Lumino City

-- Remember to look up the making-of video on youtube posted by StateOfPlayGames -- -- Some old comment from 2016 mentions that the game isn't complete. Well, it's complete now. -- This game is for all ages. The puzzles are great, the story sweet, the main character full of spirit and ready to learn new things. I won't spoil it, just absolutely recommend it. Let me make it clear that I would have enjoyed this game just as much if I had been playing it by myself! But I played it with my then 4 year old daughter, and we both have such great memories of it. It's very hard to find games to play with a 3-5 year old kid who wants very much to sit and watch but gets scared easily. Lumino City allowed us to both play an immensely beautiful game; talk about how it was made; recognise the little everyday thingamabobs that literally went into building the world; and even have serious talks about sustainable energy sources, eco houses and forced relocation of labourers due to bad contracts, with in-game examples that she immediately grasped. I had not expected that. This game - and the cute, little proof-of-concept prequel, Lume, on Steam - are still among her favourites. I've promised her we'll replay both next year.

A puzzle game with a number of original puzzles, including some truly fun ones (I especially enjoyed the guitaring) and probably the best end credits sequence I have ever seen. The graphics and music are good and the only problem I had was spotting one or two of the interactive spots. I fully recommend this one to puzzle lovers.

Beautiful setting, and the built-in solution book helps with the more obscure puzzles. But after about 4/5ths of the game (going by the index of the solution book) it just says "The rest of Lumino City is almost here. Thanks for playing.". This in August 2016, with GOG having only a build from 02.2016, of a game released end of 2014. I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to be finished.

Lumino City's hand-made retro-style visuals are its most striking feature - some parts like the Spinning House are particularly impressive. The minimalist, evocative soundtrack also contributes to a very positive impression. The game has been finely crafted like a real miniature world populated with curious people and filled with strange machinery. "Atmospheric" may be an overused adjective, but it really fits to this game. Puzzles and riddles range from easy to moderately taxing, sometimes relying on the trial-and-error strategy. Although the main character brings a book with all the relevant solutions with her, it's rather unlikely that you will have to resort to it. I personally only consulted it once, for the water pump valve puzzle - there were so many possible combinations that I got frustrated and jumped straight to its conclusion. In addition to that, there are some platform sections where the game will highlight the point you have to click on with the mouse pointer in order to proceed. The problem with the game, in my opinion, is that is too short. I completed it in an evening's play and although I really enjoyed my time with it, I think that there is too little substance and replay value for its price. My advice is to buy it when it's discounted. I did it taking advantage of an 80% reduction, and for that sum, it was an absolute bargain!