Close search results
Close search results
×
Play YouTube video
×
Please enter a valid email address
Please choose a platform
How young was your child when they first played this?
:
 
How does your child play this? Alone, with friends, with family? How did they discover it and what kept them coming back for more?
:   :
 
To verify your input please enter your email to create an account.
Email:

Play OverviewPlay Overview

The Red Lantern (2020) is an adventure with a team of husky dogs in the alaskan wilderness. You and a team of sled dogs head into the wilderness and traverse the ever-changing events of the Alaskan bush to find your way home. The result is a game that challenges both your instincts and decision making while you deal with memories that haunt you from the past.

You play as The Musher as she sets out to train for the gruelling Iditarod race. With your trusty crew of dogs, each of who have their own personalities and stories. The game tells her story as you play. "You are what you do, so choose wisely... Unfortunately for me, you are also your mistakes. I am a disappointment." You learn the journey is her way of making something of her life.

Unlike other narrative games though, this doesn't always turn out well. Hundreds of different events can occur - like fending off bears, resisting frostbite, attending your dogs, or receiving a signature moose-licking. Some you survive, and some you don't and then start again.

What starts off as a game about adventure, turns into a story about perseverance and discovering that head-on isn't always the best way to face what's in front of you. You need to make careful and intelligent choices if you are going to get through this with your pack of loyal dogs intact.

Game Director, Lindsey Rostal, describes The Red Lantern as a game about perseverance. "A game about doing something just for you, not for anyone else. Fighting through so you know you can do it. So you know you can still survive when everything seems to be going wrong."

"I think we've all imagined," she continues, "that moment where we could just hit that reset button and run off to the woods. 'It might be better there,' we think. But often these idealized plans don't come with much preparation. This is where you join our game. Chasing a childhood dream, with the barest of resources, the lightest of plans, and no idea of what might be coming next.”

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked The Red Lantern 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 15 months ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to The Red Lantern. Here are some similar younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is an Adventure and Narrative game with Simulation elements. This is a single-player game.

DurationDuration

Play Time: It takes between 15 minutes and half an hour to play a round of this game. It takes around 3 hours to perfect a successful run, but you still have reasons to play further to discover more of the branching story.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

PEGI 16 for Strong Violence.

Rated for younger players in the US. ESRB TEEN for Language and Violence.

Skill Level

9+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. Younger players need to be able to embrace the repeated runs at the game. You need some skill in decision making and dealing with unintended consequences.

CostsCosts

The Red Lantern usually costs £19.49 to £19.99. 

The Red Lantern

Steam StoreSALE PC £19.49 £3.89 until 21/03/2024
Switch Store Switch £19.99
There are no additional in-game purchases, loot boxes, adverts or subscription costs.

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 22/10/2020

Price: 80% off

Out Now: PC and Switch

Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Adventure, Narrative and Simulation

Accessibility: 12 features

Components: 3D First-Person and Open World

Developer: Timberline Games (@TimberlineGames)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

Subscribe to our free newsletter

Subscribe
Carina Initiatives
PlayStation
HSBC
GameOpedia
Xbox
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Discord
Contact Us
About