Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5 (Feb 18, 2025)
- Xbox Series X/S (Feb 18, 2025)
- PC (Feb 18, 2025)
Trailer:
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 76 average - 68% recommended - 51 reviews
Critic Reviews
CBR - Sophie Ulanoff - 9 / 10
Tape 1 of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is immersive, delicately crafted to feel as close to real life as a video game can get, and bursting with supernatural mystery.
Final Weapon - Estelle Mejia - 4.5 / 5
Lost Records: Bloom is a wonderful time that explores the past and present while presenting an intriguing mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. Don't Nod somehow managed to capture the energy of the first two Life is Strange titles while giving something new and heartfelt.
GamesRadar+ - Rachel Watts - 4.5 / 5
"Tape 1 isn't just a set-up for the climatic finale of the game, it feels like its own distinct part."
Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 9 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 1) is a wonderful and exciting coming-of-age story that immediately draws you in. The game is a loving homage to the 90s, with an atmospheric atmosphere, authentic charm and a great soundtrack that adds to the immersion of the story.
Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 9 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 1 is a stunning return to form, offering a great story and a bunch of wholesome, special characters. The choices feel more personal to you, and the camcorder mechanic adds more depth to Swann, allowing you to feel more in control of your own destiny than before.
MonsterVine - Nick Mangiaracina - 4.5 / 5
Despite the technical issues I had, I still love Bloom & Rage and greatly anticipate Tape 2. The bombs dropped in Tape 1 make my heart ache. I love this broody high-school drama, brilliantly shown through the eyes of Swann Holloway. If you have any love for Life is Strange or adventure games, you need to play Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1. Remember 1995!
PS4Blog.net - EdEN - 9 / 10
A solid start to this narrative adventure
Seasoned Gaming - Luis Avilés - 9 / 10
Lost Records Bloom and Rage (Tape 1) not only recaptures the magic of DON’T NOD'S lightning in a bottle, but it enhances it in every way.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 is a beautifully crafted journey of friendship that’ll keep players hooked in with each emotional narrative beat. It captures the universal experience of growing up while celebrating the nostalgia of the 90s, with the traditional DON’T NOD style of storytelling ensuring that each character feels special, each decision you make feels significant, and each twist you unravel feels shocking. Add to that the wonderful soundtrack and visual presentation and it’ll be clear that this is another special experience that easily lives up the high standard of storytelling that the team set with the original Life is Strange.
I simply cannot wait to see how the story ends… roll on April 15th.
Chicas Gamers - Spanish - 8.8 / 10
The first part of this game divided into two leaves us with a pleasant (and not so pleasant) taste in our mouths and wanting to know more. Despite some flaws in animations and textures, the story captures you shortly after starting and you immerse yourself fully in the story of these four friends who spent a very intense summer of 1995.
Checkpoint Gaming - Austin Gallagher - 8.5 / 10
Impeccable vibes, a solid narrative, and strong characters make the trip to Velvet Cove more than worth it. Tape 1 of Lost Records: Bloom and Rage effortlessly transports you back to a simpler time, while telling a grounded and melancholy tale of what happens when the perfect summer, isn't. While it's occasionally let down by an uneven technical state, the strength of the story still stands tall. I'm more than excited to continue the story of Swann and her friends in Tape 2.
NextPlay - Alex Beaty - 8.5 / 10
Don’t Nod is SO BACK with Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. Not only does Swann and the camcorder feel new and exciting, but with a location like Velvet Cove oozing that neon-soaked Twin Peaks realness, one can’t help but be along for the ride.
Quest Daily - Elly Mousellis - 8.5 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage: Bloom (Tape 1) is hitting all the right notes to be another emotional gut-punch from Don’t Nod. With its bittersweet storytelling, perfectly curated aesthetic, and unshakable sense of unsettling mystery; I’m on the edge of my seat for Rage (Tape 2).
COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 80 / 100
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 is everything you’d want from a DON’T NOD game: realistic characters, a gripping journey, and a sci-fi-infused adventure. While it doesn’t break new ground in the genre, it delivers a well-rounded, intriguing story. The first part lays the foundation for multiple compelling narrative threads. With its rich character drama and lingering mysteries, Tape 2’s release on April 15th can’t come soon enough.
Eurogamer - Tom Phillips - 4 / 5
A fascinating new narrative adventure from the original Life is Strange team, this first slice boasts fresh twists that help move the formula forward, even if its story sometimes feels a remix of genre tropes.
GameMAG - Alexander Loginov - Russian - 8 / 10
With Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, struggling studio Don't Nod returns to its roots, offering a loyal audience everything they loved about Life is Strange. The slow-paced story may put off some action fans, but it builds to a powerful and shocking conclusion.
Gameliner - Jolien Mauritsz - Dutch - 4 / 5
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 completely drew me into the mysteries of Velvet Cove and hasn’t let go even after finishing, with Swann, Kat, Nora, and Autumn’s friendships stealing the show despite some technical hiccups; while the story could have picked up the pace sooner and given more time between time jumps, its gripping start leaves me eagerly awaiting the next chapter in April, as the fate of the friend group remains a mystery.
Hardcore Gamer - Chris Penwell - 4 / 5
Technical issues aside, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage succeeds in telling a meaningful story.
PSX Brasil - Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho - Portuguese - 80 / 100
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a game that should be enjoyed in the right "vibe". It brings back a sense of nostalgia for the 90s, while also having a plot that manages to hook us in. The character development is solid and creates bonds with the player. There are some technical issues that patches could fix, as well as some slow moments in the narrative. But, in other words, if you liked the other DON'T NOD narrative games, it's hard not to like this one. [Review based on TAPE 1: BLOOM].
Slant Magazine - Steven Scaife - 4 / 5
Because we’re free to choose what to include or exclude from each memoir, we begin to see objects as Swann does: how they tell a story about a larger whole, as well as how they look best when captured on grainy video. Swann’s enthusiasm becomes infectious, as the act of playing the game becomes about finding the joy in the everyday.
TheGamer - Andrew King - 4 / 5
But the game's utter sincerity is a major point in its favor, and these kinds of missteps are a side effect. If I have to put up with some deeply goofy choices in order to get a character as heartbreakingly earnest as Swann Holloway, I'll accept the trade-off.
Thumb Wars - Luke Addison - 4 / 5
Don’t Nod has taken what they learned with Life is Strange and made something different, yet impressively better. It’ll make you think, both about your in-game actions and out of game life, and will stick with you long after you switch off. Most importantly, it goes to show games are an art form that can have a message, be fun and also still be unique and different to what we’ve seen before.
XboxEra - Amanda Van Parys - 8 / 10
I truly enjoyed playing through the Bloom section of the game. I have played the Life Is Strange games and I might prefer this, but perhaps that’s my 90’s nostalgia speaking!
I will replay the game before the second half to get better relationship statuses as it turns out I wasn’t doing as well as I thought with my friendships (and possible relationships).
If you are interested in story-driven games, some 90’s nostalgia, and paranormal magic vibes, then I do recommend you check out Lost Records.
Cerealkillerz - Nick Erlenhof - German - 7.9 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a great start to the new series from Don't Nod. 90s charm and a really well-written group of characters form the heart of the game and, coupled with mysticism and some very serious themes, are really convincing. The new camera mechanics still have some room for improvement, but we are very looking forward to Tape 2 “Rage”
Analog Stick Gaming - Jeff M Young - 7.5 / 10
Lost Records’ opening chapter doesn’t quite provide enough of the mystery to have me excited for its next and final chapter. That said, the bonds created by these girls is a captivating experience that drew me in. While dialogue choices are the bread and butter of this experience, I do wish the reliance on the camcorder did something to flavor that story in ways that we just don’t see here. While Bloom is a fairly enjoyable chapter, here’s hoping that Rage can seal the deal.
Rectify Gaming - Tyler Nienburg - 7.5 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage lacks in the gameplay department but shines in the storytelling department as expected. There are times when our playthrough saw frame drops and more choppiness than we’d like to admit through gameplay. The conclusion of Tape 1 – Bloom has us wanting to dive into Tape 2 – Rage sooner.
TechRaptor - Tyler Chancey - 7.5 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is a pitch-perfect dose of melancholic 90s nostalgia and a solid start to a two-part story.
Uagna - Chiara Ferrè - Italian - 7.2 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is Don't Nod's new all-female graphic adventure, a ‘spiritual sequel’ to Life is Strange in atmosphere. In this first part, entitled ‘Tape 1: Bloom’, we discover how the friendship between four outsiders, the young Swann, Kat, Nora and Autumn, came about. What really happened in the summer of 1995? The title takes its time, giving us some juicy new clues only at the end of this first episode. Impossible to judge now, halfway through the adventure, we'll have to wait until 15 April to draw conclusions, but this first part has left us a little lukewarm: the more dynamic and realistic multiple-choice dialogues are a nice step forward, but will they be enough to make the title truly unforgettable? On the gameplay side there isn't much else, and even from a technical point of view the game has several smears. We'll have to see.
Expansive - Sam Diglett - 3.5 / 5
Lost Records: Bloom sets the scene for a very intriguing finale with good character and story build-up but it does take time to get there and the episode ends just as the story is taking a turn. In that build up is some brilliant characterisation across two periods in history, world-class acting that makes these characters feel truly three-dimensional, compelling writing that keeps you hooked and a truly stunning depiction of Michigan that glows and glistens with beautiful, natural scenery. Swan’s recording adds an interesting approach for players to tell their own interpretations of the memories and this is a pleasant trip that often feels soothing and wholesome, but you feel Rage has quite a bit of work to do to stick the landing.
Game Rant - Matthew O’Dwyer - 7 / 10
Tape 1 of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage proves to be a lopsided experience carried by a charming cast of characters and let down by its overall plot.
Don't Nod is back with a calibrated proposition for fans who fell in love with the studio thanks to Life is Strange. Lost Records has everything to please an audience that swears by the emotions they experienced while playing Max Caulfield at the time of Arcadia Bay or even with the Diaz brothers.
GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 7 / 10
Even if Tape 1 won't immediately grab you, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is off to a decent start, thanks to its intriguing characters and plot.
Push Square - Aaron Bayne - 7 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 is an intriguing introduction to a mysterious new world. With its characters and setting at the forefront, this rose-tinted view of the mid-90s is welcoming, nostalgic, and perfectly blends this tale's more enigmatic side. It is incredibly slow at times and it doesn't answer an awful lot, but truth be told, we're dying to have those questions addressed in the latter part of the story. Tape 1 has teed it up, so it's down to Tape 2 to secure the home run.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage has a lot going for it—a compelling mystery, a strong cast of characters, and a nostalgic atmosphere that captures the era perfectly. But the technical issues are hard to ignore. From audio glitches to animation bugs, it feels like the game needed more time in the oven. I’m hopeful that Part 2 will smooth out these rough edges, because there is certainly some potential here. It’s just not quite there yet.
SteamDeckHQ - Noah Kupetsky - 3.5 / 5
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage has a lot of great moments with just a few outliers that keep it from being an amazing experience. The story is great, which is elevated thanks to a wonderful cast and an interesting way of telling it. The basic gameplay for these kinds of games is here again, but with an intriguing Memoir feature to record different objects to create your own mini-videos. I wish the magical elements and finale were a bit more impactful, but I feel the narrative had enough to keep me interested in how they would continue the tale.
It is also playable on the Steam Deck, albeit with some compromises. I wish I could get it to a fully stable 30 FPS without major visual downgrades, but with a game like this, the short drops down below weren't the end of the world. This is still going to be an enjoyable portable experience, and I had a blast playing it on the go.
MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 6.8 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage tells a coming-of-age tale that takes too long to get off the ground, spending far too much time on slow dialogue and not too engaging scenes. The nostalgic element and the general story are appealing, but we feel the lack of a greater element of interactivity or a different rhythm in the narrative. I suggest waiting for the release of the second part of the story, so as to better evaluate a possible purchase and enjoy the whole story without interruptions.
But Why Tho? - Kate Sanchez - 6.5 / 10
When Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is strong, it’s strong. But without the Tape 2 Rage, I’m unfortunately left with too much gap to close, not enough life lived, and not enough of a tactile experience to immerse me in Swann’s life and Velvet Cove.
CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 6.5 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape 1 tells a beautiful coming-of-age story, but takes far too long building up something that never pays off.
Gaming Nexus - Nathan Carter - 6.5 / 10
Tape 1 of Lost Records introduces us to a charming group of characters and presents an intriguing story that sets up a lot of questions and mystery for Tape 2, but a ton of technical issues and awkward dialogue really hamper the overall experience for the first episode of this two part adventure.
Just Play it - Ben Abderrahmane Mohamed Samy - Arabic - 6.5 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage did well in describing aspects within a society such as bullying and friendship. Nevertheless, the product lacked key elements such as distinction in the narrative and the depth of choices that lowered its expectations and solidifies it as a casual experience for the players.
Press Start - Toby Berger - 6.5 / 10
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 kept me interested throughout, though its heavy focus on character moments got in the way of forming a more cohesive main plot. I'm hopeful that all of the setup that's been done will allow Tape 2 to fully explore the mystery behind Bloom & Rage's 'wild' summer of 1995.
SmashPad - Danreb Victorio - 3 / 5
I’m surely invested in the story, but it takes too long to get there. The fact that the second tape isn’t coming until mid-April doesn’t make it any easier. It just makes it hard to recommend the game right now, especially at $40. That’s a lot to pay for what’s essentially half a palette cleanser.
WellPlayed - James Wood - 5.5 / 10
In returning to its narrative adventure roots, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage feels like a retreat for Don't Nod. Draped in nostalgia for both the 90s and Life is Strange, Bloom & Rage struggles to find itself among uneven pacing, tonal inconsistencies, and an uninteresting cast of characters. Despite some neat visual tricks with its VHS overlays, there's little on this first tape worth a rental.
Digitec Magazine - Kevin Hofer - German - Unscored
With ‘Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’, developer Dontnod captures the cosy, melancholy feeling for which I also loved ‘Life is Strange’. Unfortunately, I now have to wait two months to make a definitive judgement
Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - No Recommendation
Lost Records: Rage and Bloom delivers almost everything that Don’t Nod does best. However, its two-part format limits a nostalgic and resonant experience with a slow pace and few answers to its mysteries.
GameLuster - Nirav Gandhi - Unscored
Unlovable characters, no decision making, tedious mechanics, novice writing, terrible sound design and the most boring story in years add up to what is looking to be DONTNOD's worst game ever.
GamePro - Maximilian Franke - German - Unscored
Lost Records does a lot of things right, introduces likeable characters in detail and lets me grow fond of them thanks to well-written dialogues. The 90s nostalgia also works very well for me - I can't resist the charm of gritty camera images, colorful sticker books and tasteless toys (in a good way).
Insider Gaming - Grant Taylor-Hill - Buy
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage teleported me back to a time when freedom meant everything and there was nothing to be concerned about other than what my friends and I would do the next day.
Kotaku - Kenneth Shepard - Unscored
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage captures how hard it is to make and maintain friendships no matter how old you are
Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Graham Smith - Unscored
A Young Adult novel turned video game about four friends and one magical summer, which takes too long to get to the good stuff.
Spaziogames - Valentino Cinefra - Italian - Unscored
Also, how the story continues and ends will be crucial. Such an emotional and powerful ending needs a lot of care and attention , because the theme is anything but banal or nostalgic.