Out later this year, Lumines Arise is an audiovisual treat
The original Lumines game is over 20 years old now, but its stylish mix of block-matching and rhythm action is an ageless format. That’s why Lumines Arise, the upcoming latest game to enter the series, feels very familiar in its gameplay. With additional flair and what seems to be an absolutely stellar soundtrack, however, it very much belongs in 2025.
I’ve been hands-on with Lumines Arise thanks to a short demo, which let me play through the game’s first three levels. And what levels they are! If you’re unfamiliar with the format, Lumines takes place on a grid made up of squares. You place 2×2 blocks of coloured tiles to form square groups of matching colours. As you play, a timeline, moving in time to a music track, sweeps along the grid. When it hits any squares you’ve made, they’ll clear, and you’ll earn a score based on how many blocks are cleared.
Coming from the same studio that brought us Tetris Effect, you’ll likely find a lot of similarities between the two. Lumines has always been a stylish series, putting audiovisual effects first and foremost, but it’s clear that Enhance and Monstars’ work on Tetris Effect has rubbed off on Lumines Arise. While the gameplay of the two games may be different, stylistically they share a lot in common, and anyone who loves Tetris Effect for its visuals will find a lot to love here.
That’s not to say the gameplay is worlds apart. You’re not stacking tetronimoes, but the act of grouping together coloured blocks is comparable — and equally tense. Perhaps even more so, since you constantly have the feeling of racing against the timeline, getting groups ready before the beat catches up with you. While the concept of Lumines is somewhat zen, it’s hardly a relaxing game because you frequently need to act fast and think quick about every move you make.
In the full game, there’ll be over 30 stages to make your way through, with settings including everything from busy Tokyo streets to serene and luscious forests. You’ll also go under the sea, and enjoy even more surreal settings and nature-inspired visuals. My favourite of the demo presented me with a chameleon in the background. If you’ve played Tetris Effect, you’ll certainly know what sort of thing to expect here.
There’s no release date just yet for Lumines Arise, but it’s slated for release in 2025, so we shouldn’t have to wait too long to get our hands on it. If you enjoy a good musical beat and like meditative puzzle games, make sure this one is on your radar. It’s coming to PC and PS5, and those of you who enjoy donning a VR headset will be able to enjoy it in virtual reality, too.
