What if we give in to fear? If we let it drive us, do we let it shape our world? Starting from her home in the lowest realm of the six kingdoms, our heroine Even reveals these secrets in Lost in Random’s captivating coming-of-age story. Of course, Even’s aim is not to study the effects of fear. With a unique determination, Even leaves her parents, the city, and everything she ever knew to get her sister back.
Eve’s older brother named Odd turns 12 when the game starts – a birthday of special significance for children in the Kingdom of Random. At the queen’s command, the preteens take part in a dice ceremony that forces them into a new life out of the whims of chance. The early hours of the game focus on building an authentic world. From childish games to a propaganda-laden speech, each element underscores – like in a Grimm fairy tale – how dark and unquestionable the laws in Random are. Which ultimately led to my even wanting to help break it.
Odd rolls a six and is ripped from her family and home in Onecroft, the village at the hierarchical and literal end of the tiered kingdom. Even if the scene was to tug my heart, it would have struck me even more if it had focused more on the family’s reaction to Odd’s abduction. However, this provocative incident provides understandable motivation for my search and sets a troubling tone for the rest of the game.
In all fairness, Lost in Random is very unsettling thanks to its somber but beautifully sculpted graphics. The clay-like art paired with the Gothic atmosphere screams Tim Burton, and Lost in Random absolutely knows it. The opening narrative mirrors the beginning of Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in a bold, playful way and that energy that runs through the entire game. This light-hearted undercurrent makes up for Lost in Random’s unsettling exterior well.
At the beginning of my search, I hike into a mist-shrouded, forgotten valley, where I discover my cubic partner Dicey. Armed with my animated dice, a handful of playing cards, and a slingshot, I’m ready to take on any enemy. Lost in Random’s innovative battle integrates multiple, usually mutually exclusive, systems. Real-time combat is the central gameplay level and uses elements of card and dice-based strategy.
While your slingshot cannot damage the queen’s minions, it can break off pieces of energy-giving crystals growing on them. By collecting fallen crystal fragments, you fill an energy meter. Each time it is filled, a card goes from your deck to your hand, but you can only hold five at a time. This is where Dicey comes in. When you are ready, you can move on to the strategic part of the fight by rolling the dice. This will slow down time and give you a chance to examine your options. If you roll a high number with Dicey, you can play more or higher valued cards from your hand; These will then represent imaginative, sometimes humorous items that you can use in real-time combat. For example, I enjoyed conjuring up a sword made from floating metal shards and polyhedral cubes to attack enemies. When I needed a more revealing approach, I would summon a large blob, the scream of which can harvest crystals or cause damage when paired with a particular card. The fight constantly flows back and forth between playing cards and the push of a button fight.
The system is really creative, smoothly executed and every shift works together to create a unique experience. Disappointingly, these systems don’t evolve meaningfully over time, and by the middle of the adventure my deck stagnated. But Lost in Random keeps things from getting boring by alternating combat challenges with tabletop-inspired arenas. In one of my favorite arenas, I use Dicey and my sling to steer balls into a large gate while avoiding the enemies that spawn around me. The various arenas cleverly mix things up, changing my goal from defeating enemies to achieving a game-specific goal, introducing a much-cherished variety.
As Even wanders through Random’s various districts, she will witness how the actions of others, carried by suspicion and selfishness, make the world worse. In Threedom’s feudal-inspired society, noble triplets tear their empire apart and wage war against each other after the mysterious death of their father. Two particularly fearsome citizens of Fourburg lose their humanity and almost kill Even out of greed. And Even’s sister, who appears to her in visions, also seems to succumb to the pernicious influence of fear. Every wonderfully written moment makes me, next to the protagonist, alternately angry, horrified and disappointed. When Even wanted to give up, I was right with her. But overcoming those struggles in Lost in Random’s well-made story turns Even into a heroine, not just for her sister, but for the entire empire.
This shadowy fairy tale combines a thoughtful story, an impressive art style and a clever combat system in one immersive experience. Lost in Random has a lot going for it all the time, but the game’s bizarre world and signature, creepy atmosphere make it an excellent choice for the Halloween season.
