Lume

About

Lume is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by State of Play and was released on May 9, 2011. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Lume is a unique puzzle adventure game with a paper-crafted setting and photorealistic visuals, set in a world where power has failed in your grandad's house. Solve 4 hours worth of perplexing paper puzzles to restore power and uncover a deeper mystery. This game is Part 1 of a larger, ongoing story, accompanied by an amazing soundtrack."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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46%

Audience ScoreBased on 364 reviews

graphics66 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and charming art style, created with real-world cardboard and paper, which enhances the overall aesthetic experience.
The puzzles, while sometimes challenging, provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment when solved.
The music and atmosphere contribute to a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience.

The game is extremely short, taking only about 30 minutes to an hour to complete, which feels inadequate for the price.
Some puzzles are poorly designed or overly obscure, leading to frustration and reliance on walkthroughs.
The game lacks a substantial story or content, making it feel more like a demo than a complete game.

graphics
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, often described as a blend of paper and cardboard aesthetics that create a visually appealing experience. While many reviewers appreciate the beautiful visuals and attention to detail, some note that the game's low resolution and short length detract from its overall impact. Overall, the graphics stand out as the game's strongest aspect, though they may not fully compensate for its lack of substance and challenging gameplay.
- “The visuals are spectacular and the developers and artists deserve a real round of applause.”
- “The art style is unique, and the paper art style of the characters clashing with the realistic background is actually very appealing to the eye.”
- “Lume has a very unique graphic style and minimalist music style that is so innovative I can recommend it on that basis alone.”
- “Too long, didn't read: Lume is beautiful, and has some decent puzzles, but the mobile-spawned graphic settings will irritate anyone playing on anything other than an old laptop, and the fact that it's essentially a tech demo is a turnoff.”
- “The graphics are children-book-alike and the animation is a nice effort on 2.5D.”
- “Graphics are something between 2D and 3D, making the final effect weird and chaotic, and the resolution is just too small.”
story
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
5%
The story in "Lume" is described as simplistic and underdeveloped, serving primarily as a backdrop for the puzzles rather than a compelling narrative. Players note that it feels like an incomplete first chapter, with an abrupt ending that leaves many questions unanswered, and while the art style is praised, the overall plot lacks depth and engagement. Many reviewers express hope that the sequel, "Lumino City," will expand on the story and provide a more satisfying experience.
- “The story of Lumi and her grandad actually continues in the next game, Lumino City, which is miles better and has more puzzles and an actual story.”
- “The game has a very unique art style which is wonderful and has a great start to a story.”
- “This game forms part 1 of a larger, ongoing story.”
- “The game's story is rather simplistic and only present to further its gameplay, focusing more on its puzzles where a few can get rather challenging.”
- “The story is pretty much non-existent and the game doesn't really make any sense.”
- “The story was abrupt - you solve a number of puzzles to turn on the power in your house...and that's it.”
music
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and pleasant, contributing positively to the atmosphere and art style. However, many users noted that the single track on loop can become repetitive and tiresome, especially during longer play sessions. While the music enhances the overall experience, its limited variety may detract from the enjoyment for some players.
- “The music lends to the atmosphere that ties presentation up with a beautiful bow.”
- “The music is pleasant and most of the puzzles are easy and navigable without help.”
- “The visuals and music are fantastic with their models but with the limited amount of sets, it really points towards a proof of concept.”
- “The one song in the game is catchy, but... there's one song in the game.”
- “The total playtime is around 40 minutes, there is one never-ending soundtrack reminding me of the Wii music constantly running on repeat and the whole story can be explained in one single sentence.”
- “The single-track soundtrack starts to get tiresome after a while, nice as it is.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its extreme brevity, often lasting less than an hour, which they feel does not justify the price. While the art style and animations are praised, the puzzles are criticized for being overly simplistic or frustratingly opaque, leading to reliance on guides. Overall, the game is seen as a minimalistic point-and-click experience that lacks depth and value, despite some interesting elements.
- “The gameplay is smooth and simple point-and-click, making it accessible for players.”
- “The camera-filmed environment is perfectly connected with the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “A very small game (about 2 to 2.5 hours of gameplay) but beautifully made, with some great puzzles and an entrancing little story about why the lights went out.”
- “The gameplay window is tiny and means you might click on things you intend to investigate and miss the target.”
- “Overall this game is not bad, but the puzzles are extremely difficult and the gameplay is entirely too short for the $7 they are charging.”
- “I just paid over six dollars for less than an hour of gameplay (Steam stats don't lie).”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its charming and intimate qualities, providing a refreshing contrast to darker themes commonly found in other titles. The combination of detailed artistic sets and a soothing soundtrack creates a relaxed yet slightly claustrophobic ambiance, enhancing the overall experience. While some reviewers suggest the game may not be worth the price, they still recommend it for its atmospheric appeal.
- “I really like the atmosphere this game gives off - I've been playing a lot of games with really heavy and dark themes lately, and this was a really great change of pace.”
- “Commendable is the artistic quality that was put into the building of the detailed sets and the pleasing music fitted the atmosphere well.”
- “It results in a charming and intimate, but also claustrophobic atmosphere.”
- “I'd recommend to skip this chapter, as it's not worth it (unless you get it under $2, in which I'd say to buy it just for the atmosphere).”
- “Part of the reason it had a relaxed atmosphere was the very slow and cozy soundtrack that I enjoyed listening to.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with early puzzles being overly simplistic and later ones requiring walkthroughs to complete. The repetitive music adds to the monotony, and the overall experience feels like a basic, pay-to-play flash game that lacks engaging content.
- “The first puzzle is easy but very tedious, and the later puzzles are just uncompletable without a walkthrough.”
- “Very short, and some of the puzzles are less fun and more tedious.”
- “It all felt a bit tedious, like I kept running up against walls without any way forward.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is criticized for its minimal replayability, with many users noting its short duration—often completed in under an hour—making it more suitable for younger audiences. The absence of hints and signposts further diminishes the incentive to replay, leading to disappointment regarding its overall value.
- “First off, it's incredibly short with no replay value.”
- “Overall, the lack of hints or signposts to point you in the right direction, along with the short duration and lack of replay value for the game, makes it hard to justify the value, even for a quick one-off experience.”
- “I think I completed this game within an hour, which, for a game with no replayability and a cost of £4.99, is a little disappointing.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report stability issues, including the absence of a pause button and menu, as well as occasional minor glitches with the inventory system.
- “There is no pause button or menu, and the inventory occasionally experiences minor glitches when it appears.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted gameplay, including freezing and unexpected crashes.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a touching and heartwarming experience, despite its brevity. Players find it to be a fun and affordable title that evokes genuine feelings throughout the journey.
- “This sets you off on your sadly short, but quite touching adventure around the property.”
- “This is a heartwarming, fun, and affordable title.”