My Shadows Are Bright

4 / 5

37,940 plays

arcade

Game Information

Developer: SZ Games

Rating:

4/5

Released: April 2024

Last Updated: June 2025

Technology: HTML5 (Unity WebGL)

Platform: Browser

Size: ~15 MB

Plays: 37,940

Mobile Support: No

About My Shadows Are Bright

Rediscover the boundless creativity and joy of childhood in 'My Shadows Are Bright,' the enchanting free online arcade game that transforms your imagination into interactive stories. This indie gem, a standout winner from the GMTK Game Jam 2024, transports you to a whimsical world where the shadows on the wall become the canvas for your dreams.

At its heart, 'My Shadows Are Bright' is more than a game—it's a celebration of pure creativity. Players are invited to place whimsical objects against the wall and watch as their shadows blend, combine, and shift, forming unexpected figures and breathtaking scenes. The brilliance of the game emerges when you become a shadow yourself, venturing into the very world you've crafted. Navigate, explore, and interact within these bespoke landscapes, turning your inventive setups into living, playable levels.

Designed with love by buday and GGroys, the game's aesthetic radiates nostalgia with hand-drawn art and gentle animation. Every detail feels purposeful, capturing the magic of blanket-fort adventures and shadow puppet shows. As you tinker with objects—moving, rotating, and scaling each one to manipulate their shadows—you unlock new layers of creativity and problem-solving. 'Built to scale' is more than a theme; it's a gameplay philosophy, inviting players to alter perspective and think outside the box.

Gameplay is intuitive yet deeply rewarding. It's easy to dive in, but true mastery involves experimenting with object arrangements and shadow combinations to discover hidden possibilities. With each playthrough, you’ll encounter new surprises and subtle details that invite replayability.

While 'My Shadows Are Bright' shines brightest on desktop browsers and isn't mobile-friendly, it runs smoothly in any modern setup and is completely free to play via itch.io—no downloads, no paywalls. Whether you're a fan of indie browser games, looking for a relaxing creative outlet, or seeking a unique puzzle adventure, this game will win your heart. Let your imagination take the reins, and watch shadows come alive!

How to Play

Getting started with My Shadows Are Bright is a magical, hands-on experience. As soon as you launch the game in your browser via itch.io, you’ll step into a cozy virtual room where a blank wall awaits your creativity. Use your mouse to select, drag, and drop various playful objects—like toys, furniture, and abstract shapes—onto the virtual space before the wall. Each object casts a shadow, and you can freely move, rotate, and resize them, watching the shadows change in real-time.

The key gameplay loop centers on experimenting with these objects to create imaginative shadow arrangements. Once satisfied with your setup, activate the ‘Become a Shadow’ option—instantly, you’ll take control of a shadowy character within the scene you just built! Use your keyboard arrows or WASD keys to move your character, platformer-style, through your creative level. The challenge lies in puzzling through your own design: leap over gaps, find hidden corners, and see which objects help or hinder your progress.

Beginner tips: Don’t be afraid to try wildly different object placements and scales—the game rewards playful experimentation. If you get stuck or want to start over, simply reset the scene and dream up a new arrangement. There are no timers or penalties; the only limit is your imagination. Enjoy the process, and let curiosity guide your way!

Controls

mouse

keyboard

Tips & Tricks

Try overlapping different objects—the combinations can create surprising pathways!
Use rotation and scaling liberally; even small adjustments drastically change the shadow layout.
Think ahead: design your level so your shadow character can reach all areas and discover secrets.
Reset often to iterate on your creations and find the most fun or challenging layouts.
Explore the outer edges—hints and hidden elements may reveal themselves in less obvious spots.
Observe how each object's unique shadow can form platforms, tunnels, or even obstacles.
Challenge yourself to build a level with a specific story or theme for extra fun!