How to Create a Flashlight Mechanic in Unity 3D for Horror Games

Introduction

Want to add tension and realism to your horror game? One of the most immersive features you can add is a flashlight mechanic. A working flashlight not only enhances visibility in dark scenes but also adds suspense as players rely on a limited light source to survive terrifying encounters. In this beginner-friendly tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a flashlight in Unity 3D using simple C# scripting—perfect for horror game developers who want to build immersive experiences.

Step 1: Setting Up the Scene

To begin, open Unity and create a new 3D project. Set up a basic scene to test your flashlight mechanic:

Add a Plane for the ground.
Add Cubes or other 3D objects to simulate obstacles.
Create a Directional Light and dim it or disable it for a darker environment.

Step 2: Create the Flashlight

1. Add an Empty GameObject

Right-click in the Hierarchy panel.
Select Create Empty, name it Flashlight.

2. Add a Light Component

Select the Flashlight GameObject.
In the Inspector, click Add Component > Light > Spot Light.
Adjust the Spot Angle, Range, and Intensity to match a flashlight feel.
Set Shadows to "Soft Shadows" for realism.

3. Position the Flashlight

Make the flashlight a child of your player’s camera (e.g., Main Camera) so it moves with the player’s view:

Drag the Flashlight GameObject onto the Main Camera.

Step 3: Add Flashlight Script in C#

Create a new C# script to toggle the flashlight on and off with a key press.

📄 Script: FlashlightController.cs

using UnityEngine;

public class FlashlightController : MonoBehaviour

    public Light flashlight;

    public KeyCode toggleKey = KeyCode.F;

    void Start()

        if (flashlight == null)

            flashlight = GetComponent<Light>();

        flashlight.enabled = false; // Starts off

    void Update()

        if (Input.GetKeyDown(toggleKey))

            flashlight.enabled = !flashlight.enabled;

How to Use:

Attach the script to the Flashlight GameObject.
Drag and drop the Light component from the GameObject into the script’s Flashlight field in the Inspector.

Step 4: Optional – Add Battery Life or Flickering Effect

Want to make the game more intense? Add features like:

Battery Drain Over Time
Flickering Light Effect When Near Enemies
Randomized Light Cut-Off Events

Let me know if you'd like a script for those too!

Final Thoughts

Flashlights are a staple in horror games for a reason—they limit the player’s vision, add immersion, and create tension. With this simple Unity setup, you’ve now built the foundation of a powerful horror game mechanic. Continue enhancing your flashlight by adding animations, sounds, or visual effects to take your game to the next level.

🛑 Disclaimer: This guide is based on Unity 2022.3 LTS or newer and may vary slightly with future updates.

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