Corpus – An independent video game studio in Corpus is celebrating this weekend after crossing a milestone of 2 million sales of its latest game – in less than four weeks. The Last Lightkeeper, released by Lantern House Games, was released at the end of September after four years of development to massive acclaim, having built a viral following on social media during the leadup to its release.
The Last Lightkeeper follows a lighthouse keeper attempting to discover what happened to the inhabitants of a remote island community. The game’s fictional islands were largely inspired by Sanctaria’s southwestern coastline, with players exploring abandoned fishing villages, old chapels, and crumbling lighthouses while piecing together the story of the missing islanders. Much of the story is based on traditional Sanctarian folk horror tales of ghost ships, mysterious lights, and sailors disappearing at sea, although the developers admit that they have taken some liberties with the folklore.
Mara Veylen (34), who co-founded Lantern House Games in 2020, said she had wanted to make a game about the stories she heard growing up near the coast. “My grandmother was always telling us stories about people going out to sea and never coming home. Some of them were probably made up to stop us wandering off at night, but they stayed with me. It’s quite funny to think they’re now frightening people on the other side of the world.”
The studio had originally expected to sell around 50,000 copies, a figure which would have covered development costs and allowed the team to begin another project. But the internet’s attention was caught in February 2025 when Lantern House released a short trailer showing a lighthouse flashing across a deserted harbour, fishing boats upended, dilapidated houses in a village, and the sound of a church bell ringing despite the apparent abandonment of that village. Social media chatter began, and gaming streamers started promising to play it when it released.
Since the release, the streamers kept their word, and have helped The Last Lightkeeper reach audiences around the world, topping digital sales charts in several countries. Due to its success, Veylen has also committed to physical releases, with special edition boxes including a to-scale statue of the lighthouse that is a primary location within the game. Many streamers and commentators online have also spoken warmly about the coastal locations in the game, sharing photos of real locations from the Galvium coast that resemble those in-game; Veylen said the studio had received messages asking where the islands were located, and whether the game’s lighthouse could be visited.
Lantern House Games is now considering additional content for the game, but Veylen has not confirmed whether a sequel is planned.
LEE JONES, Entertainment Correspondent
