Lume
- May 9, 2011
- State of Play
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"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."
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Mac OS
PC
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Mobile Platform
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and charming art style, with handcrafted visuals that are visually appealing.
- The puzzles are engaging and can be challenging, providing a satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
- The music is soothing and complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game is extremely short, often completed in under an hour, leading many players to feel it is not worth the price.
- Several puzzles are poorly designed or overly obscure, causing frustration and requiring players to rely on guides.
- The game feels more like a demo or introduction to a larger title, leaving players wanting more content and a complete experience.
- graphics53 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of Lume are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, featuring a blend of handcrafted paper and cardboard aesthetics that create a visually stunning experience. However, some players note that the game's low resolution and limited substance may detract from its overall appeal, especially in comparison to modern standards. While the visuals are considered breathtaking and innovative, the game's short length and puzzle difficulty have led to mixed feelings about its value.
“The aesthetic is great, I loved the handcrafted art.”
“The graphics are simply gorgeous.”
“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.”
“Some good ideas marred by amateurish execution; graphics, sound, controls, difficulty all get a 5/10.”
“The graphics as described from several sources I've read before purchasing are incredibly breathtaking with its paper-and-cardboard style.”
“I'll admit that the graphics and getting the game to run are difficult, and that's something I admire.”
- music30 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing, catchy, and well-composed, enhancing the overall atmosphere and visual presentation. However, the single-track soundtrack can become repetitive and tiresome over time, leading some players to wish for more variety or the option to mute it without affecting sound effects. Despite its limitations, many players appreciate the music's role in creating a unique and immersive experience.
“The music is very chill and soothing, and the art style is this gorgeous mix of a background set made of paper and cardboard and the characters animated over top of it.”
“The music lends to the atmosphere that ties presentation up with a beautiful bow.”
“This is a great game so far - the beautiful environment and music really makes it a unique and breathtaking experience.”
“The one song in the game is catchy, but... there's one song in the game.”
“The single-track soundtrack starts to get tiresome after a while, nice as it is.”
“The music is in loop, so if you start feeling frustrated by it, you can turn the sound off; however, there are some music puzzles to solve in some places.”
- story25 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story in the game is minimal and serves primarily as a backdrop for the puzzles, revolving around a young protagonist helping to restore power to her grandfather's house. While the visuals are praised for their beauty, the narrative is often described as generic and incomplete, with many players noting that it feels more like a setup for a larger story yet to come. Overall, the brief storyline does not captivate, leaving players wanting more depth and continuity in future installments.
“The graphics and story of the game are well done.”
“It makes a nice set-up to a bigger story.”
“A very small game (about 2 to 2.5 hours of gameplay) but beautifully made, some great puzzles, an entrancing little story about why the lights went out.”
“There isn't much story to speak of, but that's to be expected in a game that takes roughly an hour to complete.”
“The storyline is more like a story premise since you don't actually get anywhere.”
“The story was abrupt - you solve a number of puzzles to turn on the power in your house...and that's it.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on puzzles, which many players find overly difficult and frustrating, often leading them to rely on guides. While the game features aesthetic graphics and smooth animations, it is criticized for its short duration (around 1.5 to 2.5 hours) and minimalistic design, making the price point feel unjustified for some. Overall, while it offers a unique presentation, the gameplay experience is considered lacking and could benefit from improvements.
“A game like this lives and dies on its puzzles, since that's the only gameplay there is.”
“It's very minimalistic but has aesthetic graphics, neat animations (liked the transitions from location to location!), and has a classic point-and-click riddle gameplay.”
“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 devolved into nothing more than tabbing out and checking the guide for every little thing.”
“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).”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its refreshing departure from heavy and dark themes, enhanced by beautiful music that complements the overall presentation. While some content may not be worth the investment, the atmosphere alone is recommended, especially if available at a low price.
“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.”
“The music enhances the atmosphere, tying the presentation together beautifully.”
“I'd recommend skipping this chapter, as it's not worth it (unless you get it for under $2, in which case I'd say to buy it just for the 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).”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, making it more suitable for younger players who may engage with it longer. With a completion time of about an hour, many users find the lack of replay value disappointing, especially given its price point.
“There is not a lot of replayability, so it's definitely better for younger kids who may get a bit more playtime out of it.”
“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.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, likening it to a basic flash point-and-click experience, but note that it isn't overly annoying. However, the requirement to pay before engaging with the game adds to the frustration of the grinding process.
“All the fun of a very basic and tedious flash point-and-click game, but with the crucial difference of having to pay first!”
