DON’T NOD, creators of the beloved Life is Strange series, has turned its focus to a brand-new story with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.
Here’s everything we know so far about this highly anticipated indie drama:
It’s Life Is Strange, But It Isn’t
One major takeaway from Lost Records is that it feels like a Life is Strange game, but it isn’t. Sure, the creators are the same, with Michel Koch, the original director of Life is Strange 1 and 2, leading the project.
So, it’s clear there’s a strong similarity to the tone and atmosphere we experienced with Max and Chloe’s story. It’s a vivid teen dream narrative that takes players back to a time when they were young — like a Young Adult novel similar to a John Green book.
The plot of Lost Records revolves around four friends reuniting after 27 years, only to confront a long-buried secret they made as kids.
While the premise might seem simple on paper, remember that this is a Life is Strange spiritual successor. According to Koch, the game’s themes draw heavy inspiration from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, Andrew Fleming’s The Craft, and Stephen King’s It. So, expect a mix of the bizarre and the supernatural.
Even fans in the Lost Records Subreddit are freaking out about their discoveries from DON’T NOD’s little ARGs.
Relatable Characters
The four characters — Nora, Autumn, Kat, and Swann — each have their own stories to tell. They are the heart of the game, and players will get to know them personally as they navigate their lives in Velvet Cove, the game’s fictional setting.
Like the characters in Life is Strange, Lost Records introduces an endearing cast with whom players can empathize and relate.
However, there’s only one playable character: Swann Holloway. The director chose this approach to maintain player connection, as switching perspectives might cause a disconnect to its narrative. This was executed brilliantly in Life is Strange 2, where the brothers’ story centered only on Sean, who shapes Daniel’s future by making tough calls.
Swann’s gameplay is reminiscent of Max’s in the original Life is Strange. Players control her as she explores the world through her lens—both figuratively and literally. Swann can use her camcorder to capture moments from her friends’ adventures, adding a unique layer of nostalgia and setting a distinct mid-90s vibe when grunge and punk rock defined teenage life.
The game is called Lost Records for a reason, and what Swann captured during their little excursion might be part of the game’s central narrative.
Choices Matter
The Life is Strange series has always been about making tough decisions, and Lost Records promises to expand on this. Conversations feel organic, often emerging between gameplay sections. Think of it as similar to Oxenfree’s dialogue style, where time spent walking was also time spent talking.
The 11-minute gameplay trailer reveals that Swann (the player) can choose whether or not to join conversations with her friends—a dynamic that may frighten introverts.
While it hasn’t been explicitly stated, choices made in the 90s timeline will likely affect the story 27 years later. Knowing DON’T NOD’s penchant for emotionally impactful consequences, it’s safe to say this game will break us, similar to our Arcadia Bay memories.
Only Two Episodes
Lost Records adopts Life is Strange’s episodic format but trims it to two parts instead of five, as seen in Max and Chloe’s adventures.
This unique structure divides the story into two "Tapes" or episodes, reducing the wait time between releases. DON’T NOD deliberately chose this structure so we don’t have to spend most of our time speculating on Reddit.
Tape 1, titled Bloom, explores themes of youth and the anxieties of growing up, focusing on the characters’ lives in the 90s. Tape 2, Rage, shifts to the consequences of their choices 27 years after their time in Velvet Cove.
A Spellbinding Soundtrack
DON’T NOD’s expertise in curating indie music remains unmatched. Songs from Life is Strange, like Syd Matters’ "Obstacles" or Foals’ "Spanish Sahara," evoke waves of nostalgia to this day.
For Lost Records, the soundtrack is described as a "Lo-Fi Summer," capturing the mid-90s essence. While the exact tracklist hasn’t been confirmed, fans can expect the same care and atmosphere that defined the Life is Strange series. Until the official Spotify playlist is announced, speculation is all we have.
I would welcome licensed tracks from music prevalent in the 1990s, particularly songs from Mazzy Star, Slowdive, or Lush. If we're going full grunge, we could add Nirvana or Pearl Jam.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage’s first episode will be released on February 18 for the PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. A month later, on March 18, episode 2 will be released on the same platforms.