What Lumines Arise is
Lumines Arise is a puzzle game where you manipulate 2x2 blocks of two colors that fall from the top of the screen. Your goal is to create Squares of a single color or type. A Timeline sweeps across the Playfield to the beat of the music, clearing completed 2x2 Squares and generating points. The game is easy to pick up but has depth that is harder to master. The visuals sync to the driving beat of an electronic soundtrack by Hydelic, the composer behind Tetris Effect: Connected and Rez Infinite's Area X. The soundtrack is meant to be heard through headphones for maximum effect.
Playing together
You can test your mettle against friends or strangers in online multiplayer. The game also supports Local Multiplayer and Remote Play Together, so you can play with people on the same machine or join up over a connection. Beyond competing, you can use the Playlist feature to build a mix of stages around favorite tracks or a specific mood, which works well when a group wants to settle into a shared vibe.
Before you start
The single-player journey runs through over 35 stages, each with a different setting and emotional tone, from lush jungles and oceans to neon streets and outer space. Along the way you can trigger the new Burst mechanic, which stops a matched Square from clearing so you can build it as large as possible until time runs out; when the Timeline starts clearing again, screen-clearing combos rack up points. You can also customize your Loomii Avatar from the largest selection of options the series has offered. The game works with a controller and offers optional VR and 4K support.