Surprise Lumines Arise Demo Brings the Beat Back — Now with Multiplayer Chaos
The wait for Lumines Arise just got a whole lot more exciting. Enhance, the team behind Tetris Effect: Connected and Rez Infinite, has dropped a surprise demo for their highly anticipated puzzle game, available now on Steam and PlayStation 5 through September 3rd. Fans like us dove in this weekend, and even with just a handful of stages to try, it’s clear this is shaping up to be the most ambitious entry in the series yet.
I have loved Lumines since I first played it on my PSP back in the day. And the series is one of my favorite tertis-like puzzle games ever. Am I a pro at it? absolutely not. But it is one of those games that allows me to just really get in the zone and chill playing it.
At its heart, Lumines Arise stays true to what made the original titles so addictive: pulsing beats, hypnotic visuals, and that “just one more try” gameplay loop. You’re still matching falling 2x2 blocks of two colors, timing your combos to the sweeping Timeline that clears the screen in rhythm with the music. But now, the brand-new Burst mechanic adds strategic depth by letting you hold off clearing combos to unleash massive, score-melting chain reactions. Once your meter turns 100% you can pull the triggers and activate burst mode. In this mode you try to create a large combo of the same color which will temporarily push the other color of the screen allowing you to add more to the combo etc. Once your time runs out the big mega block comes back in and the other ones fall back into place , which can cause a bit of a chain reaction or at least help you clear the field a little. It took me sometime to learn to take most advantage of this mode, but by the first demo playthrough I had a good grip on the best way (or at least better way) to use this feature.
And for the first time ever in the series? Multiplayer.
The demo introduces Burst Battle, a competitive mode where players send “garbage blocks” back and forth as they race to outscore each other. It’s fast, it’s frantic, Cross-platform online play means PC and PS5 players can battle it out together, so the chaos won’t be limited to just one platform. It is an interesting addition, but I wish that 1) I could play with friends instead of randoms, and 2) I prefer a more coop approach to this game and hope they will add it in full release. This is one game where I rather not have to face the sweats.
The final game, launching November 11, 2025, promises over 35 stages, optional VR support, customizable Loomii avatars, and an eclectic soundtrack by Hydelic, the same composer who gave Tetris Effect its unforgettable soundscape. We already got a taste with “Dreamland,” the newest single now streaming online, and it perfectly sets the tone for the luminous journey ahead.
Pre-orders are live for PlayStation players, with a Digital Deluxe Edition featuring exclusive avatars (yes, even Astro Bot makes a cameo) and other extras. Steam players will have to wait until launch day, but the game will be fully optimized for 4K, 60fps, and PC VR, as well as the Steam Deck.
With its mix of chill vibes, competitive energy, and endlessly replayable puzzle action, Lumines Arise looks ready to hit all the right notes when it drops this November. If the demo is any indication, this could be the best Lumines yet.
Go check it out now on steam or the PlayStation store yourself and let us know what you think of the demo.
Publisher: Enhance | Release date: November 11, 2025 (PS5, Steam) |
Developer: Enhance, Monstars Inc. | Platforms: PlayStation 5 (PlayStation VR2 Optional), Steam (Steam VR Optional) |
Players: 1-2 (local and online multiplayer) | Genre: Puzzle |
Price: | Rating: |
