Airhead
Airhead
Game
Game2025
Lushfoil Photography Sim
Developer Matt2
Lushfoil Photography Sim is an adventure game developed by Matt Newell and published by Annapurna Interactive. The photography simulator, created with Unreal Engine, showcases various digitized real-life environments across the world through a hiker's perspective. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
276 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 4, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
90
LovedLoved
190 positive · 22 negative
95% range 85–93%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 190 | 22 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 24 | 3 | 32 |
| Lemmy * | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
625 of 679 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
90% recommend · 181 yes, 21 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 202 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,720 of 1,874 positive).
Many players find the game a deeply emotional and therapeutic experience, especially for those with physical disabilities. [1][2][3] Reviewers praise the stunning visuals, relaxing atmosphere, and realistic camera simulation. [4][5][6] Some players report issues with VR controls, missing features like lens filters, and technical problems such as trojan alerts. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [9]
I Will change the review if they fix the app, I Love this game so much, I Streamed this game a couple times and enjoyed Lushfoil, unfortunally I ran a scan and found out this application has been caught in a trojan.crypt messup(I Hope I Am not the only one dealing with this) If other people are also dealing, feel free to deep scan your pc, Malwarebytes has encountered this and it directed towards lushfoil's exe, I …
- [1]
I am in a wheelchair, I used to be an avid hiker and photographer. This game gave me that back after a year of practically being stuck inside, and this is such a wonderful experience. This game gave me back something I wasn't sure I'd ever experience again. I know this game probably won't touch people the same way it did for me, but regardless I am so happy this exists.
- [5]
This game is perfect. I do photography in real life, and this game looks more real life than real life! The camera settings are correct, the locations are beautiful, and the choices of locations are perfect. 10/10 Would buy the game if I had the money for it
- [7]
I got this game a loooong time ago back when a VR mode was officially announced, But when I originally tried to play it, I did not realize that the VR mode wasn't out yet. So I uninstalled the game and forgot about it in my library until the free VR DLC did come out. Now that I can play it in VR, I have finally tried it. Experiences like this is what VR is made for and it's a shame we don't get more VR experiences. …
- [8]
This game is interesting. At first I didn't like it, but now I quite enjoy it. It's not without its problems, though. Pros: - the game realistically simulates using a DSLR, and the effect the settings have on the image* (see cons) - the scenery is brilliant* (see cons) - the music is relaxing - secrets and collectibles - sound effects are realistic Cons.... - No lens filters. Without an ND filter, long exposures …
Summarised from 34 of the 263 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Lushfoil Photography Sim talk about beautiful, realistic graphics and environments; those who didn't talk about vR mode lacks smooth turning and has control issues. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Lushfoil Photography Sim received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 67% of critics. Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game's visuals and its approach to teaching photography, while criticizing some of the side content.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 276 · most liked firstI am in a wheelchair, I used to be an avid hiker and photographer. This game gave me that back after a year of practically being stuck inside, and this is such a wonderful experience. This game gave me back something I wasn't sure I'd ever experience again. I know this game probably won't touch people the same way it did for me, but regardless I am so happy this exists.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought the game hoping it would let me try realistic simulated lenses. The focal lengths feel fake. Instead of actual lens compression, the game seems to just crop the same base image. Background distance, perspective, and spatial depth never change. So 24mm, 50mm, and 85mm all feel like the same lens with different zoom levels, not real optical differences. The aperture values are either innacurate or cosmetic number, especially f1.2 to f2.8. Depth of field stays wide and flat, so you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I Will change the review if they fix the app, I Love this game so much, I Streamed this game a couple times and enjoyed Lushfoil, unfortunally I ran a scan and found out this application has been caught in a trojan.crypt messup(I Hope I Am not the only one dealing with this) If other people are also dealing, feel free to deep scan your pc, Malwarebytes has encountered this and it directed towards lushfoil's exe, I Wish the devs of this game can see the problem, This can affect every game…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not open world, has invisible barriers all over the place. For a photography game it shouldn't be limiting players to where they want to go. It also requires you to complete quest to go to other locations. Map is too empty. This need a drone so you can have view while flying around.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Having become physically disabled in recent years, I miss wondering around Nature freely with my camera....and this game has filled that void for me. I love i! So much work has gone into this. The graphics are amazing and it's excellent value for the price. Love the little photo quests...the different modes of transport...the totem items to collect...the mysterious portals that pop for you to be transported to who knows where...how sometimes you think you've finished a location then you're…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lushfoil Photography Sim is the video game equivalent of the 12-hour YouTube videos that lull you to sleep with gentle piano, nature sounds, and positive vibes
positive · AI labelView post →This game stop my desire of porn
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So I genuinely didn't like the game. It just didn't feel good to play and it was boring. Additionally, Annapurna is owned by the Ellison family... the largest private donors to the IDF in the world.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a beautiful game. This is what video games are meant for. To showcase the wonderful things of life. The walks. The quiet. The sound. Get this. It's a small moment of peace, that you can take with you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a photographer I wanted to love this game. It is a great concept. I really enjoyed all the manual camera controls, the photo missions to unlock more levels, etc. But this game gave me extreme motion sickness - dizziness, nausea, eyestrain, headache - even after applying the recommended settings as directed by the game instructions. I even tried again another day to see if it would improve and had to close the game within a few minutes. Not sure what the problem is as I have no issues with…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Who doesn't want to walk around in pretty places taking photos, stealing random items, and falling into black holes? I cannot speak to the accuracy of the game mechanics (I am not a photographer, have not stolen random items sitting around on park benches, nor fallen into a black hole), but I can say everything here is (at least from an amateur's perspective) incredibly enjoyable. There's plenty to see and there are plenty of toys to experiment with that give each space new life (and some…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game is amazing, don't listen to the people saying it's not a good photography sim "not realistic" "dosen't feel like the real thing" just take ur damn camera and go outside then ♥♥♥♥ them, just buy this you won't regret it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: Lushfoil Photography Sim Do you dream the dream where the dream is dreaming? @lushfoil.bsky.social #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →I think I've found the chillest game out there. Lushfoil Photography Sim. You just get to walk around gorgeous scenery and take photos, but there are some photos you have to do to unlock more places. No enemies, no threats, just beautiful scenery and chilled out tunes.
positive · AI labelView post →Annapurna Interactive is heading to New Game Plus! 🎮 The acclaimed publisher will be showcasing four upcoming games at the show. Don’t miss this chance to get a first look at what’s next from @annapurna! Lushfoil Photography Sim Skin Deep to a T Wheel World 🎟️ tickets.games.london
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is very pretty and the mechanics are solid however one thing i cannot ignore is the fact that this game has files that get flagged for being trojan viruses. The dev has said these are false however with online crime going up and how easy it can be to hide nefarious code in software this is not a risk i would recommend. It's sad as this game is really cool and is one of the most gorgeous games i have played in a long time. TLDR: Don't download has a flagged trojan file in it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is perfect. I do photography in real life, and this game looks more real life than real life! The camera settings are correct, the locations are beautiful, and the choices of locations are perfect. 10/10 Would buy the game if I had the money for it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: Lushfoil Photography Sim I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. @lushfoil.bsky.social #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →It's rather beautiful, honestly. I don't often allow myself to play creative-minded games, as the attempt to create anything at all is a paralyzingly stressful endeavor to me. Yet, surprisingly to me, this has been one of the most peaceful and mesmerizing game I've played in a long time. Even after just several hours of play I've gone from no real understanding of photography (and finding a DSLR camera to be very intimidating) to a budding fascination with it. Please, spend your time with this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been looking for something like this, not only as a way to teach friends and family the fun and creative ways you can use a camera, but also to satisfy my own need to go out and take photos without going into the storm or to suffer through traffic in order to get some. But, this is a simulator aimed at photographers, and while shutter speed doesn't work in most camera mode in modern games, I would expect a photography focused simulator would somehow find a way to simulate how shutter…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →📷 LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM // PHOTO MODE REVIEW - Fabulous locations, camera shutter speed, and 'God Mode' make Lushfoil the in-game photography experience you can't afford to miss - 🔗 youtu.be/Rh4n6AdBeuw @lushfoil.bsky.social | @annapurna.com
neutral · AI labelView post →Anyone who uses "Walking Simulator" as an insult hasn't played Lushfoil Photography Sim. It's definitely an acquired taste, but if you like wandering around beautiful environments and snapping landscape photos, you'll like this. My dad was an amateur photographer, and some of his stuff made it into the local paper. He passed when I was very young, but this game made me feel like he was watching over me. I appreciate that more than words can express. It should be noted that there is a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As someone who's always loved exploring and finding the nooks & crannies of any game, This was such a fun experience. It rewards the exploration. Exploring Kyoto was a blast since I've been to Fushimi Inari & Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka - one of my favorites. My only qualm is that I'm (unfortunately) a completionist at times, so I started a new game after completing my first run. The problem is that it deleted all the photos I'd taken in that first run when I started a new game. Pretty bummed I lost…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: Lushfoil Photography Sim Theres no reality without you. @lushfoil.bsky.social #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →There are some good points to this, as you can see from the other comments. Unfortunately, it is not for me. On the positive side, I can see this being a pleasant experience to visit the locations and take some virtual photos. I can also see value in using it to practice or test your composition techniques. I also have not spent a lot of time with it, so my following statements may not be correct. And it is not expensive. I asked for a refund because I wanted to primarily use the VR add-on…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I got this game a loooong time ago back when a VR mode was officially announced, But when I originally tried to play it, I did not realize that the VR mode wasn't out yet. So I uninstalled the game and forgot about it in my library until the free VR DLC did come out. Now that I can play it in VR, I have finally tried it. Experiences like this is what VR is made for and it's a shame we don't get more VR experiences. I do recommend this for VR players but I personally have some critiques. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Experienced on the Meta Quest 3 You can view my VR gameplay here: https://youtu.be/jkKn3lUyctQ Lushfoil Photography Sim is still the best nature walking simulator in VR. This goes back to the days of the stand-alone experiences from Matt Newell in VR (the titles have been de-listed from Steam). You still need a beefy rig to enjoy the experiences though. For some reason, the app lacks smooth turning, which is a major miss from the developer. While the VR interactions work and are great, I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: Lushfoil Photography Sim It doesnt get better than this, Its never going to get better then this. @lushfoil.bsky.social #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →idk why ppl are mad at this game for having objectives? its a walking sim with objectives and says as much IN THE TAGS Its visually stunning and in my opinion, having to search for things is a great idea for this kind of game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lushfoil Photography Sim is a wonderfully gorgeous and relaxing game that surprisingly runs quite well on the #SteamDeck, so we asked developer Matt Newell some questions about how he got it running so well! steamdeckhq.com/lushfoil-pho...
neutral · AI labelView post →=========================== ===STEAM DECK LCD Review === =========================== Overall I Rate The Game - 78/100 ------------------ -- What I liked -- ------------------ 1 - Wasn't difficult to run, Perfromance on Day 1 was consistently above 30FPS 2 - VIsuals were great even on the Steam Deck at mostly lowest settings 3 - Gameplay was challenging but not overly complex. Not limited by language barriers. 4 - Audio is superb for an Indie Title --------------------- -- What I disliked --…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love this game. It makes me feel like I’m doing what I should be doing for my client while not doing what I should be doing for my client
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: Lushfoil Photography Sim Tired as always, probably sleeping under a willow tree #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →The game description said you could explore a peaceful game world, so I bought the game. But when I opened it, I found out you have to complete quests to unlock the next map. Didn't it say "explore a peaceful game world"? If I still have to do quests, how am I supposed to explore peacefully?
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lushfoil Photography Sim unveils new VR trailer, coming soon to Steam: www.uploadvr.com/lushfoil-pho...
neutral · AI labelView post →REVIEW: Lushfoil Photography Sim "...exploring the wildlife and these unique places all by yourself turns them into a delightful nature/travel photography playground." @lushfoil.bsky.social @annapurna.com checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2025...
neutral · AI labelView post →Had this game for a while, I enjoyed it but the next day I decided to do a full PC scan, and found a Trojan.Crypt in the game files.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve followed the developer since around 2019, with occasional check-ins, and this feels like his Magnum Opus, after years of iteration. You can explore some photo spots, but preferably dillydally and picture your own vision. You can also let the soundtrack and scenery take over. Reasonably priced and an easy recommendation if you like (or are learning) photography or beautiful scenery right within your own four walls. 10/10. A slice of Heaven, with a touch of papal indulgence.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am currently venturing my path of Photography trying to find my niche and style since 2 yrs now. But there are sometimes when you are kind of just tired of finding places or subjects to get those shots. Lushfoil is the absolute best tool for those times and also definitely a casual game. You get to do exploration and still train your eye along with fideling with camera functions. And this is exactly my kind of preference of gaming where you relax and learn a thing or two in slow but…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lushfoil Photography Sim @lushfoil.bsky.social In-game Camera | PC #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #VPRepost #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →Lushfoil Photography Sim In-game Camera | PC #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #VPRepost #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →Some shots from Lushfoil Photography Sim, such a beautiful game! #photography #dslr #vtuber #pngtuber #follow
positive · AI labelView post →Super stoked to play Lushfoil Photography Sim this week! Congrats to Matt @lushfoil.bsky.social who we interviewed on @preorderbonus.bsky.social nearly 2 years ago about his game! And now it's coming out! * is for Friday, because that game may change, but also I'd love to beat a run with chat.
positive · AI labelView post →This game seems to have been made just for me: globe-trotting, beautiful landscapes, high end graphics, and tranquil gameplay that lets you practice composition and lighting. That's all I'm looking for in a game! My only complaint is that the VR version is scaled back a ton graphically... I get why, the full end graphics are tough for a PC to render in VR, but mine could! I know because I tried UEVR injector and it rendered frames fine, but doesn't work with the headset (Vulcan seems to be the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game: Lushfoil Photography Sim Ontop the mountians lived a great samurai with a dull and rusted blade due to the battles and conflicts he had within himself @lushfoil.bsky.social #LushfoilPhotographySim #Lushfoil #VirtualPhotography #VPSupport #ThePhotoMode
neutral · AI labelView post →Received the game from a screenshot from some minecraft server. 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have no idea what the ♥♥♥♥ I'm doing. I'm in love. Edit: after reaching the end credits, I think it might actually be one of my favorites games. Playing this gave me such a sense of security and happiness throughout the whole experience. I plan on pursuing photography as an actual hobby after experiencing this game, its the second time an annapurna game has deeply affected me, they never miss. Thank you Matt Newell for making this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have been following Matt's projects for a few years now, and I loved that they were just beautifully hand sculped environments to explore. It was so nice to just be able to walk around these places from around the world, in fantastic visual fidelity. The objectives were a nice addition along the way (but you can force unlock everything with a cheat code), and there is technically a bonus minigame Geocaching sim in here too. Great game to sit back and relax to. Two extremely nitpicky gripes:…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →eh, interesting game but you have to collect every camera in every map and unless you have a nasa supercomputer to run it on max graphics its not super fun
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is screaming my name. This game is screaming my name [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1749860/Lushfoil_Photography_Sim](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1749860/Lushfoil_Photography_Sim) #Photography #Gaming #lushfoilphotographysim
positive · AI labelView post →On Creative Bloq, Joe Foley talks with solo developer Matt Newell about how Unreal Engine and its Quixel Megascans library empowered him to create the strikingly realistic “zen” photography game Lushfoil Photography Sim. #unrealengine #UE5 #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →I have mixed feelings about this game. I absolutely loved the desktop version. The bicycle was the real fun. Stunning and beautiful. However the VR has a couple of immersion-ruining issues - the most convenient photo mode, which is when you use hands to make a frame, just doesn't work correctly 90% of the time, so the gameplay switches from exploration to struggle, the window mode (where frame hangs in the air) switches off on its own all the time, and a handheld mode is just unusable (the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is incredible, both in VR and standard mode. The locations are beautiful, the music is perfectly tranquil, and the camera settings have lots of options but aren't too much for non-DSLR photographers. There's even some wildlife, and the light changes dynamically. I also like the different collectibles. They give you aditional things to look out for without taking centre stage. Just taking a walk in this game is totally worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is perhaps one of the ultimate chill games. Just walking through scenic landscapes that many of us will never be able to see in person, looking for photo opportunities and learning some basics of real world photography. That you can you revisit landscapes in various lighting conditions and weather just adds more enjoyment and opportunities. Not quite the same as taking these walks physically, but it's a decent mental substitute. Highly recommend.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It has nice visuals and good optimization for what it is. The locations are large enough to explore and experience them. There are plenty small objects to collect, and you even gain some basic knowledge about photography if you choose to engage with it. None of this is required, and you can unlock everything right away, but it adds something to the overall experience. Great work Matt
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Voted this for "Sit back and Relax" -award! There is not many if any other titles like this on Steam and for a valid reason for this is hardly a game, but an experience. I have a feeling that dev has taken a huge risk to develop this project for years, but the results speak for themself. Lushfoil is hands down one if not the most beautiful games on the market - very close to reality and with subtle requirements. Of course there is not exactly much to do in the world and no specific storyline…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is interesting. At first I didn't like it, but now I quite enjoy it. It's not without its problems, though. Pros: - the game realistically simulates using a DSLR, and the effect the settings have on the image* (see cons) - the scenery is brilliant* (see cons) - the music is relaxing - secrets and collectibles - sound effects are realistic Cons.... - No lens filters. Without an ND filter, long exposures almost a waste of time. - 1/50 is the shutter speed the game chooses at f/2.8…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →ABSOLUTE PEAK this game is so beautiful and amazing, my jaw dropped so many times at so many different parts of this. Some times the graphic in the game are better than in irl. The photoboards are almost like guides to different areas of the map, ensuring you see every part of it and get a chance to find all the good stuff. Even still I think it was hard finding some spots and totems, but what games aren't challenging sometimes?? I think there was an absolute perfect balance of 'photography'…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎮 2025 Game #29: Lushfoil Photography Sim One of the most beautiful games I have ever played - it's a lot more in-depth than I thought it was going to be, with tons of camera settings to change, incredibly detailed and varied environments, and some actually fun secrets to find! 7.5/10 #IndieGames
positive · AI labelView post →TL;DR - recommend if you: - Want some eye candy to throw at your PC - Have an interest in photography (seriously, it's a pretty big part of the game) - Enjoy walking around and looking at stuff This is a great example of how video games can be used in non-traditional ways. It's technically (very) impressive, and does a good job of putting you in the environment. I even learned some things as a hobbyist photographer. Humble suggestions for improvement: 1) User interface - would be nice to have…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.