“Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is a narrative-driven puzzle platformer that blends the art of storytelling with creative gameplay mechanics. Developed by Sketchbook Games and published by Modus Games, this indie title takes players on an emotional journey through the eyes of a young girl named Izzy as she copes with personal loss. The game is notable for its innovative use of a journal as both a storytelling device and a gameplay mechanic, as well as for its heartwarming yet poignant narrative.
In a gaming landscape dominated by fast-paced action and complex mechanics, “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” stands out as a meditative experience that encourages players to slow down and reflect. The game’s unique blend of narrative and gameplay, coupled with its beautiful hand-drawn art and evocative soundtrack, makes it a memorable experience for those who appreciate story-driven games. This review will explore the game’s narrative, gameplay mechanics, visual and audio design, and overall impact.
Narrative: A Tale of Loss and Healing
At the heart of “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is a deeply personal story about grief, healing, and the power of words. The game is divided into two parallel narratives: the first unfolds in Izzy’s journal, where she expresses her thoughts and feelings about her grandmother’s illness and eventual passing. The second takes place in the fantasy world of Estoria, where players control a character named Grace, a young heroine created by Izzy, who embarks on a quest to restore her world.
The journal sections are presented as interactive sequences where players move words around the page to form sentences, revealing more of Izzy’s thoughts and emotions. These segments are deeply introspective, offering a window into the mind of a young girl grappling with the complex emotions of loss. The writing is poignant and sincere, capturing the innocence and vulnerability of a child trying to make sense of a world that suddenly feels uncertain and painful.
In contrast, the Estoria segments offer a more traditional platforming experience, but with a narrative twist. As Grace, players navigate through various levels, solving puzzles and interacting with the environment to progress the story. These sections are visually distinct, with vibrant colors and whimsical designs that evoke a sense of wonder and adventure. However, the challenges Grace faces in Estoria mirror the emotional journey Izzy is experiencing in the real world, making the two narratives intricately connected.
The dual narrative structure of “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is one of its greatest strengths. The way the game weaves together the real-world struggles of Izzy with the fantastical journey of Grace creates a powerful emotional resonance. As players progress through the game, they witness Izzy’s growth and healing process, mirrored by Grace’s triumphs and setbacks in Estoria. The result is a narrative that feels deeply personal and universally relatable, touching on themes of love, loss, and the importance of storytelling as a means of coping and understanding.
Gameplay: Words as Tools
The gameplay in “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is as innovative as its narrative. The game is divided into two primary modes: the journal sections and the platforming sections in Estoria. Each mode offers a distinct gameplay experience, yet both are united by the central mechanic of using words as tools.
In the journal sections, players interact with Izzy’s written words to reveal more of the story. This involves moving words around the page, using them to solve simple puzzles, and uncovering hidden messages. For example, players might need to place a word in the correct position to complete a sentence or use a word to open a path to the next section of the journal. These puzzles are not particularly challenging, but they serve as a thoughtful way to engage with the narrative, making the player feel more connected to Izzy’s emotional journey.
The Estoria sections offer a more traditional platforming experience, but with a unique twist. Here, players control Grace, who can use words from Izzy’s journal to interact with the environment. For example, the word “rise” might cause a platform to lift, allowing Grace to reach higher areas, while the word “break” can shatter obstacles blocking her path. This mechanic is cleverly integrated into the gameplay, requiring players to think creatively about how to use the words at their disposal to overcome challenges.
While the platforming in Estoria is relatively straightforward, the puzzles are engaging and often require players to experiment with different combinations of words to find the solution. The word-based mechanics are a refreshing change from traditional platforming tropes, adding a layer of depth to the gameplay that ties directly into the game’s narrative themes.
One of the standout aspects of “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is how it uses its gameplay mechanics to reinforce its narrative. The act of physically manipulating words to progress through the game mirrors Izzy’s journey of processing her emotions and finding ways to move forward after her grandmother’s death. This synergy between gameplay and story is rare in video games and is executed beautifully in “Lost Words: Beyond the Page.”
Lost Words: Beyond the Page – How long has it been since you heard the word “dream”? Maybe a long time ago!
But for how long? When we were too young to understand the weight of these two magic words?
With the rapid development of entertainment facilities, it can be said that it is not often that people sit alone in their rooms and dream of the day when they can fight dragons, play with fairies, adventure in the mountains mythical land, or marvel at fairy tales…
However, for little Isabelle, the joy of being immersed in the world of fantasy is still burning very strongly.
Can you sympathize with the little girl who is angry because her childhood was ruined by a crazy story of children?
What does a 10-year-old’s imagination look like?
If we have to write a fantasy adventure story, we always draw “real” scenarios with words to show that “it is a real-world”.
But not a child. A fantasy world with children who are simply “virtual” and they don’t try to make them real.
Sometimes the world is beautiful, sometimes they are angry, sometimes they are sweet, and sometimes they are sad.
There is no structure or chapters, just stories within stories.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page has done something that few games can do.
A heart-wrenchingly honest adventure delves into the words of little Isabella.
The first lines tell us about Isabella – a little girl who lives happily with her parents, grandmother, and younger brother.
If there are a few lines to describe her personality, then Isabella is a hyperactive girl and full of curiosity about the outside world.
With her support, Isabella is determined to make her “masterpiece of a lifetime” and fulfill her dream of becoming a writer.
The girl’s story tells of a princess from a foreign land and her walks with “everything around her”.
You can choose a name and personality for the “girl in the book” from the options available, and the writer chose a girl named Georgia.
Georgia is a magician living with a great elder, her mission is to protect the magical world named Estoria. However, in a moment of carelessness, her village was destroyed by a dragon.
And with the duty of a magician, Georgia set out to “correct mistakes” and avenge the evil dragon.
The princess’s curiosity is vivid in the eyes of readers, the simple things of life are also something new when one is a child.
Georgia takes us on adventures into her kingdom of lava mushrooms, her spaceship, fearsome guardians and mythical desert kingdoms, talking whales in a gray world…
With overwhelming strength, moving mountains, and the help of a trusted friend “firefly”, the adventures in the game are always filled with color and magic.
Yet, it’s paradoxical that Georgia’s story isn’t as engaging because you have another story you’d rather follow.
Isabella’s story.
A child’s world is not always filled with joy.
Sad days after sadness!
The world of the princess, which is also the world of Isabella, gradually becomes transformed when her spiritual support is her respectable grandmother who is hospitalized due to a stroke.
The family tragedies, the painful things in life, and the journeys on paper have since become more intense and painful.
And then, as a rule, when you go through childhood with sad days too long, the pages of books can’t hold us back.
The adventure of “little” Isabella ends here.
And the next part of the story is about a “big” Isabella who writes the adventures of a “little” princess as a tribute to her childhood.
Time will help you accept the changes, but that doesn’t mean the pain will end. And the music of the game makes the emotional levels also become stronger.
You feel like you’re going through a person’s life in 4 hours.
The gameplay of the game is also quite gentle with the classic “Point-n-click” (point-and-click) puzzle style.
You can easily get used to the gameplay and storytelling style of the game when you have tried the game series of the same genre such as Nairi: Tower of Shirin, Luna: The Shadow Dust…
That said, the game’s approach also has certain limitations and players may not be very comfortable with the following.
Not everyone is patient enough to “read someone else’s diary”, so leading the game in a narrative style is both a strength and a weakness of the game.
What’s more, the timelines of Lost Words: Beyond the Page are quite coherent but very slow, accompanied by a slow-paced arrangement of puzzles that “force you to do something to ease boredom” rather than making you feel like you’re playing a real game.
Some easygoing people will accept that the main character’s inner transformation is purposefully slowed down, but if you are a fan of the “visual novel” series and are used to Because of the overlapping drama scenes between the characters, it is easy to see that the plot of Lost Words: Beyond the Page takes place relatively safely.
The end of the game is an interesting twist, but giving an open ending along with the transition from Isabella (little) to Isabella (big) is still not really “smooth” as the writer expected.
The elements of fantasy, dream, and fantasy also gradually disappear as the game reaches its climax, Isabella’s world gradually influences Georgia’s decisions and makes it seem like a personal matter of the writer rather than an indie game.
The game dialogue is gentle but also not very positive, especially when you have to hear the phrase “this world is meaningless” too many times.
Conclusion: A Heartfelt Experience
“Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is a remarkable game that blends narrative and gameplay in a way that few titles manage to achieve. It is a heartfelt exploration of grief, healing, and the power of storytelling, wrapped in a visually stunning and emotionally resonant package. While it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer more action-oriented or challenging gameplay, it is a game that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on those who connect with its story.
The game’s innovative use of words as both a narrative and gameplay mechanic sets it apart from other titles in the genre, offering a unique experience that is as thought-provoking as it is enjoyable. The combination of a deeply personal story, beautiful visual design, and evocative audio work creates a cohesive and immersive experience that is hard to forget.
In the end, “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” is more than just a game—it is a journey through the complexities of emotion and the healing power of creativity. It serves as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is light to be found in the stories we tell and the words we write. For those willing to embrace its emotional depth, “Lost Words: Beyond the Page” offers an experience that is both moving and unforgettable.