A Mining Game App: How to Play The Mole and the Lantern, With Dwindling Lantern Light, and How Idle Mining Works

Published 2026/10/25 / by MASHIMARO produce

Disclosure: the app in this article was developed and distributed by the operator of this site, Free Game Com (indie developer Masimaro).

"I like digging games, but I want a twist." For anyone like that, here is the mining game app The Mole and the Lantern.

Note: price, supported OS, size and age rating are based on the App Store listing as of October 29, 2026. They can change, so check the latest information on the store page before buying. The app's name is our English translation of the Japanese title, and the in-game text may be Japanese or English.

Key points

A tense mining game where lantern oil keeps dropping and you dig on to keep your light alive
If you smash the core crystal at the deepest point and escape, you take home all the ore you mined (half if you run out)
Three hired miners keep digging for up to 8 hours' worth while the app is closed
According to the store description: playable offline and one-handed in portrait

What kind of game is it?

Your lantern oil keeps dropping even while you dig. The dimmer the light, the narrower your view, until eventually you can't even see your feet. Ore and coal you dig up also work as fuel, so the only way to keep your light is to keep digging. Stop and it gets dark; go on and you can't turn back. That simple tug of war is the core of the game.

The "only if you bring it home" rule

If you smash the core crystal at the deepest point and escape, you take home all the ore you mined.
If you run out of strength before that, you keep only half.

Do you get greedy for "just one more", or take it home safely? That tug of war is the backbone of the game.

Moles, and idle mining

Mole companions: a mole you befriend follows a little behind you, widens the shaft in the other direction and finishes off hard rock. Moles grow when you give them "treasures", not ore.
Hired miners: hire the three miners, Holly, Nomi-san and Saguri, and they keep digging the shafts even while the app is closed (up to 8 hours' worth). When you next open it, you collect everything they brought in while you were away.
AUTO mode: automatic mining, for when you want to just watch.

Five shafts, 27 block types

The five shafts are the Green Shaft (52 m deep), the Ice Cave (66 m), the Lava Depths (80 m), the Ancient Ruins (92 m) and the Abyss Floor (110 m). Each shaft has a different sky color, music and buried ores. For example, copper only appears in the Green Shaft, sapphire in the Ice Cave, ruby in the Lava Depths and mithril in the Abyss Floor. Choosing where to go based on the material you want becomes strategy.

What to check before buying

Price: 120 yen (App Store)
Supported OS and size: iOS 15.0 or later, about 5 MB
Age rating: 4+
Languages: Japanese and English (switchable any time)
Features in the store description: playable offline, one-handed portrait controls, a 7-day login bonus

Note: check the store page before purchase for whether there are in-app purchases and what they are.

Who it's for, and who it isn't

Recommended for: people who like the flow of digging, collecting and upgrading, and who enjoy the balance of tension and idle play.

Not for: people who dislike time pressure and the tension of bringing the haul home.

Download: App Store (we have not confirmed a Google Play version)

FAQ

Q. Does The Mole and the Lantern progress while idle?

A. According to the store description, if you hire the three miners, they keep digging the shafts for up to 8 hours' worth even while the app is closed.

Q. Can I play offline?

A. According to the store description, you can play offline.

Q. Can I play one-handed?

A. According to the store description, it uses portrait controls you can play with one hand.

Q. Can I play on Android?

A. This app is distributed on the App Store (iPhone). We have not confirmed distribution on Google Play.