Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a narrative adventure that is nothing short of a masterpiece. This game excels at every step, bringing players its heartfelt tale in the most imaginative and creative form possible. I am not a newcomer to this genre by any means, but I struggle to find another title to compare it to. This is by far, my own personal GOTY and it absolutely deserves a place in more Steam libraries.

Pros

• Extremely imaginative & blended gameplay.
  
• Heartfelt, immersive story told masterfully.
  
• Excellent voice acting & soundtrack.
  
• Gorgeous visuals.
  
• Various choices to impact parts of the story.

The beauty of this game lies behind its impeccable storytelling and so it is best to play it with little preconceived information on what is to come. Without spoilers, Lost Words: Beyond the Page is narrated by a young girl named Izzy. She writes in her personal journal about her own life, but the game also mingles between that of her fantasy story set in Estoria. Izzy is a budding author, with many of her stories metaphorically representing her emotions in real life or creating characters that are symbolic of an event and so forth, this becomes especially clear in later chapters.

In the story Izzy creates, the protagonist is a young girl who sets off on a heroic adventure. She has high aspirations of saving her village, bringing the firefly guardians back and battling the fierce dragon. Along the way, the story will jump back to the real world via Izzy's journal. Discussing her thoughts on many personal topics and life events that she is struggling to overcome. Without going into more detail, the story encompasses heavy themes of love and loss, with her fantastical story becoming a means of processing her own feelings.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2597174808

There are simply not enough descriptive words to accurately define this story. It is emotional, it is silly at times, but it also feels very real and very raw. The characters are brilliantly designed and allow players to form a strong connection with them. It truly is an unforgettable experience and I commend everyone involved in the development of this masterpiece. The writers finesse boldly shines through each and every chapter, creating exactly what the store page states, "a powerful and potent experience."


The gameplay is divided into two elements, the world of Estoria and Izzy's diary. The diary sections are interactive and so much more than just reading words on a page. There is a mini character that pops up on the page and runs along the words themselves, jumping on highlighted words to proceed or interacting with objects from the story. The dull pages are brought to life, truly representing a child's imagination. It is difficult to describe this section, but it is perfectly done, everything is seamless and smooth. It brings players into the story and makes you feel a part of it, as opposed to just reading blank words. There are little minigames included as well, the formula is ever-changing yet somehow maintains its fluidity throughout. I have never played a game similar to this but what is even more impressive is how flawlessly it switches between this and being a typical 2D action platformer.

Switching back to the fantasy world of Estoria, the mini character from the diary will jump right into the story (quite literally), mixing up gameplay completely. This is where the protagonist's mind runs free, concocting dragons, new worlds, abilities and everything a typical imaginary story is made of. Players get to shape this narrative, choosing the name of the character, the setting, respond to questions and so forth. There is no combat, the game is not difficult and it saves frequently. The story character (I chose to name her Grace) sets off to bring back peace, save the village and return all of the lost fireflies. Grace encompasses an ability to use "word magic," where players can open a little book and drag a word onto an object to cause an effect. Such as using "break" on a block, or "burn" on a torch. Some words come and go, some last throughout the game. I did not find anything to be slightly challenging, there are not any boss battles, there is no time limit etc. It is all very linear and straightforward, with a focus on the story and what this world means to Izzy’s reality.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2598024724

There are approximately 20 fireflies to collect in each level which are pretty easily discovered, but there is a handy chapter select function available upon completing the game. This is brilliant for achievement hunters looking to go back for 100%, or also to see how different choices shape the story. Surprisingly, unlike almost all of my previous reviews, I did not find any cons to comment on. I found absolutely everything to be superb, even the credits are interactive like the diary scenes! It may sound like high praise, and it is, but it is well and truly deserved.


Taking one look at the screenshots, the game is undeniably beautiful. The world of Estoria is filled with rich colours and detailed surroundings, whilst the diary pages are watercolour wonderlands with creativity sprouting on every page. The environment feels wondrous and filled with life. With settings ranging from a bleak desert to a lava-filled dark cave, luscious forest or even in the deep sea. Every environment is gorgeous and brilliantly aids the storytelling, describing Izzy's emotions and thoughts without words, but with art.

The soundtrack is captivating and one of the key factors in inducing empathy among players. Alike the rest of the game, it brilliantly switches between cheerful and sombre tones. The voice acting is yet another thing that developers did fantastically. Izzy has a British accent and a very child-like, pure essence around her that really drew me in. Her emphasis on certain words, her tone of sadness, all designed to create an emphatic response in players. The actor expresses herself so clearly, I really felt like I understood her perspective and her emotions, despite never having dealt with the themes the game discusses. Not only Izzy, but the character aptly named "Lump". Lump is an adorable being that Grace meets along her journeys. It is perhaps the cutest character I have come across in a long time, even though it does not have a lot of screen time, the way it speaks, its dialogue, everything about it is just so lovable but its voice is what makes it truly memorable.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2597174671

This game was played with the following PC specs, and I experienced no issues:
Intel i5-9400 2.9 GHz
16GB RAM
GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
2560x1440 resolution
HDD
Windows 10

After finishing this title, I was compelled to write a review and express my thoughts in hopes of bringing more awareness to this hidden gem. I do not have one negative aspect to comment on and am truly in awe of what the developer's achieved through this game. It features some of the most innovative and seamless gameplay mechanics I have ever come across, whilst managing to tell its heartfelt story in such a powerful manner. I simply cannot give this a stronger recommendation. To all story lovers, this is a must play.

Follow my curator page, Cookie Reviews, if you enjoyed this review and want to see more like it.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a narrative adventure that is nothing short of a masterpiece. This game excels at every step, bringing players its heartfelt tale in the most imaginative and creative form possible. I am not a newcomer to this genre by any means, but I struggle to find another title to compare it to. This is by far, my own personal GOTY and it absolutely deserves a place in more Steam libraries. [b] [u]Pros[/u] [/b] [list] [*] Extremely imaginative & blended gameplay. [*] Heartfelt, immersive story told masterfully. [*] Excellent voice acting & soundtrack. [*] Gorgeous visuals. [*] Various choices to impact parts of the story. [/list] [h1]Story[/h1] The beauty of this game lies behind its impeccable storytelling and so it is best to play it with little preconceived information on what is to come. Without spoilers, Lost Words: Beyond the Page is narrated by a young girl named Izzy. She writes in her personal journal about her own life, but the game also mingles between that of her fantasy story set in Estoria. Izzy is a budding author, with many of her stories metaphorically representing her emotions in real life or creating characters that are symbolic of an event and so forth, this becomes especially clear in later chapters. In the story Izzy creates, the protagonist is a young girl who sets off on a heroic adventure. She has high aspirations of saving her village, bringing the firefly guardians back and battling the fierce dragon. Along the way, the story will jump back to the real world via Izzy's journal. Discussing her thoughts on many personal topics and life events that she is struggling to overcome. Without going into more detail, the story encompasses heavy themes of love and loss, with her fantastical story becoming a means of processing her own feelings. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2597174808 There are simply not enough descriptive words to accurately define this story. It is emotional, it is silly at times, but it also feels very real and very raw. The characters are brilliantly designed and allow players to form a strong connection with them. It truly is an unforgettable experience and I commend everyone involved in the development of this masterpiece. The writers finesse boldly shines through each and every chapter, creating exactly what the store page states, "a powerful and potent experience." [h1]Gameplay[/h1] The gameplay is divided into two elements, the world of Estoria and Izzy's diary. The diary sections are interactive and so much more than just reading words on a page. There is a mini character that pops up on the page and runs along the words themselves, jumping on highlighted words to proceed or interacting with objects from the story. The dull pages are brought to life, truly representing a child's imagination. It is difficult to describe this section, but it is perfectly done, everything is seamless and smooth. It brings players into the story and makes you feel a part of it, as opposed to just reading blank words. There are little minigames included as well, the formula is ever-changing yet somehow maintains its fluidity throughout. I have never played a game similar to this but what is even more impressive is how flawlessly it switches between this and being a typical 2D action platformer. Switching back to the fantasy world of Estoria, the mini character from the diary will jump right into the story (quite literally), mixing up gameplay completely. This is where the protagonist's mind runs free, concocting dragons, new worlds, abilities and everything a typical imaginary story is made of. Players get to shape this narrative, choosing the name of the character, the setting, respond to questions and so forth. There is no combat, the game is not difficult and it saves frequently. The story character (I chose to name her Grace) sets off to bring back peace, save the village and return all of the lost fireflies. Grace encompasses an ability to use "word magic," where players can open a little book and drag a word onto an object to cause an effect. Such as using "break" on a block, or "burn" on a torch. Some words come and go, some last throughout the game. I did not find anything to be slightly challenging, there are not any boss battles, there is no time limit etc. It is all very linear and straightforward, with a focus on the story and what this world means to Izzy’s reality. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2598024724 There are approximately 20 fireflies to collect in each level which are pretty easily discovered, but there is a handy chapter select function available upon completing the game. This is brilliant for achievement hunters looking to go back for 100%, or also to see how different choices shape the story. Surprisingly, unlike almost all of my previous reviews, I did not find any cons to comment on. I found absolutely everything to be superb, even the credits are interactive like the diary scenes! It may sound like high praise, and it is, but it is well and truly deserved. [h1]Visuals & Sound[/h1] Taking one look at the screenshots, the game is undeniably beautiful. The world of Estoria is filled with rich colours and detailed surroundings, whilst the diary pages are watercolour wonderlands with creativity sprouting on every page. The environment feels wondrous and filled with life. With settings ranging from a bleak desert to a lava-filled dark cave, luscious forest or even in the deep sea. Every environment is gorgeous and brilliantly aids the storytelling, describing Izzy's emotions and thoughts without words, but with art. The soundtrack is captivating and one of the key factors in inducing empathy among players. Alike the rest of the game, it brilliantly switches between cheerful and sombre tones. The voice acting is yet another thing that developers did fantastically. Izzy has a British accent and a very child-like, pure essence around her that really drew me in. Her emphasis on certain words, her tone of sadness, all designed to create an emphatic response in players. The actor expresses herself so clearly, I really felt like I understood her perspective and her emotions, despite never having dealt with the themes the game discusses. Not only Izzy, but the character aptly named "Lump". Lump is an adorable being that Grace meets along her journeys. It is perhaps the cutest character I have come across in a long time, even though it does not have a lot of screen time, the way it speaks, its dialogue, everything about it is just so lovable but its voice is what makes it truly memorable. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2597174671 [h1]Technical [/h1] [quote][b]This game was played with the following PC specs, and I experienced no issues:[/b] Intel i5-9400 2.9 GHz 16GB RAM GeForce RTX 2060 6GB 2560x1440 resolution HDD Windows 10[/quote] [h1]Conclusion[/h1] After finishing this title, I was compelled to write a review and express my thoughts in hopes of bringing more awareness to this hidden gem. I do not have one negative aspect to comment on and am truly in awe of what the developer's achieved through this game. It features some of the most innovative and seamless gameplay mechanics I have ever come across, whilst managing to tell its heartfelt story in such a powerful manner. I simply cannot give this a stronger recommendation. To all story lovers, this is a must play. [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/34936724][quote]Follow my curator page, [b]Cookie Reviews[/b], if you enjoyed this review and want to see more like it.