News
The Light in the Darkness Director’s Cut Arrives Free on PS5
The Light in the Darkness: Director’s Cut is now available for free on PlayStation 5. Launched Tuesday, September 22, this expanded version of Luc Bernard’s Holocaust education game follows a Polish-Jewish family living in Nazi-occupied France during World War II.
Bernard’s nonprofit, Voices of the Forgotten, developed the project. It’s a heavy narrative experience, built to teach rather than to entertain in the usual sense.
What’s New in the Director’s Cut
The original game arrived in 2023 as a free download. According to Bernard, this new version delivers his original vision, which the first release couldn’t fully achieve.
The Director’s Cut adds:
- Full voice acting
- An extended narrative with new story material
- New animations and added atmospheric detail
- Refined game systems
- A historically grounded reconstruction of Auschwitz
Players don’t control a soldier or a political leader. You step into the daily life of an ordinary family, and the gameplay focuses on day-to-day events rather than a sweeping war story.
Where to Get It
The game is a free download from the PlayStation Store, and both the Director’s Cut and the original are free. PlayStation LifeStyle lists Arcade Distillery as the publisher of this release. Trophies are reported to come fairly quickly, though that shouldn’t be the reason to play.
PS5 is the only platform listed for the Director’s Cut. The original never came to Nintendo Switch or Xbox One, so a wider rollout isn’t confirmed. The runtime hasn’t been detailed.
How Players Are Responding
Reception on the PlayStation Store is strong on story and soundtrack, with a rating of 3.45 out of 5 across more than 4,000 reviews. One top review describes crying for 20 minutes after playing. The recurring criticism is the controls, which some players find clunky.
Bernard’s Wider Work
Luc Bernard is a French-Jewish game designer, and this isn’t his first project in the space. In August 2023, Voices of the Forgotten released a virtual Holocaust museum in Fortnite Creative. The original Light in the Darkness also drew coverage from outlets like The Guardian, which called it a sobering free educational game.
If you’re building a library of story-first games, our best free PS5 games list covers more no-cost picks.
[NOTE] This game deals with the Holocaust and depicts distressing historical events. Players should be prepared for its subject matter.
FAQ
Is The Light in the Darkness Director’s Cut free?
Yes. The Director’s Cut is a free download for all PS5 players on the PlayStation Store, and the original 2023 version is free as well.
When did The Light in the Darkness Director’s Cut come out?
It launched Tuesday, September 22, 2026, on PlayStation 5.
What is The Light in the Darkness about?
It’s a narrative game about a working-class Polish-Jewish family in Nazi-occupied France during the Holocaust. Players experience their daily struggles as an ordinary family trying to survive.
What’s different in the Director’s Cut?
The Director’s Cut adds full voice acting, an extended narrative, new animations, atmospheric detail, refined systems, and a historically grounded reconstruction of Auschwitz.
Is The Light in the Darkness available on Xbox or Switch?
Not so far. PS5 is the only listed platform for the Director’s Cut, and the original never launched on Nintendo Switch or Xbox One.
