『Who—and why...had to die?』

💎 First Impressions 

Do you enjoy mystery novels or detective games?

Personally, I had a great time with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 1 and 2 back in the day, and I really enjoyed the TV series Sherlock.

There’s something incredibly thrilling about piecing together seemingly trivial clues, one by one, until they finally click into place and reveal the whole story.

The mystery genre has this unique kind of satisfaction—almost like a pressure point waiting to be released—and when it all comes together, that moment is just so exhilarating.

The game I’m introducing today is Lumine Night, a mystery adventure that follows a daughter and her father as they investigate a string of serial murders that occurred in a small American town during the 1950s and '60s.

⌚ Gameplay 

『Uncover the truth behind a 1950s cold case』

<At its core, it’s a visual novel—though with added adventure and puzzle elements...>

The game falls into the adventure, puzzle, and visual novel categories.

But since that may not give you the full picture, let me break it down a bit more:

1. You start by examining the circumstances of the case
2. Gather clues to uncover the truth
3. Then use reasoning and deduction to piece it all together

In some ways, it plays like a visual novel—you click through scenes and follow the story as it unfolds.

But it also sets itself apart: you’ll solve puzzles and explore environments on foot in search of well-hidden clues.

It’s this added layer of interaction that gives the game a distinct feel.

I'll go into more detail about that in just a moment.

<The setting gives off a gloomy 1950s New York vibe—though it is not>

This game tells the story of an unsolved murder case that took place in a small American town during the 1950s and ’60s.

The name “Lumine” comes from the Latin word for "light," while “Night” speaks for itself—making it a fitting title for a story that unfolds under the cover of darkness.

When we think of mid-century America, certain images often come to mind: mobsters wielding tommy guns, men in trench coats and fedoras, or bold-colored dresses à la Marilyn Monroe.

As you progress through the story, the game evokes that nostalgic era with impressive atmosphere.

The overall color palette leans toward darker tones, which perfectly complements the setting and mood of the narrative.

<You'll need to collect clues step by step if you want to solve the case>

To begin with, you'll talk to people involved in the case to get a grasp of the situation.

But that alone won’t be enough to figure out what reallyhappened—or how.

From here on, it’s up to you to find the cluesthat reveal the truth.

These clues might be objectsyou'd expect in a crime scene, or they could be witness testimonies about something important they saw.

That’s why you’ll need to stay sharp and pay close attention—even the smallest detail could be a critical piece of evidence.

<Don’t worry if you’re a bit clumsy—there’s a highlight feature just for you!>

And yet, not everyone is super meticulous.

Sometimes you might end up spending 30 minutes just because you missed a flashlight or forgot to talk to someone nearby. 

Thankfully, the game includes a helpful feature that highlights key items and important characters.

It’s a thoughtful touch, especially since getting stuck for too long can really slow down the pacing and break immersion.

<If you're not sure what to do, feel free to just take a guess from the clues you've collected>

Once you've gathered enough clues, you'll start making deductions based on the information at hand.

Some characters may try to piece together a theory by loosely connecting whatever clues they have, but if you take a closer look, the right answer usually becomes clear.

The difficulty isn't too high, so progressing through the game won’t be a struggle.

"

Be thorough—or take hints—to collect clues,

then use what you’ve found to accurately piece together what happened

"

<Connecting clues(physically) helps you visualize the case—and makes you feel like a real detective>

At times, you’ll need to link various clues together to understand the situation.

Even if you fail to combine them correctly, there’s no major penalty or need to restart the game.

If you've been following the story, it’s usually easy to figure out which clues to use, which makes the deduction process feel approachable and low-pressure.

Overall, this makes the game feel much lighter than most detective titles.

<Selene, a daughter who deeply admires her father—the ace of the homicide division>

The story begins in the 1950s, with Detective Foster—a seasoned investigator and Selene’s father—at the center of the narrative.

Later, the focus shifts to the 1960s, where his beloved daughter Selene Foster takes the lead.

Without going into spoilers beyond the very beginning, an incident causes Detective Foster to be separated from Selene—the person he cherishes most—for a long time.

Determined to uncover the truth, Selene takes it upon herself to follow in her father’s footsteps and investigate the case.

"

The early part of the game is told from Detective Foster’s perspective,

while the later portion follows Selene’s point of view

"

<Thus, Selene grows up to become a master of infiltration (not actually)>

From Selene’s perspective, the story takes a new direction.

Unlike her father, who works as a professional detective, Selene is still too young to hold such a title.

Because of this, she often has to investigate certain areas in secret.

That includes infiltratingplaces she wants to explore.

<Don’t stress about stealth—give it a try, or just skip it if you’d prefer>

If you’re not confident in stealth gameplay, or if you’re sensitive to jump scares, there’s no need to worry.

For those players, the game offers an option to skip stealth sections if they take too long or if you fail too many times.

Once the option becomes available, you can choose it to continue the story more easily.

That said, speaking from experience, if you skip it every time the option appears, the game can start to feel a bit too easy.

So I’d recommend only using it when you’re really stuck or having trouble progressing.

As for other gameplay elements, I’d suggest experiencing them for yourself—

there are quite a few things that could be considered spoilers.

📌 Final Thoughts 

『Feels like stepping into a real crime scene.

Stop the dance of death!』

<With solid structure, great use of color, and a well-crafted atmosphere, this was a satisfying experience.>

Putting the review aside for a moment—I personally really enjoy mystery games.

There’s a kind of catharsis that’s hard to find in other genres: working through clues, trying to piece things together, and the thrill of realizing whether your theory was right—or completely wrong.

Unfortunately, it’s been hard to find games like this developed in Korea for quite some time.

Maybe it’s because the genre demands a lot of time, effort, and budget.

That’s why I’d say this game manages to satisfy that long-standing desire, at least in part.

If you have the time—or if you're a fan of mysteries—I definitely recommend giving it a try.

A game that takes you deep into the truth behind a murder under the moonlight—this was Lumine Night.

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