PCGame

Nocturnal

Side-scrolling action adventure where a flaming sword repels mist

Sunnyside Games · Published by Dear Villagers · Released Jun 7, 2023

ActionAdventure

Reviews
Very Positive
91% of 550
Recent reviews
Very Positive
95% of 22 in 30 days
Players
17
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Verified
Last update on Steam
4 months ago
Jun 27, 2026
Minimum PC
HD 4870
8 GB RAM · 2 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 81/100 (critic reviews)

What is Nocturnal?

Ardeshir returns to his island homeland after a mysterious Mist throws it into chaos. In this linear, side-scrolling action adventure, you fight creatures, cross platforming sections, and use a flaming sword to push back the Mist, ignite objects, and activate mechanisms. Exploration and combat yield ash you can spend at Phoenix statues on skills and bonuses.

For you if...

  • +you prefer short, linear side-scrolling adventures
  • +you enjoy combat built around managing a flame
  • +you value hand-drawn visuals and a moody atmosphere

Not for you if...

  • −you want a long adventure with open-ended exploration
  • −you dislike repeatedly lighting torches to keep moving
  • −you want varied combat and extensive skill progression

What players say

91% of 550 reviews are positive · 95% of 22 in the last 30 days

Players praise the art, flame effects, and responsive combat. They criticize repetitive torch lighting, basic combat, and the short length for the asking price. Some also report hard-to-read routes and screen shake they cannot disable.

Players over time

▼ -18% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 47 players on Sep 22, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 202617
Nov 6, 202610
Nov 5, 202619
Nov 4, 202622
Nov 3, 202616
Nov 2, 202620
Nov 1, 202630
Oct 31, 202626
Oct 30, 202619
Oct 29, 202617
Oct 28, 202624
Oct 27, 202624
Oct 26, 202616
Oct 25, 202632
Oct 24, 202629
Oct 23, 202621
Oct 22, 202627
Oct 21, 202619
Oct 20, 202625
Oct 18, 202633
Oct 17, 202626
Oct 16, 202617
Oct 15, 202617
Oct 14, 202625
Oct 13, 202630
Oct 11, 202626
Oct 10, 202622
Oct 9, 202613
Oct 8, 202611
Oct 7, 202619
Oct 6, 202622
Oct 4, 202634
Oct 3, 202627
Oct 2, 202618
Oct 1, 202632
Sep 30, 202624
Sep 29, 202636
Sep 27, 202635
Sep 26, 202641
Sep 25, 202639
Sep 24, 202619
Sep 23, 202626
Sep 23, 202637
Sep 22, 202647

How many players finish Nocturnal?

19% of Steam players have unlocked «A Grim Farewell», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

Nocturnal screenshot 1

Nocturnal system requirements

Minimum: HD 4870, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Nocturnal?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

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Minimum

OS
Windows 7 64-bit
Processor
Intel Core i7-3610QM or AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
Graphics
GeForce GT 650M or Radeon HD 4870 X2
Memory
8 GB RAM
Storage
2 GB available space

Does Nocturnal have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does Nocturnal run on Steam Deck?

Verified Yes, Verified by Valve: it works on Steam Deck out of the box.

  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Full controller support
Platforms
Windows
Achievements
11
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing
Languages
Text only: English, French, German, Spanish - Spain, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese - Brazil, Traditional Chinese, Japanese.

Does Nocturnal use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 25, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

2 DLC available.

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