Nocturnal arrives for free on Steam with 2D fire mechanics that hook players

Nocturnal, a 2D action-adventure game, is free on Steam until April 26, highlighting fire mechanics and an immersive atmosphere.

Quick summary

Nocturnal is a 2D action-adventure game with an atmospheric world and original fire mechanics. The title is available for free on Steam until April 26 and has already garnered significant positive reviews from users.

Plot and setting

You control Ardeshir, a soldier of the Eternal Flame. Upon returning to Nahran, he finds an island devastated by a mysterious mist. Wielding a flaming sword, he faces creatures of the fog and searches for the origin of the chaos.

Gameplay and mechanics

The gameplay is a fast-paced 2D action platformer. Fire is the central mechanic: Ardeshir's flame dissipates the mist, burns obstacles, activates mechanisms, and assists in combat. The game also offers exploration, fast-paced blade combat, and upgrades obtained by spending ashes collected at phoenix statues.

Reviews

PlayFront gave it an 8/10, praising the atmosphere, fire mechanics, and challenging gameplay. The review points to the lack of tutorials and a relatively contained story as negative points.

The Steam community was also impressed: 91% of over 700 reviews are positive. On Metacritic, the game holds a metascore of 81 and a User Score of 7.3.

Availability and release data

Nocturnal was developed by Sunnyside Games, a Swiss studio, and published by Dear Villagers in June 2023. The game usually costs about $17 on Steam but can be downloaded for free until April 26. On Steam Deck, it is classified as “Verified” and should run without issues.

Note: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes made by retailers; the offer mentioned was valid at the time of writing and may have time and availability restrictions.

About the author

As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my faithful companion. After school, the PlayStation was already on. When I got my first PC, I became completely addicted. My passion for games has not waned since then. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that touch my heart — besides games, I also enjoy writing about e-mobility, photovoltaics, and innovative gadgets. When I'm not in front of the computer, I'm probably on a water rescue mission on the Baltic coast or trying to combat the impacts of my geek lifestyle — mainly sitting for long periods — at the local pool.

Marius Müller, 2026-04-24 (Update: 2026-04-24).

Did you enjoy the read? Let us know in the comments what you thought of Nocturnal and if the free price tag changes your decision to try the game. Which aspect of the fire mechanic intrigues you the most?

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