Indie developer Cold Symmetry has launched The Lantern of the Laughless Saint today, an open-world RPG that draws heavy inspiration from Bethesda's Xbox-era classics, particularly The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. The game places players on a mysterious island overlooked by a towering structure, tasking them with confronting the "weight of human desire" as the world below begins to stir.
The Lantern of the Laughless Saint aims to replicate the open-ended gameplay loop found in titles like Morrowind. Its design encourages players to "pick up or steal anything, kill anyone," with a dynamic NPC dialogue system that reacts to player actions. A skill system where all abilities level up over time, similar to Morrowind, is also a core feature, allowing for significant player customization and experimentation. The developer has highlighted the potential for players to "jump across the map and do other hilarious stuff if you fortify a skill an insane amount."
Beyond its single-player aspirations, the game also supports co-operative playthroughs, allowing players to explore its do-whatever-you-want world together. This feature adds another layer to the game's emphasis on player freedom and emergent gameplay.
The release of The Lantern of the Laughless Saint coincides with a relatively quiet period in the latter half of 2026 for major game launches. It joins other notable releases such as The Sinking City 2 and the Steins;Gate Re:Boot remaster, marking the end of summer backlog season.
Other notable releases this week include Mortal Shell 2, which launches on Thursday, and the expansion for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope. The week's releases span various platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.