Lumini

About

Lumini is a single player action game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Speelbaars and was released on September 3, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

Lumini is a relaxing flow adventure game in which you take control over a swarm of innocent little creatures called lumini. After being gone for thousands of years, the balance on their home planet has shifted. With their return, the lumini find themselves in a hostile environment from which you need to keep them safe. On this journey you'll need to find out what happened in the past while trying …

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 120 reviews

music28 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Beautiful and vibrant visual design with rich colors, glowing flora, and surreal alien landscapes creating a dreamlike and relaxing atmosphere.
Calming and fitting soundtrack with ambient and melodic compositions that enhance immersion and emotional connection.
Unique gameplay mechanic of controlling and managing a growing swarm of Lumini with different abilities, providing light strategy and fluid movement.

Relatively short game length with approximately 2-3 hours of gameplay and limited replay value for most players.
Controls can be frustrating and unintuitive, especially the splitting of the swarm into two groups, with a strong preference for gamepad use over keyboard/mouse.
Minimal and unclear narrative exposition with lack of in-game guidance on mechanics, collectibles, and story, leading to confusion and a sense of repetitiveness.

music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful, calming, and immersive qualities, featuring dynamic ambient and melodic compositions that perfectly complement the visuals and gameplay. It enhances the relaxing, meditative atmosphere while also intensifying during moments of danger, creating an emotionally engaging experience reminiscent of games like Journey. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element that significantly enriches the game's aesthetic and emotional depth.
- “The soundtrack features ambient and melodic compositions that evolve subtly as players move through different environments.”
- “The music comes in at just the right moments, and the level design is timed with it so that when you pass certain triggers in the level the music does what it needs to. In other words the music is dynamic, and I have to say it’s maybe the best element of this game.”
- “Lumini has beautiful graphic design and the story told through the world around you is sad and full of emotions, soundtrack corresponds with it very much - it's on my wishlist now, will buy it for Christmas.”
- “But in actuality, the music lulls you into a false sense of security, until one of those flying jaw things appears out of nowhere and you have to quickly fight or take evasive action.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The music is quite beautiful, and helps immerse you in the world.”
gameplay
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The gameplay centers on controlling a swarm of lumini in a relaxing, colorful side-scrolling environment with light strategic elements, but it remains relatively simple and consistent, lacking complexity or significant challenge progression. While many find the mechanics charming, fluid, and visually engaging, others criticize the controls as frustrating or unpolished, and the gameplay as repetitive or underdeveloped. Overall, it offers a serene, atmospheric experience but may not satisfy players seeking deeper or more varied gameplay.
- “Instead of relying on intense action, complex mechanics, or narrative-heavy storytelling, the game centers on a relaxing journey through colorful environments where the player gradually rebuilds a fragile ecosystem.”
- “The central gameplay mechanic revolves around controlling this swarm rather than a single character. This mechanic creates a subtle sense of responsibility, encouraging players to move carefully and plan their paths through each area.”
- “Players can switch between these lumini types depending on the situation, adding a light strategic element to the otherwise relaxed gameplay.”
- “Frustrating gameplay: you don't see what's in front of you and you're always running away from an enemy faster than you, causing you to hit bombs and spikes due to horrible controls.”
- “The gameplay mechanics remain relatively consistent throughout the journey, and the puzzles rarely evolve into significantly more complex challenges.”
- “Unfortunately, the weakest element of the game is the gameplay, which’ll be a dealbreaker for a lot of people, and I don’t blame them for that.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
39%
7%
The game's graphics feature a stylized, colorful, and vibrant aesthetic that prioritizes atmosphere and emotion over realism, often described as beautiful, evocative, and charming. While not highly detailed or graphically intensive, the visuals are consistently praised for their artistic design and strong synergy with the soundtrack, contributing to a relaxing and immersive experience. Some users note occasional performance issues and simplicity, but overall, the graphics are considered a standout and integral part of the game's appeal.
- “Instead of focusing on realism, the developers chose a stylized aesthetic that emphasizes color and motion.”
- “Stunning visuals, great sound design and the overall atmosphere in the game make this game one of my favorite games I played in the last 5 years.”
- “Outstanding visuals seamlessly fused with a breath-taking score and smooth gameplay will have you immersed into an adventure that sends the imagination soaring.”
- “Really not a graphically intense game, yet at one point my RX 480 was chugging at 32 frames per second for a good 3-minute section.”
- “Graphics are on par with recent indie games I played (and this one was made by students), though they lack a bit of detail on big screens.”
- “The graphics style Lumini uses isn't dissimilar to the likes of Trine 1 and 2.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The story in Lumini is simple, subtle, and primarily conveyed through visual and environmental storytelling rather than explicit narration, creating an emotional and artistic experience. While some players find it intriguing and atmospheric, others wish for a clearer or more substantial narrative. Overall, the game excels as an artful, mood-driven journey that emphasizes discovery over conventional storytelling.
- “Instead of relying on intense action, complex mechanics, or narrative-heavy storytelling, the game centers on a relaxing journey through colorful environments where the player gradually rebuilds a fragile ecosystem.”
- “I am also intrigued by the story - I feel like an archaeologist putting together pieces of a puzzle.”
- “Lumini has beautiful graphic design and the story told through the world around you is sad and full of emotions. The soundtrack corresponds with it very much - it's on my wishlist now, will buy it for Christmas.”
- “I wish there was a bit more of a focus on the story (or at least that the story was a bit more clear) and there's a lot of time where you're just moving around.”
- “Also, while I found the story cute, it really doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny.”
- “Been there done that.. storyline finished within 2 hours, as far as you can call it a storyline.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
27%
Lumini is widely praised for its stunning, dreamlike atmosphere, characterized by vibrant visuals, glowing flora, and soothing sound design that create a deeply relaxing and immersive experience. The game's ambiance is often compared to artistic and atmospheric titles like Journey, emphasizing exploration and mood over traditional gameplay challenges. While some find the gameplay less developed, the overall serene and beautiful atmosphere remains its standout feature.
- “The environments are rich with vibrant colors, glowing flora, and surreal alien landscapes that create a dreamlike atmosphere.”
- “Stunning visuals, great sound design, and the overall atmosphere in the game make this game one of my favorite games I played in the last 5 years.”
- “From the atmosphere it reminds me a lot of Journey, with a deep focus on the hero's journey that reflects in the colors and style, the music, and the general tone of each level.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game fosters a strong emotional connection through its adorable lumini creatures and serene environments, evoking feelings of quiet accomplishment and attachment. While its calming atmosphere and gentle storytelling are praised, occasional sudden action moments can disrupt the emotional tone for some players. Overall, the experience is likened to the heartfelt impact of titles like Journey, blending emotional resonance with accessible gameplay.
- “The lumini themselves emit soft, expressive sounds that communicate their reactions to the environment, adding personality to the creatures and reinforcing the emotional connection between player and swarm.”
- “Guiding a growing swarm of fragile creatures across a recovering planet creates a sense of quiet accomplishment and emotional connection that lingers long after the journey ends.”
- “The lumini are very cute, until I lose one to a beast then I feel a bit moved and want to cry.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
Replayability is generally limited, with the game feeling repetitive and linear for many players. Some find it moderately or easily replayable due to hidden collectibles and achievements, but overall, it offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs.
- “It is easily re-playable.”
- “Due to lack of replay value, I couldn't see spending more than a buck or two on it.”
- “The replay value is highly dependent on whether you get bored of games easily, as it is fairly repetitive and linear.”
- “Replayability is slim unless you want to get every little thing in the game, but other than that not really.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features charming character designs but offers minimal character development, with its narrative focusing more on atmosphere and symbolic storytelling rather than dialogue-driven growth.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has some issues, including occasional performance chugging and awkward controls, but these flaws are minor and do not significantly impact the overall experience.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding in the game feels tedious and out of place, with simple puzzles used to artificially extend the short gameplay experience.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game generally runs stable but experiences minor glitches on Windows 10 64-bit systems. These issues are infrequent and do not significantly impact overall gameplay.