Lost Records: Bloom & Rage has come full circle. What began as an intriguing promise from DON’T NOD—the Parisian storytellers behind Life Is Strange—is now a finished, two-tape narrative that lands with the emotional punch of a long-lost diary finally cracked open. Both chapters—Tape 1: Bloom (February 18 2025) and Tape 2: Rage (April 15 2025)—are available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a physical PS5 edition slated for August 7.
A Tale Told on Two Timelines
At the heart of Lost Records are Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat—four teenagers who spend a riot-grrrl-soaked summer in 1995 documenting every awkward crush and basement gig on Swann’s battered camcorder. Twenty-seven years later the women reunite, drawn back to their hometown by a secret they swore never to speak of. DON’T NOD’s trademark time-skipping structure lets you play scenes from 1995 and 2022 in parallel, watching tiny choices in VHS grain ripple into adult lives colored by regret, resentment, and lingering affection.
How It Plays
Lost Records is less about puzzles and more about presence. You’ll wander sun-bleached cul-de-sacs, scrub through camcorder tapes frame by frame, and steer conversations with a surprisingly flexible dialogue system that tracks tone as much as words. Choices rarely feel binary; they’re shaded in the gray areas where real friendships live. The result is an experience that’s intimate rather than explosive, with tension drawn from what characters choose not to say.
Runtime, Price, and Platform Details
- Length: 10–12 hours for both tapes, depending on how obsessively you hunt for hidden clips and diary scraps.
- Price: $39.99 USD (includes both tapes).
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S now; physical PS5 edition on August 7.
What Critics and Players Are Saying
Early skepticism about the staggered release melted once Tape 2 dropped. Reviewers praised the game’s ability to nail ’90s ephemera without turning nostalgia into cheap fan service—riot-grrrl flyers plastered in a garage, mixtapes with handwritten track lists, the soft whir of a VHS deck rewinding. Voice performances were highlighted as “quietly devastating,” especially during late-game confrontations that flip familiar coming-of-age tropes on their head. The most common gripe? Tape 2 wraps up quickly—some players wanted more space for the mystery to breathe.
Vinyl, VHS, and the Sound of 1995
Beyond the screen, DON’T NOD teamed with Kid Katana to press a limited-run vinyl soundtrack: neon-splattered sleeve, liner notes styled like scribbled yearbook pages, and a hidden track that plays the camcorder’s audio hiss. It’s more than merch—it’s a physical extension of the game’s fixation on the ways we record and reinterpret our youth.
Looking Ahead: Project M2
DON’T NOD’s 2024 earnings call quietly confirmed “Project M2,” a follow-up set in the Lost Records universe. Details are locked down, but early concept art suggests the team isn’t finished mining the blurred border between memory and reality. Whether it’s a direct sequel or a new cast in the same timeline, fans can expect the studio’s next project to build on the camcorder mechanic and dual-era storytelling that made Bloom & Rage stand out.
Quick FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need to buy each tape separately? | No. One purchase unlocks both chapters. |
| Is there a Switch version? | Not announced. Current platforms are PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X |
| How replayable is it? | Dialogue branches and collectible tapes offer alternate scenes, but the core mystery remains fixed; a second playthrough is worthwhile if you want to chase every relationship outcome. |
| Does it connect to Life Is Strange? | Only spiritually—there’s no shared universe, but fans will recognize the focus on empathy, choice, and small-town secrets. |
| What’s special about the physical edition? | It packs both tapes on-disc, reversible cover art mirroring the ’95 and ’22 timelines, and a fold-out map of the girls’ hometown annotated with their graffiti. |
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage doesn’t try to reinvent DON’T NOD’s formula; instead, it refines it, swapping supernatural spectacle for the uncanny power of revisiting the past through grainy footage and half-remembered songs. If you ever pressed “record” on a camcorder just to freeze a perfect summer day, the game’s bittersweet reunion will hit like a chorus you haven’t heard in decades—and can’t stop humming once it comes back.
Key Takeaways
- Tape 1: Bloom and Tape 2: Rage are both out now on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
- The game retails at $39.99 and includes both tapes in one purchase.
- A physical PS5 edition is releasing on August 7, 2025.
- Developed by DON’T NOD, creators of Life is Strange, the game blends supernatural mystery with coming-of-age drama.
- Future sequel teased under codename “Project M2”, currently in development.
Overview of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Set in the summer of 1995, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage follows four teenage girls—Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat—as they spend a life-changing summer together before a mysterious event tears them apart. The story picks up nearly three decades later, as the friends reunite and attempt to uncover what really happened. Told in two parts, the game seamlessly moves between timelines to explore friendship, fear, and forgiveness with DON’T NOD’s signature emotional depth.
Story and Themes
The narrative deals heavily with memory, trauma, and the ways our past defines us. In Tape 1, players experience the formative summer that bonds the girls together, while Tape 2 delivers the adult perspective as secrets unravel and buried memories surface. The dual-timeline format echoes DON’T NOD’s strength in layered storytelling, allowing players to see the ripple effects of decisions made long ago.
Gameplay Mechanics
Lost Records focuses on immersive exploration and interactive dialogue. A standout feature is the camcorder mechanic, where players revisit VHS-style footage from 1995 to uncover clues and trigger memories. The game also features a refreshed dialogue system that lets players shape how relationships develop—often with consequences that echo across the two timelines.
Though the gameplay is light on action, the emotional weight of choices and the depth of character writing make it feel rich and rewarding. Expect atmospheric environments, a moody soundtrack, and plenty of small narrative details to uncover through exploration and conversation.
Authentic ’90s Vibes and Aesthetic
Lost Records thrives on authenticity. The developers painstakingly recreated the look and feel of 1995—from flannel shirts and mixtapes to camcorders and riot grrrl posters. The cultural references, music, and visual language of the era help root the game in a tangible sense of time. Nostalgia isn’t just window dressing here—it’s central to the story’s emotional resonance.
Unlike Life Is Strange’s time-travel mechanic, the supernatural in Lost Records is more ambiguous. The mystery unfolds subtly, giving the game a dreamlike tension rather than overt magical realism.
Reception and Future of the Series
Critics and players alike have responded positively to the game’s direction, despite some wishing for more gameplay or a longer conclusion. Still, its emotional maturity, visual polish, and unforgettable characters have earned it a place among DON’T NOD’s most compelling works.
Excitingly, DON’T NOD has already begun work on what appears to be a sequel or spiritual follow-up, currently codenamed Project M2. While details are scarce, fans can look forward to more stories set in this richly textured universe.
FAQ
Is Lost Records: Bloom & Rage fully released?
Yes, both Tape 1 and Tape 2 are now available. The full story is complete and playable on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Is a physical edition available?
Yes. A physical edition for PS5 is confirmed and will release on August 7, 2025.
How long is the game?
The total playtime across both tapes is approximately 10–12 hours, depending on how deeply you explore.
Will there be a sequel?
DON’T NOD has confirmed they are working on a follow-up project under the title “Project M2,” which many expect to expand the Lost Records universe.
Is it similar to Life Is Strange?
Yes, in tone and emotional depth. However, Lost Records trades overt supernatural powers for a more grounded and memory-focused mystery. Fans of Life is Strange will feel right at home here.
