Lost in Random
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Lost in Random is widely celebrated for its unique "Tim Burton-esque" art style and whimsical, dark storybook atmosphere, though its gameplay receives more polarized feedback. While the narrative, voice acting, and world-building are considered high points, many players find the card-based combat system becomes repetitive or tedious over time, particularly in the latter half of the game.
Pros
- Striking and unique art style reminiscent of stop-motion animation and Psychonauts.
- Excellent voice acting and a charismatic narrator that enhance the characters.
- Delightful, witty writing that balances weirdness with charm.
- Creative world-building and a strong central narrative.
- Unique combat mechanics that blend real-time action with card-based strategy.
Cons
- Combat can feel tedious and repetitive, with some battles lasting too long.
- Strategic depth plateaus mid-game once most cards are collected.
- Frequent 'fade to black' transitions before and after dialogue and cutscenes.
- Noticeable reuse of assets for NPCs and environments.
- Clunky deckbuilding menu and various minor technical polish issues.
Caveats
- The game is best viewed as a story-first experience where gameplay systems exist primarily to support the narrative.
- Technical 'jank,' such as seeing the world unload when quitting, is present but generally not game-breaking.
Best for
- Fans of Tim Burton or Laika-style aesthetics.
- Players who prioritize atmosphere and storytelling over complex gameplay loops.
- Those looking for a unique indie-style experience with high production value in art and sound.
Avoid if
- You find card-based combat or dice-roll mechanics frustrating.
- You are sensitive to repetitive gameplay loops and reused assets.
- You prefer highly polished, seamless transitions between gameplay and cutscenes.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is based on a consistent set of discussions from r/patientgamers with a median age of approximately 590 days.
Sentiment
14 positive (50%) · 5 mixed (18%) · 9 negative (32%)
Trust + time weighted score: +18% · raw score 18%
What redditors said (10 of 28)
I was actually about to give it up in TwoTown because I found it pretty difficult to work with. Then I got the swing of it. I thought the game did a nice job of adding little variations and changing it up just enough throughout to keep it interesting. ... But generally I agree that combat was not the most compelling element of the game
Loved everything about the game, except for the combat, which ultimately made me drop the game after I got to Fourburg. There wasn't anything wrong with it, but I just didn't find it fun, and I think the game would've been better off with a basic action combat system instead.
And the combat grew on me fast, I was really enjoying it. I'm glad you liked it and happy you posted about it for what that's worth!
Just by it's artistic merit I pump the review up. The combat is so damn unique. You can feel it's an indie and has some padding with the repetition, but the game hooked me from start to finish. Characters are lively, I got attached to them. And the world building is amazing.
I'd probably rate this game at 7/10 overall. I did really appreciate the overall story, creativity and environment in this game, but the combat and individual dialog definitely became a bit tedious in places.
I played this last year and enjoyed it. ... Delightful game though.
Parent context: I wanted to love this game, the whole vibe is very much my jam. The gameplay was just so tedious and I got bored only a few hours in. Reply: Same, each battle felt like it dragged on way too long. Cool Tim Burton-esque vibes/story, but not enough to justify the monotonous gameplay.
There was a new Lost in Random announced a few months ago. Story-wise it's not clear if it's sequel with shenanigans involved or a straight prequel, but we know that rather than being a 3d adventure game it's a top-down
The gameplay was just so tedious and I got bored only a few hours in.
I actually really liked this one, but I'm more story focused than most. I felt the plateauing you mentioned start to creep in, but then that twist completely changed the story up and I was hooked again.
Compare
Lost in Random vs HadesLost in Random vs Stardew ValleyLost in Random vs Portal 2
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