A Normal Lost Phone

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,505 reviews

story797 positive mentions

replayability12 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and intimate storytelling approach, allowing players to explore the life of its owner, Sam, through their lost phone.
The narrative is heartfelt and poignant, tackling sensitive topics with care and empathy, making it a powerful experience.
The puzzles are engaging and well-integrated into the story, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players uncover the truth.

The game is very 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 predictable, leading to a lack of challenge.
The voyeuristic nature of the gameplay may make some players uncomfortable, as it involves invading someone's privacy to progress.

story
2,015 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
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 piecing together Sam's life 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 for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.
- “The main story is very interesting, with some nice twists.”
- “As you delve into messages, photos, and apps, you gradually piece together Sam’s story, which touches on themes of identity, sexuality, and self-discovery.”
- “The soundtrack, art style, and story line all fall together nicely into an emotional game about a newly 18-year-old named Sam.”
- “The story is boring and focuses a lot on lgbtq+ stuff which isn't exactly my cup of tea.”
- “The story itself is simple enough.”
- “The story is the usual coming-of-age story focusing on gender identity, the writing is not that impeccable - you would kinda figure what happened to this person half-way through the game - but the narrative is packaged through an interesting mechanics: digging through their messages, recover their social media access, to eventually uncover the person important to them and their story.”
music
567 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game has received a mixed response, with many praising its beautiful and fitting soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience and atmosphere. Players appreciate the variety of indie tracks available through the in-game music player, often comparing it favorably to soundtracks from titles like "Life is Strange." However, some users found the music too loud or distracting, and a few criticized certain tracks as grating or not to their taste, indicating that while the soundtrack is a highlight for many, it may not appeal to everyone.
- “The soundtrack, art style, and story line all fall together nicely into an emotional game about a newly 18-year-old named Sam.”
- “I absolutely adored the story of this game, the puzzles were in that sweet spot of 'just challenging enough' for me, someone who doesn't play many puzzle games, and the soundtrack was a major hit through my time with it.”
- “The music, in particular, is incredible - this plus the story very much reminds me of Life is Strange or Gone Home.”
- “Music was so loud and terrible that I had to turn the game off.”
- “Music is tragic; there are two songs that are at best average, but the rest is pure garbage.”
- “The first issue is that the music player doesn't really serve a purpose and is honestly more distracting than anything.”
emotional
277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt and poignant storytelling, which resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears and a strong sense of connection with the protagonist, Sam. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to tackle sensitive topics, particularly around LGBTQ+ themes, with empathy and realism, creating an emotional rollercoaster experience that is both touching and reflective of real-life struggles. Despite its short length, the game is noted for its impactful narrative, clever puzzle mechanics, and beautiful art and music, making it a memorable and meaningful experience for many players.
- “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.”
- “This game touched my heart deeply with its beautiful and emotional story.”
gameplay
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
3%
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 gameplay for being minimal and lacking depth, often feeling more like a narrative experience than a traditional game. Overall, it offers a short but engaging experience, particularly for those who enjoy story-driven games.
- “A very pleasant and immersive few hours of gameplay.”
- “The mechanics are simple and pretty realistic, keeping in line with the 'real' feel of going through a phone.”
- “The gameplay consists mostly of searching for links and passwords to continue with your exploration and there is plenty to read.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is dull; at first, I thought it would be something interesting, like Pony Island.”
graphics
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and beautiful art style, which complements the emotional narrative and enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the polished interface and harmonious color schemes, although some note that the visuals may not be groundbreaking compared to other titles. Overall, the artwork and soundtrack are considered lovely and fitting, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The game also features beautiful artwork and an intuitive interface, making it an enjoyable experience from start to finish.”
- “The artwork is gorgeous and the soundtrack is absolutely wonderful!”
- “The art style and coloring of the game are beautiful as well, and so easy on the eyes; I almost want the whole world to look like this game.”
- “And that's it, the puzzle doesn't exist; it is a visual novel without visuals.”
- “Graphics don’t matter in this game.”
- “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.”
replayability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
67%
29%
The game has been widely criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in just a few hours and lacks alternate endings or significant content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While it may appeal to fans of narrative and queer-themed games, the consensus is that it offers little incentive to revisit once the story has been experienced. Overall, it is described as a pleasant one-time experience rather than a game with lasting 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.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
33%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely 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 heavy reading requirements. Overall, the combination of narrative depth, engaging mechanics, 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 teaches you a lesson about society.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of effective and ineffective moments, with some jokes landing well while others fall flat. Players experience a rollercoaster of emotions, oscillating between laughter and tears, which contributes to an overall engaging experience, though the humor itself may not be the game's primary draw. Sam's usernames are noted as particularly amusing, adding a lighthearted touch amidst the more serious themes.
- “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 were very funny as well, but overall it was a great experience.”
- “Sam's usernames are hilarious.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of uncovering the story through messages and emails. While the narrative is engaging and the puzzles can be enjoyable, many reviewers note that the process of figuring out how to progress can detract from the overall experience, sometimes requiring external help to advance.
- “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.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game is generally well-optimized, featuring smooth performance and simple controls, with no significant issues reported regarding fullscreen or crashes. Overall, players have expressed satisfaction with its performance.
- “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 optimization is so poor that it frequently crashes during fullscreen mode.”
- “There are numerous performance-related incidents that severely impact the gaming experience.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
Character development in the game is praised for its good pacing and depth, particularly regarding the protagonist and their close friends. Despite the game's short length, it effectively reveals secrets and backstories, enriching the overall narrative experience.
- “This game is very short, but also rich in story and character development.”
- “You are gradually led to discover Sam’s secrets, in which we learn much about them.”
- “The character development is quite decent, especially for the phone's user and close friends.”
- “[b] Character development: [/b] *** - you are gradually led to discover [spoiler]Sam’s[/spoiler] secrets, in which we learn much about them.”
- “[b] Character development: [/b] *** - you are gradually led to discover [spoiler]Sam’s[/spoiler] secrets, in which we learn much about them.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with no significant bugs or freezes reported by users. However, there are some issues with the music, which has been noted to stop playing intermittently.
- “Only drawback was the music being a bit buggy; it stopped playing several times.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features no in-game purchases, but players express frustration over a mechanic that forces them to erase their data, undermining the promised sense of autonomy highlighted in the game's advertising. This contradiction has led to dissatisfaction regarding the monetization approach.
- “Locking the player into erasing the data, and therefore removing the idea that the player has autonomy looking through the phone (and therefore experience) was paramount, even though the entire advertisement and store page for the game indicated player autonomy.”