love2d-lantern-lights

Lantern Lights is a score-attack arcade game developed using the LÖVE 2D framework. The core gameplay involves catching drifting lanterns before they exit the screen, building chain multipliers by catching them consecutively, and avoiding cold cinders that reduce remaining time and reset chains. Players progress through increasingly difficult levels divided into three bands — Early, Middle, and Late — each with shorter timers, faster spawn rates, and more lanterns on screen. Three lantern types exist: Paper (100 points), Ember (250 points + bonus time), and Cinder (penalty). A five-step multiplier system activates at 3, 6, 10, and 15 consecutive catches. Wind, sway, and updraft affect lantern trajectories, adding dynamic motion. The game includes title, gameplay, level-complete, and game-over screens with instant replay. Controls are simple: left-click to catch, Enter/Space to start or restart, Esc to quit. Developer shortcuts allow jumping to specific levels or toggling diagnostics. No external Lua dependencies are required; simply run 'love .' after installing LÖVE 11.5+. The project structure separates gameplay logic from rendering for modularity and testability, including deterministic screenshot generation for verification. Artwork is bundled but may be subject to separate licensing terms.