Luminescence vs Into the Waves
Luminescence and Into the Waves both land in Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Casual games on Steam. Luminescence (2018) is 3 years older than Into the Waves (2021). Into the Waves scores higher on Steam reviews (81.5% positive) than Luminescence (58.8% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Side-by-side comparison
 Luminescence |  Into the Waves | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Genres | Casual | Indie, Adventure, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 0.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 58.8% positive (34 reviews) | 81.5% positive (27 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Genetic Studio | Flying Whale |
Side by side
- Both are Casual games on Steam.
- Luminescence (2018) is 3 years older than Into the Waves (2021).
- Into the Waves scores higher on Steam reviews (81.5% positive) than Luminescence (58.8% positive).
- Into the Waves is free; Luminescence is paid (0.99 USD).
Luminescence vs Into the Waves — FAQ
- Should I play Luminescence or Into the Waves first?
- If you want chronology, Luminescence (2018) came out before Into the Waves (2021). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Luminescence and Into the Waves similar?
- They overlap on Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Is Into the Waves free?
- Yes — Into the Waves is a free-to-play Steam title. Luminescence is paid (0.99 USD).