When it comes to narrative-driven adventure games, few studios are as renowned as Don’t Nod. With Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, the developers have crafted a new experience that feels like a spiritual successor to Life is Strange while carving its own identity. The first half of this two-part adventure game takes players to Velvet Cove, a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the story unfolds across two timelines: the summer of 1995 and the present day in 2022. Through a lens of nostalgia, supernatural mystery, and deeply personal storytelling, Bloom & Rage delivers an emotional journey that feels both familiar and unsettling.
A Story of Memory, Friendship, and the Passage of Time
At its core, Lost Records is about memory—how it shifts, distorts, and defines us. The game follows Swann, a quiet and introspective teen who spends much of her time filming her surroundings with a camcorder. She captures everything: the animals on the trail, the ruins of the town, and even her cat. Through the tapes she records, players get a firsthand experience of how memories are shaped, sometimes inaccurately, by nostalgia.
Swann’s world expands when she befriends three other outsiders—Nora, Autumn, and Kat. What follows is a summer of intense friendships, hidden secrets, and moments of rebellion. But in the present day, the now-adult Swann reconnects with these same friends under mysterious circumstances, forcing them to confront what happened that summer. The time-hopping structure between 1995 and 2022 is seamless, often shifting within the same scene. This creates an eerie, dreamlike effect that enhances the game’s themes of remembrance and loss.
Unlike Life is Strange, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage does not feature time travel or telepathy—at least not in the traditional sense. Instead, it leans into a more subtle, undefined magic that lingers beneath the surface, amplifying the sense of uncertainty about what really happened that fateful summer.
A Vividly Nostalgic Yet Unsettling World
The world of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is drenched in nostalgia, but not in a way that feels cheap or forced. Velvet Cove is an “anywhere-and-nowhere” kind of place, emphasizing the timeless quality of memory. The game is filled with relics of the ’90s: Troll dolls, PEZ dispensers, VHS rentals, Tamagotchis, and sticker-covered alarm clocks. These aren’t just props—they are touchstones of a lost time, reinforcing the personal and emotional weight of the story.
Swann’s camcorder plays a key role in gameplay, allowing players to document their experiences. This mechanic is more than just a collectible hunt; it’s a way to engage with the story on a deeper level. The grainy footage, the flickering scanlines, and the hum of the CRT monitor all add to the game’s atmosphere, making it feel as though you’re holding a real VHS tape in your hands rather than playing a digital recreation.
Gameplay That Feels Authentic, If Slightly Restrictive
As expected from Don’t Nod, Lost Records places heavy emphasis on choice-driven dialogue and character interactions. An interesting part of the formula gameplay is the ability to interact with objects in a way that influences conversations. Picking up and examining items can unlock additional dialogue options, making interactions feel more organic and lived-in.
However, the camcorder mechanic, while thematically powerful, can feel like busywork at times. Players may find themselves instinctively pulling out the camera after every cutscene, leading to moments where progression feels less like an organic experience and more like a checklist. It took me some time to understand and appreciate the use and need of the camcorder. To start the game, I honestly did not like using it. In fact, I wanted nothing to do with it at the start, as I was just itching to move on with the story.
Visuals and Sound Design: A Perfectly Curated Time Capsule
Visually, Lost Records is stunning in its subtlety. The warm, golden hues of summer contrast with the colder, more melancholic tones of the present-day sequences. The lighting feels almost too perfect at times, lending an almost surreal quality to Swann’s memories. Character animations and facial expressions are a step up from previous Don’t Nod titles, making every interaction feel more grounded.
The sound design is just as meticulously crafted. The game leans heavily into the music and culture of the ’90s, with riot grrrl influences, sci-fi show magazines, and video rental stores all adding to the immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack, filled with moody indie rock and ambient nostalgia, complements the game’s themes beautifully.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Final Verdict: A Promising Start With Room for Growth
With its deeply personal storytelling, compelling characters, and unique approach to nostalgia, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 1) is an emotional and atmospheric experience. While its camcorder mechanic occasionally slows the pacing, the game excels in crafting an immersive world filled with mystery and longing. The real test will come with Tape 2, as the game sets up an ominous cliffhanger that could make or break the experience. If Don’t Nod can stick the landing, Lost Records has the potential to be another modern classic in narrative gaming.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Pros
- Strong, emotional storytelling with well-developed characters
- Unique time-hopping structure enhances the mystery
- Beautifully rendered nostalgia that feels authentic
- Excellent sound design and atmospheric soundtrack
Cons
- Camcorder mechanic can feel repetitive
- Pacing can slow due to object interactions
- Uncertain if the second half will deliver on its promising setup
