Luma Island Review: No Trouble in Paradise

Luma Island Review

In recent years, so-called cozy games have gained popularity. It's not difficult to understand why. Surrounded by an uncertain and conflict-filled world, people love to imagine a simple and rewarding life, free of danger and conflict. Games like Stardew Valley and now, Luma Island, fit the bill. What could be more relaxing than lazing around the farm, mindlessly chopping wood or gossiping with the friendly townspeople? I know it works for me and millions of other players.

Freedom to choose

At first, Luma Island feels a lot like other cozy farming games. You create a character, are given a small trailer parked near the shore and a couple of basic tools. Immediately, the familiar cycle is activated: gather, build and create, unlock new plans, rinse and repeat. It's all exceptionally nice, of course. Soon enough, the game sends you to the city and you begin to meet the locals and choose a profession.

Initially, you select from one of seven professions: cook, brewer, treasure hunter, blacksmith, fisherman, jeweler, and archaeologist. They are all classified according to difficulty. Some professions like cook, fisherman, or brewer are simple and require little more than gathering or farming resources. Other professions are obviously more challenging, such as treasure hunter and archaeologist. These races are less about staying in one place than venturing around the map. They also require specialized equipment and weapons, because those professions include solving puzzles and fighting monsters. There is also the risk of death and loss of treasure, something cooks don't have to worry too much about.

One of the brilliant differences about Luma Island is the way it allows for different approaches. Players can treat it as a typical cozy farming game, or take the experience much closer to an RPG-type adventure game. Even the fisherman can explore or search for treasure, of course, although he may not be equipped for the challenges. And then playing with a group of up to four friends adds an extra layer. Finally, while players choose an initial profession for free, they can add others later for a price. Play long enough and you can master everything.

Find the light

Luma Island takes its name from magical creatures called Luma. One of the player's objectives is to find Luma eggs and hatch them. There are 15 different Lumas and they provide special assistance, guides to finding treasures, and a resource called Luma Energy. Luma Island has a completely imagined backstory and a lot of history to discover. There are closed temples in each area, each providing a bit of narrative and, naturally, treasure.

While the game's NPCs are varied, quirky, and entertaining, they are not love interests. They will always live in the friend zone unless developer Feel Free Games decides to add a romance option. The studio has hinted that romance, marriage and families could come, but hasn't said when. Generally, your character has fairly superficial relationships with the game's NPCs, which is a bit disappointing.

However, joining other players in cooperative mode allows for role-playing. Co-op also addresses one of Luma Island's flaws. There is a great search for resources and improvement materials. At first, new recipes and tools are unlocked at a rapid pace, but it doesn't take long for progression to slow down. Some players will love the relaxed pace, while others might get impatient. Updating tools and having a group speeds up the process.

A bright new world

While the character creator is a bit limited, overall the art and world of Luma Island are colorful and engaging. The biomes are varied and almost everything is interactable. If you can see it, you can probably pick it up, cut it up, or use it in some way. The minor issue with this is courtesy of the one-button mechanic for different interactions and the complicated nature of objects being in close proximity. While we complain, exploration becomes more difficult due to there being no compass on the map and inventory management is clunky like old ARPGs used to be.

Luma Island offers something for everyone who loves relaxing and cozy games. Grinding aside, the farming, crafting, and exploration aspects are equally viable experiences. There are some minor frustrations and some superficial moments, but overall, Luma Island offers an endlessly engaging escape from the real world.