Umurangi Generation

About

Umurangi Generation is a first-person photography game set in a future Aotearoa facing a crisis. Players, as couriers for the Tauranga Express, can explore levels to complete photo bounties, find hidden items, and unlock new camera equipment. Photos are judged on color, content, and composition, with a unique grading system and editing tools for players to perfect their shots.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+14

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 920 reviews

story107 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and unique art style that captures a vibrant cyberpunk atmosphere.
Engaging photography mechanics that encourage exploration and creativity.
Powerful environmental storytelling that conveys deep themes without dialogue.

Janky movement and collision detection can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Some objectives are overly specific, making it difficult to complete tasks without guides.
The timer for bonus objectives can create unnecessary pressure, detracting from the overall chill experience.

story
319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
64%
3%
The story of *Umurangi Generation* is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, allowing players to piece together a narrative about an apocalyptic world through their photography. This unique approach creates a rich atmosphere filled with social commentary, exploring themes of friendship, existentialism, and the impact of modern society without relying on dialogue or cutscenes. While some players find the story's subtlety and open-ended nature engaging, others feel it can be thin and challenging to grasp without careful observation.
- “Umurangi Generation is able to use this core concept to make you pay attention to little details everywhere in the world, and to gradually and gracefully unveil its themes in order to let you understand what's going on and to tell a story with its scenery alone and no dialogue.”
- “The story it tells is compelling, angering, hopeless, exactly like the reality that we are living through.”
- “This game is a fantastic masterclass in environmental storytelling and worldbuilding.”
- “The story and world building is told through the environment and natural progression through the levels, which is pretty interesting, but leaves it all fairly thin.”
- “The game has absolutely no dialogue, and while it does some interesting worldbuilding with how it sets up its scenes and levels, there isn't much of a story arc to follow here.”
- “There's a larger world and story at play that you can pick up from the environment, but as a photographer you're just a witness to these final set-pieces of future.”
music
255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its vibrant and eclectic soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's aesthetic and themes. Composed primarily by thorhighheels, the soundtrack features a mix of chill, electronic, and hip-hop influences, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. Overall, players find the music to be a standout element, often describing it as a "banger" and a significant reason to engage with the game.
- “The music and soundtrack are really great and tie in well to its aesthetic direction.”
- “The music of Umurangi Generation is nothing short of fantastic, always expressing this 'sophistifuture' tone that really adds to the atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the best I've heard all year, also taking on a narrative role.”
- “As I played the first few levels, I kept thinking, 'Gee, all it's missing is some Jet Set Radio-esque music!' because it was just sort of inoffensive, generic background music.”
- “A couple of songs have already been in other albums of the composer and sometimes don’t seem to fit well with the scenario of the level, giving it rather more of a playlist-feeling than adding to the atmosphere.”
- “But if you are interested in the soundtrack, just save your time and buy that instead.”
graphics
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The graphics of "Umurangi Generation" are characterized by a unique low-poly, cel-shaded art style reminiscent of late 90s and early 2000s games like Jet Set Radio, which many players find charming and aesthetically pleasing. While the visuals effectively create a vibrant atmosphere and support the game's themes, some users report performance issues and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's artistic direction and creative use of color are frequently praised, making it a visually engaging title for fans of indie aesthetics.
- “It's a gorgeous game from an aesthetic standpoint; the color palette and the layouts of the environment are tasteful and provide a good amount of opportunities to make very beautiful pictures, giving an incentive to complete the optional challenges to get more photography tools.”
- “The art style is distinctive and gorgeous, taking photos feels wonderfully tactile and the amount of control you have is a lot of fun to play with, the world is wonderfully developed and I immediately got sucked in and wanted to know more.”
- “The visuals are unique and allow the player to build their own vision of the world.”
- “The graphics are god awful.”
- “The performance isn't great, even though everything is low poly and low res, on top of an awful forced graphics shader that lowers your internal resolution to god-knows-what making everything incredibly jaggy and consequentially seeing anything beyond a few meters is a nightmare.”
- “While the game goes for a highly stylized art style, far removed from photo realism and well suited for a small team and limited budget, it felt a little too crude at times.”
gameplay
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of the game is centered around a unique photography mechanic that encourages exploration and attention to detail, offering a satisfying loop for players who enjoy creative freedom. However, many reviews highlight issues such as janky controls, unclear objectives, and a frustrating timer that detracts from the overall experience. While the atmosphere and art style are praised, the gameplay itself is often described as simplistic and occasionally tedious, with some players feeling that it lacks depth and polish.
- “Love the photography-based gameplay, an easy loop to repeat, which allows you to do/create things you really care for/love.”
- “The gameplay is very good and simple to pick up.”
- “The gameplay itself is really well done; it's a mix of exploration and puzzle solving to take the photos to complete the bounties, and being able to edit each shot and unlocking more options as you progress makes the photography really fun.”
- “Great art style, cool concept, but sadly the gameplay is quite boring.”
- “The gameplay is sadly the worst part of this game.”
- “Neat looking and sounding, but everything gameplay related is really janky from movement to subject detection in photos.”
atmosphere
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by a unique art style and a fantastic soundtrack. Players appreciate the environmental storytelling and the emotional depth conveyed through the game's world, which evokes a range of feelings from beauty to despair. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making the game a memorable experience that encourages exploration and creativity.
- “Fantastic atmosphere, great art style, and satisfying gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere each level creates is insane; it really pulls you in with the gameplay, forcing you to observe the world around you.”
- “Umurangi Generation feels like nothing short of a miracle, a photography game that truly elevates itself through its worldbuilding, atmosphere, and its triumph in capturing photography’s varied joys.”
- “However, the hamfisted and forced down one's throat message of 'government bad, all cops are bastards', let alone an entire location (the final one in the DLC) devoted to protests, forcing you to look at the poorly made parodies of already existing memes, but with leftist political messages, personally really destroyed the immersion and the atmosphere the game strived for.”
- “It's experimental art style coupled with the atmosphere of despair and useless struggle in the face of a nearing end creates a chilly experience.”
- “Even though I knew it was optional, I still had a hard time ignoring the timer and found myself rushing through the levels instead of soaking in the atmosphere and the story.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally described as buggy, with various glitches affecting gameplay, such as issues with platforming mechanics, photo objectives, and character movement. While these bugs can hinder the experience, many players find that they add to the game's charm and punk aesthetic rather than detract from it. Overall, the stability issues are present but not game-breaking, allowing for an enjoyable experience despite the rough edges.
- “I sometimes like low-fi aesthetics, but in this case it goes directly against the core of the game - text becomes insanely aliased when it is very important for the political message, the platforming is very buggy (with the character getting stuck whenever it collides with something, the double jump being finicky and momentum-based, some things look like platforming but turn out to have no collider, etc.) and even the photo mechanic, when it's about capturing specific objects, is too permissive and you can easily take a picture of a special objective by mistake - sometimes while the object is obscured by something else.”
- “There are a few glitches that I experienced that hindered my enjoyment slightly; the detection on some of the objectives was really janky. Sometimes I would take a photo miles away from the objective and it would mark that off the checklist, and sometimes I'd be right in front of it and it wouldn't count at all. Occasionally, I would walk into an object and get sent flying 100 meters in the air, which was cool occasionally, but most of the time would send me off the map and respawn me at the beginning with a 2-second time penalty, which was less cool.”
- “The movement is clunky and occasionally glitches out (things like having gravity affect you while still having 0 y movement, causing the moment you get to move downwards to make the character shoot down with far too much y velocity).”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as its core strength, with players experiencing a profound connection to its impactful story and vibrant world. Reviews emphasize the game's ability to evoke a range of feelings, from heartbreak to hope, while encouraging players to engage deeply with their surroundings. Overall, it is praised for its unique blend of mechanical satisfaction and emotional resonance, making it a must-try title.
- “But of course, I have to mention the emotional impact of the story, as I'd argue that is the main selling point of this game.”
- “Flawlessly, Umurangi Generation presents a mechanically satisfying and enjoyable experience while weaving in an emotionally impactful and relevant story.”
- “It is refreshing to have a game that asks you to care and observe your surroundings, taking in the sights, framing the shot, and absorbing the story - with this title having released within the context of COVID-19, rampant inequality, despotic and apathetic governments, and the ever-looming climate crisis, Umurangi Generation feels like an emotional outlet.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its unlockable lenses, editing options, and open-ended mission objectives, allowing players to revisit levels for new experiences and perspectives. While some players feel the timer detracts from the enjoyment, many appreciate the game's design and aesthetic, which encourage repeated playthroughs. However, a few users have expressed disappointment, claiming a lack of replay value.
- “Although one might be able to beat the game within a few hours, it feels as if it could be endlessly replayable, especially with the new tools the player unlocks throughout - as the credits rolled, I felt ready to jump back in, to capture new sights and imagery, and to let more story details wash over me.”
- “Great replay value since as you unlock more lenses and processing options you can get new perspectives on earlier levels.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, but the flexibility it offers combined with the open-ended mission objectives gives the game high replay value.”
- “It's incredible how heavily the narrative of 'for a game about observation, the timer is really polluting the entire experience' as if the timer isn't only a necessity in the pursuit of a perfect file and as if the levels aren't designed with the intention of replayability.”
- “I have submitted my request for a refund as it has no replay value.”
- “If you factor in replayability, o.s.t.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its strong sense of humor, blending lighthearted moments with a touch of bleakness that resonates with players' concerns about the future. Reviewers highlight memorable comedic elements, a vibrant soundtrack that enhances the humor, and a colorful design that invites exploration, all contributing to an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “The game has a great sense of humor and style, with some pretty memorable moments that really make you feel seen for worrying about the future of the planet in modern times.”
- “Bleak and nihilistic but in a chill, funny kind of way.”
- “Looks great, the soundtrack is banging (also very funny at times), and the story is one that keeps revealing more layers the longer you play.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when it comes to hunting for objectives and completing bounty tasks within time limits. While some enjoy the exploration and level details, the repetitive nature of collecting items and the need for extensive grinding can detract from the overall experience, especially due to issues like low mouse sensitivity and collision detection glitches.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But even if you do like the vibe, hunting for the objectives in each level is very tedious.”
- “If you're struggling to do everything in 10 minutes, this will become very tedious.”
- “Personally, I found the bounty aspect of the game rather tedious, and the timer even more so.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting persistent performance issues such as stuttering, janky physics, and game-breaking bugs like clipping and infinite black screens. Despite its low-poly graphics, the forced graphics shader exacerbates visibility problems, making gameplay frustrating. While some appreciate the game's aesthetic and features, the overall consensus is that it suffers from significant optimization shortcomings.
- “In a way, I appreciate this simplicity, but I want some sort of feedback for my performance.”
- “The game also has weird performance issues, but it’s not something I’ve seen others mention.”
- “The game has a kind of annoying and pretty constant stuttering.”
- “Technically awful, janky physics, terrible performance, unobtainable achievements that require downgrading the game version to get it, multiple game-breaking bugs like clipping through surfaces, some objects not spawning properly, or an infinite black screen that prevents me from finishing the DLC... for a moment I had hope, seeing dev posts about fixing everything—but that was 3 years ago now.”
- “The performance isn't great, even though everything is low poly and low res, on top of an awful forced graphics shader that lowers your internal resolution to god-knows-what making everything incredibly jaggy and consequently seeing anything beyond a few meters is a nightmare, so good luck finding those collectible film rolls without crawling on the floor like you're looking for your lenses!”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its insensitivity and perceived exploitation of cultural themes, blending military propaganda with commercial advertisements in a way that feels like a cash grab. Players express frustration over the juxtaposition of grim realities and consumerism, which detracts from the immersive experience. Despite this, some find value in exploring the richly detailed environments and the narrative conveyed through the advertisements.
- “I must stop this review here as I have started to physically shake with rage at the lack of sensitivity displayed by this obvious cash grab.”
- “You cannot photograph the subway crowded with face-masked citizens corralled by automatic rifle-toting soldiers without the neon billboards advertising escapism via end-of-the-world movies and military enlistment propaganda.”
- “The wealthy are shown to have a very different style that completely ignores the cultural heritage while at the same time advertising and commodifying the style of those surface dwellers.”