Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a short puzzle platformer – a type of game that has a set camera point on the side showing a more 2D world. With an amazing emotional expression and a compelling atmosphere it made for a wonderful game to play. It came out on April 6 and can be found on multiple platforms. The game tells a story on two fronts, one where players follow an aspiring writer named Izzy through her journal, and the other where players play as a character in the world she is writing.
The game starts off pretty wholesome, with stories of visiting the beach with a grandmother and an approaching hopeful start to a story of loss and happiness. However, it doesn’t stay that way. Soon Izzy is faced with feelings of immense grief that leads to isolation, and a feeling of drowning. This is reflected in her journal as her characters go through the same stages and feelings. By the end of the story, she learns to feel hope once more.
The narrative is a beautiful representation of how a person can deal with grief and recover from it. I’m not sure my words can do it justice. The way the developers went about telling the story is a major part of why players connect emotionally. Due to both voice acting and atmosphere the writers make it possible for the players to be empathic with the protagonist.
By far, one of my favorite things about the game is the watercolor aesthetic players find in the journal. There are times in the game where the entire journal is covered in a colorful masterpiece, and it’s just astounding. In each page, there are these wonderful pieces of art that just make me appreciate the beauty of them.
This game is one with a relatively simple storyline, but overwhelming emotion. When playing it, I couldn’t help but to feel the characters and their stories. With beautiful gameplay and an emotional storyline, Lost Words: Beyond the Page, brings forward a masterful gameplay experience.