Controls
Move with WASD or the arrow keys, or drag anywhere on a touch screen. Press Space or F (or tap the flash button) to flash. P or Esc pauses.
How to play Lantern Keeper
Every floor of the dungeon is a maze of rooms and corridors, and you can only see as far as your lantern reaches. Explore to find the key, then walk onto the stairs to descend. The stairs stay sealed until you have the key.
Your oil burns down all the time, and the lantern’s light shrinks with it. Oil flasks refill 35% of the tank. If the oil runs out, the light almost disappears and the darkness starts to bite you every few seconds.
Shadows, flashes and braziers
Shadows lurk in the dark and stalk the edge of your light. They lunge at you when your lantern is dim, and you have three hearts, so every hit counts. From depth 3 some of them are tougher wraiths that take two flashes to banish.
Flash sends out a burst of light that scares nearby shadows away and banishes the closest ones for bonus gold, but it costs 12% of your oil and needs a moment to recharge. Walk up to a brazier to light it: shadows avoid its glow, so it makes a safe spot to catch your breath.
Tips and tricks
- Grab every oil flask you see. Oil burns faster on deeper floors, so a full lantern does not last long.
- Save your flash for when shadows are close. Using it too early wastes oil you may need later.
- Gold, gems and chests are optional but score bonus stars, and chests sometimes hold a heart or a little extra oil.
- Between floors you can watch a short ad for a full oil refill, and after a defeat you can watch one to revive once per run.
FAQ
Is Lantern Keeper free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser, with no download and no account.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Drag anywhere on the screen to move like a joystick, and tap the flash button to scare the shadows away.
Is my progress saved?
Your deepest floor and your richest run are saved in your browser on this device. Each new run starts again from depth 1.
What happens when I lose all my hearts?
The run ends and you see how deep you got. You can start again straight away, or watch a short ad once per run to refill your oil and hearts and keep going with a few seconds of safety.
