Developer: Stormteller Games, Thunderful Group
Publisher: Thunderful Group
Platform: PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PS5
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die – Review
When the first Lost in Random game was released back in 2021, we didn’t immediately expect more games to be made that revolved around the same Tim Burton-esque world. We loved the 3D action-platformer and enjoyed its unique mechanics and overall interesting story. We were pleasantly surprised when the sequel was announced, even though it would be a different type of game altogether. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a roguelite that plays out in the world of Random, offering a more action-packed experience that can be enjoyed in short bursts.
Story
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die’s story is somewhat reminiscent of an old fairytale, as it revolves around a queen, Aleksandra, who cared for all those who lived in the Kingdom of Random. Sadly, not all was good, and she suffered a great loss caused by none other than the ancient Black Die she wielded, which has now trapped her in a dark realm. Together with Fortune, her sentient dice, she’ll have to defeat Mare, The Knight, to make her escape. As she goes deeper into the twisted dimension, she’ll come across familiar faces and new allies alike. All in all, the offset is a bit basic, but it does set the right mood immediately. The characters you meet are all interesting and charismatic, and the game also offers different endings depending on how much you explore and how many stragglers you decide to help. It’s all rather charming, even with the gloom and doom of being trapped in a creepy dimension constantly looming over you.
Graphics
Even though the world of Random in The Eternal Die is more limited in scope than it was in the 2021 game, this universe never fails to impress. Random, even with all the hostile creatures in it, is a very charming place. We loved the Tim Burton-esque character and monster designs, the different biomes also looked quite good, and the game just oozes charm that would perfectly fit in a feature film. While exploration was limited, we couldn’t help checking out every single room on a floor before progressing, hoping to uncover a few quirky details during every single run. Performance was also great, even during very hectic and intense battles.
Sound
The sound design of The Eternal Die is quite good. You’ll be treated to a soundtrack that perfectly suits the on-screen action, and it effectively gets the adrenaline flowing. The SFX also provide great audio feedback, and all different weapons have different sound effects. We personally loved the fully voiced dialogues. Even though there weren’t that many of them, the voice cast did a formidable job bringing the characters to life.
Gameplay
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is a roguelite in the same vein as Hades. You’ll have to fight your way through different randomized biomes, battling monsters and bosses to exact your revenge on Mare, The Knight. If you kick the bucket before defeating Mare, The Knight, you’ll have to start all over again. In true roguelite fashion, however, you’ll be able to unlock permanent upgrades for Aleksandra to make consecutive runs easier. There is also the option to tone down the difficulty if you want a more laid-back experience.
The Eternal Die is a very intuitive game. Things never get too complex, and even for newcomers to the genre, everything is explained in detail when needed. The controls are very responsive, and before you know it, you’ll be dashing and slashing all around the different rooms of each biome. There is some weapon variety, as you can equip four different weapons, ranging from short-range to longer-range options. Each of these weapons can be somewhat upgraded with different skill options. The upgrades felt a bit basic, but with the different skill variations, each run did feel significantly different. Outside of that, Aleksandra also has passive upgrades to choose from, allowing her to become stronger with each run.
In many other similar titles, you are presented with an upgrade or item after clearing a room, and this is also the case with The Eternal Die, albeit with a twist. You can get different upgrades, which you’ll have to slot into your very small inventory. Each of these upgrade nodes comes with its own passive upgrade, but also with color codes. When you have three of the same hue in a row, the nodes will turn grey (except if they have more than one color) and will provide you with an additional passive upgrade. When your inventory is full, you can place new nodes on those you have already used, but you’ll risk losing certain passive bonuses. It’s an interesting system where you’ll have to think about what upgrades suit you best, and which ones you may get rid of in the future, but are useful at that time, thanks to their assigned color. We loved messing around with the system, as it also made us think more about choosing an upgrade or resources that could buy us permanent upgrades in the main hub.
Conclusion
Back in 2021, we were already smitten by the world of Random, and that feeling instantly returned when delving into Lost in Random: The Eternal Die. The game took us back to this Tim Burton-esque universe, and we enjoyed every single minute of it. The fluid combat, the interesting inventory mechanics, and unlocking new upgrades kept us entertained for a few hours, and even after we beat the game once, there was still more content to uncover. If you’re a fan of games such as Hades and love the aesthetic of Lost in Random, then there’s truly nothing that should stop you from picking this one up.
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