Lumo 2 [REVIEW] – A Charming but Uneven Retro Return

Nearly a decade after the release of the first game, the nostalgia-fuelled isometric adventures return with Lumo 2, another puzzle-platformer packed with retro charm, nostalgic references, and a surprising amount of variety. It’s an ambitious sequel in many ways – it’s larger, better-looking, and certainly broader in scope – but it’s also guilty of feeling a bit dated and clunky in design. There’s a lot to admire here, sure, but for every clever puzzle or fun throwback, there’s an awkward jump or clunky movement that brings the fun crashing down.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Lumo 2 sees players taking on the role of a wizard who explores interconnected rooms filled with puzzles, traps, and collectibles… and that’s about it. There’s no real story driving your adventure beyond exploring these rooms, solving puzzles, and collecting items to fill cauldrons tied to each themed world, with progression relying entirely on curiosity and completionism rather than some big narrative payoff. It’s something that I actually really liked, so it’s certainly not a complaint… just something to bear in mind if you were hoping for some grand narrative to go along with the journey.

Each room presents a self-contained challenge: sometimes it’s a logic puzzle that’ll leave you scratching your head as you figure out what you need to do, whilst other times it’s a platforming section where the likes of crumbling platforms or moving hazards test your skills. None of the puzzles are particularly groundbreaking, but the sheer range of ideas is impressive, with so much variety to be found that it’s hard to tire of each conundrum you face. There are plenty of different things to do across the game, and whilst the gameplay is rarely revolutionary or unique, it’s certainly engaging. Completionists will also appreciate that the game keeps track of collectibles found in each room, clearly marking when everything has been found – it’s a small but satisfying touch that rewards thorough exploration (and actually motivates you to find every collectible and secret in the world).

“Lumo 2 is a sequel that balances charm and frustration in equal measure, offering a colourful and creative adventure that’s as endearing as it is exasperating.”

Lumo 2 also dips into different genres, with short retro-inspired mini-games scattered throughout the adventure to spice things up. They’re each charming in concept, and their inclusion helps break up the pace, but I’d be lying if I said they didn’t feel a little bit underdeveloped. They’re more like pleasant distractions rather than highlights of the experience, but given how much the game likes to nod to titles of yesteryear, it’s a bit of a shame that Lumo 2 didn’t offer a bit more depth with them. Still, they always brought a smile to my face when playing, so it’s easy to appreciate their inclusion.

Whilst it does offer plenty of variety across its gameplay, one area in which Lumo 2 can disappoint is with its platforming. The isometric camera makes judging jumps quite difficult, and the slight delay and floatiness of your wizard’s movement can make precision platforming more frustrating than fun. Even with a faint shadow that’s meant to help gauge where you’ll land, it’s rarely accurate enough to be useful, and it’s hard not to find yourself annoyed when you keep missing the same jumps over and over again due to the game’s imprecision (I promise it’s not a skill issue). The character also moves quite slowly, and while this isn’t a huge issue in tighter puzzle rooms, it becomes tedious in some of the larger spaces you come across. It just all feels a bit rough, which is a shame given that platforming does play a big part in the game.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Despite this, there’s still a lot to like about Lumo 2. When it leans away from precision-platforming and focuses on puzzles or inventive gimmicks, its charm really does shine through, and there’s a clear affection for the 8-bit and 16-bit eras that, as an old-school gamer, are very easy to appreciate. It looks lovely too, with environments that are colourful, whimsical, and full of detail… it really is a nice little world to uncover.

It’s just a shame that its platforming issues hold it back. It’s a passionate tribute to classic isometric puzzlers, but one that clings a little too tightly to the quirks of the past. When everything clicks, it can be a lot of fun – even with the platforming – but there were too many moments when playing where I just found myself feeling frustrated at what should be straight-forward fundamentals of the experience.

Developer: Triple Eh?
Publisher: Numskull Games
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3039260/Lumo_2/