REVIEW: ‘Lushfoil Photography Sim’ Is A Masterclass In Visual Creative Play

There’s something about capturing a moment, pausing time within a single frame, that is indescribable. An image that holds a unique story and emotion that will never be replicated like that first time. Solo developer Matt Newell, reminds us of this sentimentality in his debut title, Lushfoil Photography Sim. Published by Annapurna Interactive, this immersive simulator explores majestic, awe-inspiring environments where each snapshot becomes more than just a photo. 

Stepping into Lushfoil Photography Sim, you are immediately captivated by its breathtaking visuals. The title transports players to several world locations, each vast, serene, and rich in detail. Instead of laying out a clear path or setting objectives right away, the title takes a non-linear approach that encourages exploration and discovery while taking in the sights. With no immediate instructions, you are left to simply wander. It is in that wandering players eventually come across a DSLR camera, which becomes the core tool of the gameplay experience.

The initial discovery of your camera quietly signals the start of the game’s core loop: observe, seek, and capture. At each location, light tutorial prompts naturally emerge through environmental exploration. These guides introduce players to the DSLR’s core functions, like shooting modes, adjusting focus, and exposure settings, one element at a time. Instructions are not frontloaded; rather, space is given to develop understanding through interaction, curiosity, and practice.

Lushfoil Photography Sim captures the curiosity of exploration.

For those unfamiliar with photography or DSLR cameras, directions are approachable and digestible without being overwhelming. These soft tutorial integrations mirror how we often fall into new real-life hobbies: by doing. Lushfoil Photography Sim invites players to embrace the unknown, rewarding curiosity with progression.

There are several destinations to explore, from the lush mountainside of Lago di Braises in South Tyrol, Italy to the mossy woodlands of Yamadera in Yamagata, Japan. Each environment holds a powerful, unspoken beauty that you easily get lost in and want to revisit time and time again. The feeling of nostalgia builds for places you have never been to, warm and inviting yet distant and sacred.

Every setting in Lushfoil Photography Sim features a curated tracklist where the music becomes an emotional thread, deepening the player’s connection to the space. The atmosphere seamlessly blends with the game’s objective and never feels rigid or repetitive. The non-linear structure, combined with the ability to return to previously visited areas, allows players to engage with the world at their own pace.

At each location, players will discover a billboard. On it are a handful of photos taken within the area that serve as visual prompts. The goal is to locate each scene at your world destination and replicate it using your camera. This does not mean capturing the scene using the same camera settings the visual prompt has, but rather just the frame image itself with your artistic eye. Players unlock something new once all the photos on the board have been matched.

The environment will shift from dusk to nightfall, or the seasons change. This new setting is unlocked, presenting a different perspective and experience for players to explore the same objective. This loop of observe, seek, and capture fuels progression and naturally trains players to see with intention. Replicating the visual prompts nudges players into developing an eye for composition and perspective. 

Lushfoil Photography Sim succeeds in its approachability and how it garners intrigue. It gracefully connects the world of photography and creative curiosity, naturally on display in gaming. When pulling up your camera, players are met with a clean interface that closely mirrors a real DSLR.

Lushfoil Photography Sim captures the details of a DSLR perfectly.

Settings like ISO, exposure, and aperture are toggled by your arrow key inputs. It anticipates common photographic instincts, such as crouching for a more dynamic angle or shifting between landscape and portrait framing. The camera menu also provides players with a few lenses, such as 24mm, 35mm, and zoom, that foster deeper experimentation with framing and perspective to encourage creative play.

Exploration and discovery are key aspects of Lushfoil Photography Sim, and it could easily feel tedious with how much roaming players do to find the objective photos. To reduce that noise, every photo taken serves as a fast travel point. It teleports players back to the exact frame and location where it was originally taken. This design choice preserves the calm atmosphere and creative flow while still allowing players to enjoy their experience. 

Lushfoil Photography Sim enhances our understanding of how and why we tend to document moments in our lives. On the surface, players wander about stunning locations, taking photos of what catches their eye, but beneath that simplicity is something more profound. It’s a timestamp, preserving appreciation for beautiful moments and the emotions unique to every individual. It engages us with more intention for the world around us, even if it is a digital one. It’s a quiet act of wonder, a personal imprint of fleeting moments suspended in time.

Lushfoil Photography Sim releases on April 15 via PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.