Lost in Random looks a bit like a Laika movie conceptualized as a video game. The dark stop motion world is very reminiscent of films like Coraline and other games like Little Nightmares. Coming from the same team that was behind Fe, it has some great potential, and what was shown off at EA Play Live looks fantastic. All of this will likely bring in a lot of fans of its style but Lost in Random could hit it big with the Little Nightmare fans in particular.
Fans of the series are undoubtedly familiar with the dark, gritty, and yet soft and fantastic look that the games have used. With Little Nightmares 2 taking a similar approach as its predecessor, both games have found a comfortable spot that they excel in. The 2.5 D platformers maintain their independent styles but it is hard not to notice the similar visuals Lost in Random shares with them.
The game’s aesthetics convey a world built around impossible odds and the titanic feats that characters like Even face. However, Even and Dicey are just the tip of the iceberg as other characters from the reveal of Lost in Random feel like they have been directly pulled from a Tim Burton movie. With menacing appearances giving way to possible allies and rounder faces playing disguise to less than polite adversaries.
Lost in Random's Combat and Story
The adventure in Lost in Random might not generate as much fear as Little Nightmares but the tension throughout the world still seems present in its darkness. The randomization of the dice-based combat along with the card system that the game uses have some serious roguelike qualities as well. Given the world’s more 3D environment and open combat, it could be the alternative option that fans of Little Nightmares have been looking for.
Navigating the world of Random and using the roguelike methods to save Even’s sister, Odd, from the Queen appears to be the overall goal, and churns up some heavy emotions related to the prison from the first Little Nightmares. This could also set up some heartbreaking scenes for its storyline. Given the dark world that players have been exposed to so far it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they will have to fight Even’s sister.
This encounter could of course go an infinite number of ways but as Odd is currently serving the Queen a story where she becomes her successor feels likely. Given the masks and mystery surrounding the two characters, it is possible, and the latter could be where things fall apart. Much like Six’s midnight snack at the end of Little Nightmares and their transformation in Little Nightmares 2, Even could be faced with a familiar monster in Lost in Random.
Eliminating Even’s sister is hopefully not the end goal but losing her to the malevolent Queen could be just as heartbreaking. Watching the character that players have controlled, or are meant to protect, become corrupted can bring up a lot of difficult emotions. Neither Little Nightmares nor Lost in Random are the first to do it, but their respective stories can make them all the more gut-wrenching.
Lost in Random releases September 10, 2021 for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.