dialogue options, the screen is often crowded with blocks of text that appear all at once, making the interface feel cluttered and a bit overwhelming to look at while you’re just trying to stay immersed in the world.
Final Thoughts
WILL: Follow The Light is a narratively gripping experience about a tormented man and the willpower required to save what’s left of his family. The puzzles are rewarding, the world is stunningly detailed, and the sailing mechanics are so convincing they almost feel educational. You’ll have to overlook some stiff character models, occasional pacing dips, and replayed sections caused by the lack of manual saves, but overall, it’s a very solid journey for anyone who loves emotional storytelling in a unique northern setting.
Additional Information
Release Date: May 7, 2026
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: TomorrowHead Studio
Publisher: TomorrowHead Studio
Relevant links: Available on PC via Steam.
