A Normal Lost Phone

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,249 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
A Normal Lost Phone Game Cover
A Normal Lost Phone is an intimate, affecting discussion of LGBTQ+ issues—one which does not shy away from candidness—all in a handy hour-long experience.
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"A Normal Lost Phone" is a narrative investigation game where you explore the contents of a lost phone to learn about its missing owner, Sam. The game uses a fake smartphone interface to create an immersive experience, and it tackles relatable and difficult topics to build empathy with its characters. As you search through Sam's text messages, pictures, and applications, you uncover their life, friends, family, and the events leading up to their disappearance on their 18th birthday.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,249 reviews
story398 positive mentions
replayability6 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and intimate storytelling approach, allowing players to explore the life of its owner through their lost phone.
  • The narrative is heartfelt and poignant, tackling sensitive topics with care and empathy.
  • The puzzles are engaging and provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players piece together the story.
  • The game is relatively short, taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
  • Some players may find the puzzles too simplistic or the story predictable, lacking significant twists.
  • The voyeuristic nature of the gameplay may make some players uncomfortable as it involves invading someone's privacy.
  • story1,005 mentions

    The story of "A Normal Lost Phone" is a poignant and intimate exploration of identity, sexuality, and self-discovery, primarily centered around the character Sam, a transgender youth. Players engage with the narrative by sifting through personal messages and media on a lost phone, gradually uncovering Sam's experiences and struggles, which resonate deeply with many in the LGBTQIA+ community. While some find the story predictable, its emotional depth and relatable themes make it a compelling experience, particularly for those familiar with the challenges faced by marginalized individuals.

    • “The storytelling was great, even if I quickly figured out what was going to happen.”
    • “I really underestimated this game when I decided to play it a long time after purchasing it; my god, it's so well done. It is such a unique, fun, and intimate way to tell a story.”
    • “The story is interesting enough, though I wished there were more variety in the puzzles.”
    • “The story is bland, and there's no end.”
    • “The story itself is simple enough, but I found it to be way too flat and predictable to be engaging.”
    • “The story is fairly predictable but I don't think that's a bad thing here.”
  • music283 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its beautiful and fitting soundtrack that enhances the emotional storytelling and atmosphere. Players appreciate the variety of indie tracks available through the in-game music app, often describing it as soothing and engaging, while some found certain songs distracting or too loud. Overall, the soundtrack is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.

    • “The soundtrack was honestly my favorite part; it added a lot of soul to the character.”
    • “The music selection is a top-notch mix of slow and beautiful indie songs - think Life is Strange.”
    • “The art is wonderful, and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
    • “Music was so loud and terrible that I had to turn the game off.”
    • “The music is too annoying, loud, and pretty bad for any taste.”
    • “The first issue is that the music player doesn't really serve a purpose and is honestly more distracting than anything.”
  • emotional138 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy to sadness. Players connect deeply with the protagonist, Sam, as they navigate themes of self-discovery and identity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ context. Despite its short length, the game delivers a powerful emotional experience, often leaving players in tears and reflecting on their own lives.

    • “The narrative is heartfelt and poignant, tackling sensitive topics with care and empathy.”
    • “A truly touching game that gave me chills, made me tear up, and laugh in joy.”
    • “It's a heartwarming and heart-wrenching story that had me on my toes until the very end.”
  • gameplay113 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily text-based, involving the exploration of a virtual phone to uncover a narrative through reading messages, emails, and solving simple puzzles. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and emotional storytelling, others criticize the lack of depth and action, noting that the gameplay can feel limited and repetitive. Overall, it offers a short but engaging experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games, though it may not satisfy players seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “A very pleasant and immersive few hours of gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics are simple and easy to understand, and it's mostly puzzle solving.”
    • “The gameplay is interesting and tells an engaging story.”
    • “If this game wasn't about this one particular topic, it would have all negative reviews because the gameplay sucks.”
    • “There is no real gameplay, and some of the puzzles are obscure and need looking up.”
    • “Very little actual gameplay—just a few passwords to crack—but the storytelling is remarkable.”
  • graphics53 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received positive feedback for their cute and beautiful art style, which complements the emotional narrative and enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the polished visuals and intuitive interface, noting that the artwork is both charming and fitting for the story. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are appealing, they do not significantly elevate the gameplay, which is primarily text-driven.

    • “The game also features beautiful artwork and an intuitive interface, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish.”
    • “I love the art style; it's very well done and fitting for the story.”
    • “The artwork is gorgeous and the soundtrack is absolutely wonderful!”
    • “And that's it, the puzzle doesn't exist; it is a visual novel without visuals.”
    • “The artwork wasn't my cup of tea.”
    • “By making you work to find out the full story, it creates a sense of immersion that could only be made more real if photos were used in place of the artwork.”
  • replayability21 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in a short time (around one hour) and lacks any significant content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While it may appeal to fans of narrative-driven and queer-themed games, the consensus is that it offers little incentive to revisit once the story has been experienced.

    • “I'd definitely recommend it if you like narrative/investigation games and/or queer themes, with the caveat that there's really only a few hours of content and very little replay value.”
    • “A very sweet but short game; I recommend not using a guide on the first playthrough, but it doesn't really have much replay value though.”
    • “I'd definitely recommend if you like narrative/investigation games and/or queer themes, with the caveat that there's really only a few hours of content and very little replay value.”
    • “It is short and lacks replay value - it is just a pleasant one-time experience.”
    • “Be warned though, I finished it in an hour and there are no alternate endings, thus no replay value.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by a moody soundtrack and charming art that effectively convey important themes and character emotions. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke empathy and provide a realistic portrayal of societal issues, despite its minimalistic design and significant reading requirements. Overall, the combination of narrative depth and atmospheric elements creates a compelling experience that resonates with players.

    • “A nice narrative game with interesting characters, an important message, and an amazing soundtrack that really adds to the atmosphere.”
    • “The art is charming, the soundtrack is moody and atmospheric, and it offers an honest and realistic look into some important issues.”
    • “For something so minimalistic, it's surprisingly atmospheric; it really took me to Sam's world.”
    • “It is fair enough to say that a suspicious atmosphere and a pre-judgment of situations have a plot twist and teach you a lesson about society.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a rollercoaster of emotions, blending moments of genuine laughter with deeper, more poignant experiences. While some jokes and character usernames are amusing, they don't dominate the overall tone, which leans more towards an emotional journey rather than pure comedy. Overall, the humor contributes to a rich narrative experience rather than serving as the main attraction.

    • “I cried and then rollercoastered up to laughing and then back down to crying, then plateaued at happy crying.”
    • “Some jokes slipped into the messages that were very funny as well, but overall it was a great experience.”
    • “Sam's usernames are hilarious.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the intricate puzzles and unfolding storyline are engaging, many describe the process of uncovering information as tedious and overly complex. This can lead to frustration, especially when players feel reliant on external help to progress. Overall, the effort to navigate the game's narrative is seen as worthwhile, despite the initial tedium.

    • “It’s an overly complex, and in my opinion tedious, way to tell what is a relatively simple story.”
    • “The game is essentially snooping through messages and emails gleaning important information - which can become tedious, even given the game's short playthrough; at one juncture there is a piece of info which has to be obtained as it's a password, and I would never have arrived at the answer if I hadn't peeked at an online walkthrough.”
    • “The intricacy of finding the back story was tedious, but worth the time.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game is generally well-optimized, featuring smooth performance and simple controls, with minimal reported issues related to fullscreen or crashes. Overall, players have noted a positive experience regarding its optimization.

    • “Overall, it is nicely made, the controls are simple and it runs smoothly.”
    • “Performance issues are rampant, making the game nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “The system info and performance report indicate significant optimization problems that need urgent attention.”
    • “There are numerous incidents related to performance and bugs that severely impact the gaming experience.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its good pacing and depth, particularly for the main character and their close friends. Despite the game's short length, it offers a rich narrative that gradually reveals secrets and insights about the characters, enhancing the overall story experience.

    • “The character development is quite decent, especially for the player's character and close friends.”
    • “This game is very short, but also rich in story and character development.”
    • “The character development is quite decent, especially for the phone's user and close friends.”
    • “Character development: you are gradually led to discover Sam's secrets, in which we learn much about them.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with users reporting no significant bugs or freezes during gameplay. However, there are minor issues with the music, which occasionally stops playing.

    • “Only drawback was the music being a bit buggy; it stopped playing several times.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by the absence of in-game purchases, but it has been criticized for misleading players about their autonomy, as the game forces them to erase their data, undermining the promised experience.

    • “In-game purchases: none”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no paywalls, allowing everyone to enjoy the game equally.”
    • “Locking the player into erasing their data removes the idea of player autonomy, despite the game's advertisement and store page suggesting otherwise.”
    • “The lack of in-game purchases is a positive aspect, but it feels like a missed opportunity for monetization that could have enhanced the experience.”
    • “The monetization strategy seems to prioritize profit over player experience, leading to frustration and a sense of being exploited.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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