Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Promises An Intriguing Mystery

Originally revealed last year at The Game Awards 2023 to much intrigue by fans and press alike, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is finally gearing up to release its first chapter this year on February 18. After receiving an initial delay from its original time frame of late 2024, it will be delivered over two episodes, dubbed Tapes, with the latter arriving on March 18.

Featuring four main characters, Nora, Autumn, Kat, and Swann, the story revolves around a mysterious incident that occurred in the summer of 1995 and its repercussions two decades later, with the women now entering their 40s. As mentioned in a previous interview with Michel Koch, creative director of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, this will allow players to engage in deeply immersive decision-making.

Case in point, when you go into memories of a character, choices you make there can retroactively impact your character's personality in your current time. While Don't Nod has dabbled with supernatural themes successfully in the past, it keeps quite close to its chest what mystery is at the heart of this heartfelt adventure. What looks like a clear evolution of their previous work also aims to give a personal look at the 90s as an era, both culturally and nostalgically.

Exploring mature themes due to their middle-aged protagonists confronting decades-old grudges, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage allows a fleshed-out narrative that is not usually seen in video games. Alluding to a promise made 27 years ago, each character seems like they will have to face the consequences of their actions sooner rather than later. A trademark of Don't Nod by now, a strong characterization has been at the forefront of their games, and this new IP continues to cement that reputation.

A cryptic marketing campaign on their official X account has been revealing snippets of how life is going to be in the fictional setting of Velvet Cove, Michigan. It has also included exclusive information, such as the indie electropop artist Milk & Bone, who will help musicalize their soundtrack. The campaign has also gone deep into the personalities of the characters and shared their latest trailers, with the last one published in early December.

By the looks of it, it seems like Don't Nod's most ambitious project yet. Makers of Life is Strange, Jusant, and most recently, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage have set a high bar for themselves. It will not be long until fans uncover its secrets. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in two installments: Tape 1 on February 18 and Tape 2 on March 18.