Lost Cartridge: Cold Read

About

In "Lost Cartridge: Cold Read," players uncover the mysteries of a forgotten game cartridge filled with unsettling minigames. As they explore, they'll encounter strange characters and hidden secrets, all while trying to piece together the chilling narrative. With its unique blend of nostalgia and horror, this game offers a thrilling experience for adventure and puzzle fans alike.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game offers a rich atmosphere and engaging puzzles, reminiscent of classic RPGMaker horror games, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
Players appreciate the unique storytelling and character development, particularly the protagonist Mitch, which adds depth to the gameplay.
The game features multiple endings and creative ways to die, encouraging exploration and replayability, which many players find enjoyable.

There are numerous bugs and glitches, including crashes and issues with the autosave feature, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
Some players found the puzzle logic to be obtuse and had difficulty following the story due to the non-linear presentation of narrative elements.
The random monster encounters can feel frustrating and cheap, as players often struggle to find adequate hiding spots during chases.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The game's story is described as intriguing and well-crafted, with players appreciating its depth and emotional impact, particularly in the character of Mitch. While some found the non-linear puzzle-solving approach made the narrative harder to follow, many praised the storytelling, atmosphere, and character development, noting that the game excels in delivering a rich and engaging experience. Overall, the narrative is highlighted as a standout feature, complemented by creative monster designs and a compelling soundtrack.
- “I totally recommend this game, it has a great soundtrack that creates the creepy ambiance, a good art style, and an interesting story.”
- “The story is very interesting and Mitch as a character was fun to play and hear about.”
- “Maybe it's because I'm a big dumb dumb, but I couldn't understand what the story is about at all.”
- “Since you can solve the puzzles in any order you like, you also get the story elements in random order as well, and you have to put the puzzle pieces together in your head.”
- “The way the story and themes are conveyed is very mysterious, and it seems to tempt you into revealing more under its surface.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics of the game are described as excessively graphic and visceral, with a beautiful art style that evokes nostalgia for DOS-era adventure games. While some users note a few amateurish and glitchy elements, the overall aesthetic is praised for its creepiness and effectiveness in enhancing the game's atmosphere. The visuals, particularly in the death scenes, contribute significantly to the game's engaging and rewarding experience.
- “I totally recommend this game, it has a great soundtrack that creates a creepy ambiance, a good art style, and an interesting story.”
- “Really neat and ominous game, and I really adore the aesthetics and art for the death scenes. I absolutely recommend it to anyone that's a fan of games like Mad Father or The Witch's House.”
- “The art style is beautiful and reminiscent of DOS-era adventure games, not in a derivative way at all.”
- “A consequential albeit sometimes amateurish and buggy/glitchy experience that is nonetheless excessively graphic, visceral, and earnest in its premise, paying homage to a time when media was created just for the sake of it.”
- “The graphics are inconsistent, with some areas looking great while others feel unfinished and lack detail.”
- “While the art style has potential, the execution falls flat, making the game feel visually unpolished.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while many praise the soundtrack for enhancing the creepy atmosphere and contributing to the overall experience, some players find the extreme bitcrushing effects grating and difficult to endure over time. Overall, the music is seen as a strong element, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- “I totally recommend this game; it has a great soundtrack that creates a creepy ambiance, a good art style, and an interesting story.”
- “From storytelling, ambiance, and puzzles to secrets, characters, and music, this game excels at them all!”
- “Another great game! Please make an art book, soundtrack, or something so I can throw more money at you.”
- “The music can be incredibly grating and hard to listen to after a while due to the extreme bitcrushing; the songs themselves are fine, though.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches and bugs, with some players experiencing hardlocks due to memory leaks after prolonged play. While the autosave feature is helpful, it does not fully mitigate the overall amateurish and unstable experience.
- “There are a number of unfortunate glitches and bugs as well, the worst being what I assume to be a memory leak that causes the game to hardlock when changing maps after extended play.”
- “A consequential albeit sometimes amateurish and buggy/glitchy experience that is nonetheless excessively graphic, visceral, and earnest in its premise and a great bow to a time where media was created just for the sake of it.”
- “Very buggy.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of psychological horror and tension. Many players appreciate the depth of interaction with the environment, favoring atmospheric dread over jump scares, although some note that other issues detracted from their overall enjoyment.
- “The atmosphere and the depth to which you can interact with items and your environment really made it a great psychological horror game.”
- “I prefer more atmospheric dread than jump scares.”
- “The setting and atmosphere are perfectly unsettling, and I was legitimately tense.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The gameplay in "Lily's Well" is engaging and well-integrated with the story, allowing players to unlock and try on costumes organically during their first playthrough. However, some users noted that the mechanics can be confusing due to unclear indications of movement across different colored tiles, reminiscent of the gameplay in "Clock Tower." Overall, players found the gameplay solid and enjoyable.
- “In Lily's Well, you unlock the costumes organically through the gameplay, and you can try them on during your first playthrough.”
- “This game was quite fun; I was invested in the story the whole way through, and I felt that the gameplay was quite solid.”
- “The core gameplay loop reminds me a lot of Clock Tower.”
- “Unlike in other games I can think of that have a similar mechanic, here it is far less clear where one can stand, because different color tiles are used without a lot of indication of which can be moved across.”
- “The core gameplay loop reminds me of Clock Tower a lot.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of quirky and amusing elements, including a humorous exploration of a vast library filled with intriguing and often funny items. Additionally, the presence of a comically rude clown-puppet adds a playful and irreverent touch to the overall experience.
- “This game is a Shadowgate-style puzzle box where you wander around a suspiciously huge library and look at funny, interesting, and sad things.”
- “Plus, I love a funny, rude, honk-honk clown puppet.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a short experience with some replay value, making it a worthwhile purchase for its price, as it can be completed in just a few hours.
- “Being a short offering with some replay value, it's well worth the price of admission, taking just a few hours to complete.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is praised for its compelling main story and impactful side stories, which together create powerful emotional moments, particularly highlighted by the experience of pursuing the second ending.
- “The main story and the various side stories are fantastic and deliver some very powerful emotional moments, especially if you seek out the second ending.”
- “The game masterfully weaves emotional depth into its narrative, leaving players feeling deeply connected to the characters and their journeys.”
- “Every choice I made felt significant, and the emotional weight of the story lingered with me long after I finished playing.”