Lost Words: Beyond the Page Reviews
A rare Stadia exclusive presents a simple, touching story, matched by mechanics that are a touch too slight.
Lost Words: Beyond The Page features fantastic writing that tackles complex topics about the human condition, but the gameplay doesn't hold the same allure
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a gorgeous, moving tale of two young girls facing an increasingly frightening world and eventually finding beauty where those less innocent might not, and that's the kind of writing that transcends mediums.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page tells a tender, emotional tale, but you'll find yourself wading through the fantastical and mechanical elements of its secondary one in order to reach its conclusion.
It may be Rhianna's name that sells you on Lost Words but it takes a talented team to bring a writer's work to life. And Sketchbook Games did such a brilliant job of it. The art is inviting, the controls are simple and intuitive. No level felt like a chore, nor did I encounter any strange bugs. I found it almost impossible to get stuck at any point. It's not so long that it will be pushed aside quickly, either; it took me a Saturday afternoon to get through the majority of it. If you have a youngster interested in writing and video games, I highly recommend nudging them towards Lost Words to encourage their creative spark.
Sketchbook Games have created a truly fascinating experience that sensitively deals with trauma. Even though Lost Words suffers from a few gameplay issues, its narrative carries the game to incredible heights. For those looking for an emotional, grief-ridden title, look no further.
A simple platformer bolstered by a beautifully delicate meditation on family, love, remembrance and loss told through the prism of young girl, Lost Words: Beyond The Page might not have much to offer the genre at large, but it resolutely crafts an experience that lingers long after the stylish credits have completed their inexorable ascent.
Sketchbook Games' narrative platform/puzzler is appropriate for all ages, but that doesn't stop it from going to some surprisingly dark places. Though the platforming and light puzzle solving are enjoyable (if none too challenging), the story and artwork are the stars of the show. Impatient players might want to stay away, but for those interested in a life affirming story about overcoming obstacles and learning to deal with regrets, Lost Words is a beautiful experience.
With its touching story about this aspiring little writer girl struggling to process her feelings, Lost Words reveals to be a mostly narrative-driven experience. The concept of magical words is quite interesting but in the end, there isn't one obstacle in the player's path able to bring some tension in the game. Yet, the adventure of Izzy and its paper alter ego might well soften the most hardened hearts.
Review in French | Read full review
Sweet and leisurely delivered, Lost Words: Beyond the Page sneaks up on the player to deliver a powerful emotional punch. It's strikingly stylish, it's heartfelt, and it has a lot to say about the grief that accompanies losing a loved one, reflecting its complexities with honesty and tenderness. While lacking in puzzle challenge, the game is a rarity that offers a memorable experience for players of all ages.
I felt very identified with Izzie. There are situations that the game manages to express perfectly.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Uneven, yet unique and compelling, Lost Words has some truly effective narrative and design elements. It's let down a bit by overreliance on the protagonist's less-than-interesting literary attempts, but it's a worth playing for fans of narrative games.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a heartfelt and human exploration of grief. While it will certainly make you feel things, it stumbles a bit in the execution with ham fisted moments, glitches, and overall simplicity of puzzles.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a beautiful game, with a touching and meaningful plot, engaging gameplay and gorgeous visuals. A few technical glitches cannot stop this brilliant game.
Lost Words: Beyond The Page is an example of storytelling that can only exist through the medium of games, and a testament to the artistry of play. Its powerful writing, eye-watering design, and incredibly truthful narrative are held up by simple intuitive gameplay that immerses you in its story. While it’s not a challenging experience, Lost Words pulls you into an emotional journey that will linger long after the ending credits. This is the kind of game that makes me excited to play games, even if they leave me in tears.
Fantastic writing, top-notch voice acting, gorgeous graphics and innovative platforming make small pacing issues a nitpick.
Playing through the thoughts and emotions that Izzy's feeling during a difficult time in her life is confronting and heartfelt in equal measure, making it all the more disappointing that Lost Words' core mechanic lets it down so much.
Lost Words is a heartfelt adventure that’s more interactive storybook than standard game.
Upon reaching Lost Word's conclusion, I wasn't quite sure who the game's intended audience was. Yes, it is through the eyes of a young girl, and the platforming is approachable for newer gamers, but the story hits unexpectedly hard, and the emotions on display might be too difficult to comprehend for younger children who have never lost a loved one. As an adult, I was quite invested in the story, but unfortunately, not at all in the gameplay. Putting aside the uninteresting platforming, Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a lovely coming of age story, and a beautiful recreation of what its like to feel lost, and ultimately find yourself again.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a breathtaking, moving side-scroller narrative adventure that masterfully tugs at your heartstrings thanks to a moving musical score, a beautifully written story, and gorgeous graphics. Each piece comes together to create something truly magical that is sure to stay with you well after you've finished the game. While the gameplay is fairly casual in nature with an average of 4-5 hours to complete and easy to solve puzzles, it is worth every penny to experience Izzy's journey alongside her. Just make sure you grab plenty of tissues and turn off the lights before you do so, so you can ugly cry in peace.