lumines

Lumines is a puzzle video game series developed by Q Entertainment, led by game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi. The series began with Lumines, released in 2004 for the PlayStation Portable, and has since spawned multiple installments across several platforms. The core mechanic centers on falling 2x2 blocks of different colors that players rotate and drop into a two-dimensional grid. When a 2x2 square of blocks with matching colors forms, it is cleared from the grid. Clearing blocks builds up the player's score through patterns and chain reactions, while a scrolling timeline bar advances across the playfield. When the bar reaches the space just beneath the grid, the lowest row is cleared and new blocks begin to fall, increasing game speed and pressure. The title is noted for its emphasis on audiovisual synchronization, with electronic music and dynamic visuals responding to gameplay progress.

The series expanded with Lumines II, offering additional modes, music tracks, and skins; subsequent entries and ports appeared on consoles including PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live Arcade as Lumines Live!, as well as handheld systems such as PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita with Lumines Electronic Symphony. Lumines is often cited for integrating rhythmic elements with puzzle mechanics, contributing to the development of the rhythm puzzle subgenre and influencing later games that blend music with block-matching gameplay.