Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story
- September 20, 2017
- Accidental Queens
- 2h median play time
I really enjoyed my time with Another Lost Phone, which turns your Switch into a giant smartphone to provide a unique puzzle experience.
Get on SteamIn "Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story," players explore the social life of a young woman, Laura, through her found phone. By examining apps, messages, and photos, players piece together Laura's relationships, career, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The game offers a relatable narrative that promotes empathy and addresses social issues.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and well-written story that addresses important social issues, making it both engaging and thought-provoking.
- The puzzles are challenging yet satisfying, requiring players to pay attention to details and think critically to progress.
- The interface and music create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of exploring the phone and uncovering the narrative.
- The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under two hours, which may leave some feeling unsatisfied with the length.
- Some puzzles can feel tedious or overly complicated, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment for certain players.
- The story may be predictable for those familiar with similar themes, reducing the impact of the narrative twist.
- story302 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story" is a compelling exploration of serious themes such as domestic abuse and personal identity, presented through the unique format of sifting through a lost phone's contents. While some players found the narrative predictable compared to its predecessor, many appreciated its emotional depth and relatability, making it a poignant experience that resonates with real-life issues. Overall, the storytelling is well-crafted, though some felt it could benefit from deeper character development and a more immersive gameplay experience.
“Another Lost Phone does a masterful job of telling Laura's story, from a mysterious beginning to a cathartic conclusion, and allows the player to immerse themselves in the world.”
“The story is immersive, with precise pacing, revealing the whole truth bit by bit.”
“The story touches a potentially heavy topic with a featherlight touch.”
“The characters didn't have much depth and the story/content just felt.. lacking.”
“Overall, playing 'another lost phone: laura's story' is rather like having someone tear all the pages from a novel before scattering them haphazardly around the room and then expecting to enjoy yourself while piecing them back together into the rather lackluster and uninspiring short story they comprised to begin with.”
- music35 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the narrative effectively. Many players appreciate the relaxing and enjoyable background music that supports gameplay without being intrusive, although some noted it may not be as memorable as in previous installments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and engagement.
“The soundtrack is totally excellent, and kept me going through the puzzles.”
“The music has really great vibes that I don't mind listening to in the background as I read through the story and start putting together all the puzzle pieces it lays out for me.”
“A fantastic and unique gaming experience with a wonderful soundtrack, and a very interesting story to tell, and one that I'm sure some people can directly relate to.”
“The music is horribly tiresome and hellishly droning.”
“The art is beautiful, although I felt like a normal lost phone did a better job of making me stop to actually appreciate both the music and the art included in the game.”
“The music, just like in the first game, accompanies the atmosphere of the game really well.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics centered around exploring a lost phone, allowing players to piece together a narrative through messages and information. While some reviews note a lack of innovation compared to previous titles, others appreciate the compelling nature of the experience and the emotional depth of the story. Overall, the gameplay is engaging yet straightforward, appealing to those who enjoy narrative-driven puzzles, though it may feel repetitive for players familiar with the genre.
“I really enjoyed the interesting gameplay of scrolling through someone else's phone to piece together an idea of what happened.”
“The gameplay is simple, but surprisingly compelling.”
“The gameplay navigation is all point and click, but the developers use a screen layout that gives you the impression you are literally intruding on Laura's privacy because you can fully control all areas of the mobile.”
“Also, the game feels like a carbon copy of the original, with no improvements or changes in art, UI, or gameplay - even some of the story beats were the same.”
“Extremely boring story and gameplay.”
“It's basically the exact same mechanics, just a different story.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its powerful storytelling that addresses difficult themes such as emotional and physical abuse. Reviewers express that the narratives are relatable and impactful, often evoking strong feelings, including sadness and discomfort. While some felt the emotional connection was not as strong as in previous installments, the overall consensus is that the game successfully raises awareness about serious societal issues through its heartfelt and poignant storytelling.
“I applaud the team behind this game for touching on issues that are hard to talk about and using a game to intentionally/unintentionally raise awareness about and battle against.”
“All that being said, I still think that the game presents a meaningful, emotional, and (sadly for many) relatable story.”
“I will say that this story had some heart-wrenching moments for me, where I felt terrible dread for what might've happened to the protagonist - but, in the same breath, I also strongly recommend it as a short narrative experience that deals with heavy, real-life topics.”
“The story felt incredibly dull and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
“I found the gameplay to be monotonous, which made it hard to connect with the characters.”
“There was a lack of emotional depth in the narrative, leaving me feeling disconnected from the experience.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the improved visuals and stylish artwork, while others feel that the art style has declined compared to the previous installment. The game features polished graphics and a better user interface, but some players note that there is little innovation in gameplay or visual design compared to similar titles.
“This sequel has better visuals and, dare I say, a better and more intriguing story.”
“The game offers some nice graphics which are pleasant all the same.”
“The art in the photos is stylishly done, making a refreshing change for its technique used, but in all honesty, there is hardly any change in gameplay or visuals compared to a normal lost phone.”
“The art style isn't as good as the last installment (can this even be considered that, really?)”
“Both the graphics and gameplay have been polished.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it requires extensive searching through text messages for clues and passwords, which can feel laborious. While the puzzles are generally decent, the effort needed to remember where to find information detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
“Not really sure what I would expect from a 'found lost phone, search through messages to find clues to passwords to access more apps,' but I found the gameplay pretty tedious.”
“Overall the puzzles were decent, but it was a bit tedious to comb through all the text for information.”
“Story-wise this was better than the first game in the series, 'A Normal Lost Phone,' but puzzle-wise this sequel made you 'work' much more for it, which I didn't like, making this game feel much more tedious.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game has minimal replayability, as players often find themselves skipping much of the text during subsequent playthroughs due to familiarity with the story. It is recommended to purchase the game on sale, given its short length and limited incentive to replay.
“The replay value is impressive, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“I played it again to get the missing achievements a couple of months later, and I found that the game still had engaging elements that made it worth revisiting.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, enhancing its replayability.”
“I played it again to get the missing achievements a couple of months later, and I would say there wasn't much replay value because I remembered most of the story, so I skipped pretty much all the text.”
“I would recommend getting this game on sale as it is very short with no replayability.”
“Minimal replay value.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a mellow background music that complements the storytelling without being distracting, creating a soothing environment for players. The soundtrack, available as DLC, is praised for fitting seamlessly into the experience, much like in the previous installment, contributing to a well-crafted overall ambiance.
“There is mellow background music that doesn't distract you at any time during the game yet manages to provide a soothing atmosphere throughout, which is available as a DLC soundtrack much like a normal lost phone did.”
“I enjoyed the music; it fits the game's atmosphere and provides a good background sound while reading the text messages.”
“The music, just like in the first game, accompanies the atmosphere of the game really well.”
“Well crafted story and atmosphere!”
- humor2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game for its ability to blend genuinely funny moments with deeper emotional connections, allowing for a personalized level of engagement. Many found themselves laughing at relatable dialogue, highlighting the game's skillful balance of humor and poignancy.
“The thing I love about these games is that you can really pick your own level of engagement. Sure, you can just skim the important plotline stuff, maybe Google a walkthrough for the tougher puzzles, but if you really get invested and connect with the characters, then you can explore intriguing asides, genuinely funny moments, and genuinely saddening ones.”
“I laughed out loud at several very 'not funny' moments in the conversations because so many of Laura's words were my own 7 years ago.”
“The humor felt forced and often missed the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
“I expected clever jokes, but instead, I got a series of tired clichés that fell flat.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally report that the game is stable and bug-free, indicating a smooth gameplay experience without significant technical issues.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs.”
“I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
“The stability of the game allows me to fully immerse myself without interruptions.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is hindered by the limited information provided, leading to a less engaging and nuanced portrayal of characters.
“Another consequence of the somewhat limited information available is that character development suffers.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how little my choices impacted the character arcs; they felt predetermined and shallow.”
Critic Reviews
Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story Review
Offering up a small slice of emergent storytelling, Another Lost Phone does a good job of highlighting difficult themes.
75%Another Lost Phone: Laura's Story
Scrolling Through A Digital Mystery
70%Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story (PC) Review
Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story is the follow up to A Normal Lost Phone and it may actually be worth a look, but not for the reasons you are likely to suspect.
65%
