Photography has always been a creative outlet for me. It was a hobby that I discovered while in high school, and it also became a necessary skill to learn while studying journalism in college. So when I heard that Lushfoil Photography Sim was coming out, I was beyond excited to get my hands on it. During The Game Awards, MonsterVine did just that, and I’m excited to say this game was everything I had hoped it would be.
Lushfoil is essentially a walking sim that has you taking pictures while on a hiking-like trip. You’re tasked with snapping shots of specific areas to unlock more levels. Other than having a general photo of what you’re looking for, finding the specific location is entirely up to you. What’s great about that is it forces you to think like a real-world photographer because capturing certain angles isn’t as easy as they initially seem, which forces the players to get creative on how they want to take the picture. This was especially enjoyable because it requires players to think a bit more and find art in the mundane.
Even though players aren’t given the exact spot where to take pictures, Lushfoil isn’t meant to be a stressful game. It’s quite the opposite, and this is reflected by the in-game music. As you’re walking around and taking in the sites, lo-fi-like beats play in the background, and on top of that, players will pick up items that they can use to help make their photos stand out a bit more. Of course, that’s all without mentioning that you can also take some scenic pictures if that’s all you want to do.
During our preview, MonsterVine was able to chat with Matt Newell, the sole developer of Lushfoil. When asked why they picked such scenic locations, he said it was because he loves good-looking games.
“I am a graphics nerd. I enjoy recreating environments based on real-world locations by making them authentic and having a lot of realism. So Lushfoil is a complication of all of my latest work, featuring a lot of places that I was deeply inspired by.”
Newell went on to say that when designing a level, they were influenced by a number of things. First and foremost, if they had a good time while visiting a specific location and if it could even be made into a level.
“If it was a long trail without much variation, I think it would be boring. I try to choose places that have variation and recognizable landmarks, and [I want to make sure] that they have a unique feel to them among each other. I wanted [each level] to feel distinct from one another.”
Lushfoil is a promising title for photography enthusiasts
This may not come as a surprise, but Newell grew up playing with cameras, specifically a Canon 1100D. Interestingly enough, the 1100D was the main inspiration for the camera that players use in Lushfoil. Newell continued by saying that they actively take pictures to this day because it allows them to express themselves. Even though Newell has a lot of experience with using cameras, they want Lushfoil to be a game that anyone can enjoy, even if they’ve never taken a photo before.
This is a game I can see myself sneaking a lot of hours into. It has all the nooks and crannies a real-world camera would have to capture very specific photos. But it can also be used as a simple point-and-shoot. On top of that, Lushfoil is a nice reminder for me to pick up my camera and begin using it again. Lushfoil Photography Sim doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s expected to drop sometime in 2025 on PC.
