LOST EMBER

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,017 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
LOST EMBER Game Cover
An incredibly relaxing experience, with a great story to tell. Exploring the breathtaking environments as adorable animals is consistantly satisfying. The voice acting does detract from some moments, but Lost Ember's charm and beauty is undeniable
Starting at €8.99Buy now
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In Lost Ember, play as a wolf with a mysterious companion, exploring a stunningly beautiful world reclaimed by nature. Possess any creature you encounter to traverse diverse landscapes, from lush jungles to barren deserts, uncovering the stories of mankind's fall and the lush life that followed. This immersive 5-hour adventure is also available in VR, offering an extraordinary experience of life from different perspectives. The normal version of Lost Ember is also included with purchase.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,017 reviews
story917 positive mentions
stability96 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and beautiful art style that create an immersive experience.
  • Engaging and emotional story that resonates with players, often leading to tears.
  • Unique gameplay mechanic of possessing different animals adds variety and fun to exploration.
  • Frequent bugs and glitches, including getting stuck in terrain and poor camera controls.
  • Voice acting and dialogue can be cringeworthy and detract from the overall experience.
  • Short playtime (around 4-6 hours) for a high price point, making it feel less worth the investment.
  • story2,050 mentions

    The story of "Lost Ember" is described as emotionally rich and beautifully crafted, often evoking strong feelings in players. While some reviewers found the narrative predictable and the pacing slow, many praised its heartfelt themes of love, loss, and redemption, enhanced by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven experiences, despite some criticisms regarding its linearity and occasional technical issues.

    • “I have 10,000's of hours in gaming and this game was a story I will never forget. The world-building and the detail are something words don't describe; while not a game in the conventional sense, truly it is much, much more.”
    • “The story is even better than I thought it was going to be. This game is a journey in which you receive different pieces of the puzzle, which all come together at the end.”
    • “The story is a deeply emotional journey of love, loss, pride, and standing up for what one believes is right, along with all the consequences that come with that.”
    • “The story became more and more disappointing as it progressed.”
    • “The major weak point of the game is how the story is delivered.”
    • “The story is even better than I thought it was going to be, this game is a journey in which you receive different pieces of the puzzle which all comes together at the end.”
  • graphics612 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, which many players describe as breathtaking and emotionally resonant. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and performance issues, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere were highlighted as key strengths that enhance the storytelling experience. Players recommend the game primarily for its beautiful graphics, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate visual artistry in gaming.

    • “The art style is nothing short of breathtaking—each scene is a work of art that complements the game's emotional tone perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning, the voice acting is just as great, and there is so much exploring to be done.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stunning and really transport the player to a breathtaking world.”
    • “The graphics are lacking, with noticeable glitches and a simplistic design that detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “There are entire sections of map areas that are there but completely devoid of any detail, which is rather unforgivable for a game that strongly encourages exploration.”
    • “The graphics aren't photo realistic, but the use of color and variety of the environments produce some moments where it is achingly beautiful.”
  • music540 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience with calming and evocative soundscapes that complement the visuals and story. However, some players noted issues with music cutting out at times and a lack of variety in tracks throughout the gameplay, which detracted from the immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, the story while predictable, is really touching and yanks at your heart especially at the end, the graphics and art style are great too since it brings stop motion movies to mind, and the gameplay gimmick of possessing wildlife is really fun and shakes up the gameplay.”
    • “The music is breathtaking.”
    • “The music, the visuals, the story.”
    • “The music in the game is just... weak, it's almost like elevator music, it doesn't represent the scenes at all, and this is when there is music, and where there is music it keeps fading in and out for some strange reason.”
    • “The music would cut out when you went too fast through the area, and if you ran through the game you could 'beat' it in less than an hour.”
    • “I remember thinking to myself a couple of times that, 'maybe it will present more music as I play,' or, 'it's kind of quiet for it to be where we are.' I enjoyed the music but it was just far too little for the entire game.”
  • gameplay413 mentions

    The gameplay of "Lost Ember" is characterized by its unique animal possession mechanic, allowing players to switch between various creatures to navigate the environment and solve simple puzzles. While many players appreciate the relaxing exploration and beautiful visuals, criticisms arise regarding the linearity, lack of challenge, and occasional bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game is best suited for those seeking a tranquil narrative journey rather than complex gameplay mechanics.

    • “The animal-possession game mechanics truly help this game stand out from its genre.”
    • “The gameplay itself is a thoughtful blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and interactive dialogue.”
    • “The cool mechanic of the game is that you can travel into any animal you see, becoming that animal and using each animal’s unique mechanics to explore the world around you.”
    • “The gameplay is horrendous.”
    • “The gameplay consists of traversing the environment in search of dark red smokes, interacting with which allows to watch a non-interactive cutscene, usually a flashback, and proceed to the next area.”
    • “The gameplay is simplistic and does the job.”
  • emotional322 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Lost Ember" is widely praised for its deeply resonant narrative that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption, often leaving players in tears. The game's stunning visuals and evocative soundtrack enhance the emotional experience, creating a heartfelt journey that many describe as both beautiful and immersive. While some critiques mention minor flaws in execution, the overall consensus highlights its ability to evoke strong emotional responses, making it a memorable and touching experience for players.

    • “This emotionally charged experience in embarking on 'Lost Ember' transcends the usual boundaries of gaming; delivering a narrative that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever experienced love, forgiveness, loss, or the search for meaning.”
    • “A deeply, emotionally moving story of love, loss, pride, standing up for what one believes is right and all the consequences that come with that.”
    • “The story was breathtaking; it's an emotional roller coaster that left me in tears.”
    • “Boring story, which is a shame since the game is actually just another walking simulator.”
    • “It's just a walking simulator with a boring story and the illusion of freedom.”
    • “I think the designers were trying their hand at making a journey-like game; they had some of the magic but got lost in the boring story.”
  • stability102 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized due to numerous glitches and bugs, including graphical issues, character movement problems, and instances of players getting stuck in the environment. While many players found these issues frustrating, they generally did not consider them game-breaking, as checkpoints are well-placed and allow for quick recovery. Overall, the game's visual beauty and engaging story often overshadow the technical shortcomings, though players hope for future patches to improve stability.

    • “Graphically, the game is stunning and it runs great on Steam Deck, apart from devouring the battery.”
    • “I loved this game so much; the art style is amazing and it was not buggy at all.”
    • “Minor bugs/glitches.”
    • “The game is also insanely buggy and I got trapped multiple times and had to reload, which always set me back a bit, which was irritating.”
    • “While I'm on here complaining, I will advise you there are tons of glitches, so don't fall off a cliff, don't get stuck in a hole or between a rock or you will have to go back to the last checkpoint.”
    • “You should only buy this if you want the story, not the gameplay, and even then the gameplay is incredibly buggy and oftentimes I found myself softlocked due to getting inside terrain and not being able to get out, going somewhere not as the creature I needed to pass the area and being unable to go back to where the creatures are, forcing you to restart from the last checkpoint, absolutely destroying immersion.”
  • atmosphere90 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, calming music, and immersive storytelling, creating a serene and relaxing experience for players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke emotions and provide a captivating environment, although some note that certain gameplay elements, like voice acting and collectibles, can detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate atmospheric, exploration-focused experiences.

    • “The atmosphere in the game was so beautiful and the music captivates to the story!”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, and the way of presenting the story was rather novel.”
    • “Beautifully designed game with an amazing soundtrack and a great atmosphere.”
    • “These are just nitpicks, but for a game that excels the most in atmosphere, story, and art direction, losing that ability to be immersed in the story felt a lot more jarring.”
    • “Unfortunately the game bugged out for me right at the end, therefore ruining the atmosphere.”
    • “For a game that I would have expected to have atmosphere galore, the choice to use an Ubisoft-like 'you have found mushroom 1 of 99' game mechanic also seemed an odd, very immersion-breaking choice.”
  • replayability27 mentions

    The reviews reflect a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players finding value in collecting missed items and achievements, while others criticize the game for its short length and predictable story, leading to low replay value. Many agree that while there are opportunities for completionists, the overall experience may not warrant multiple playthroughs, especially at full price. Ultimately, the game's replayability seems to depend on individual player preferences and their desire to explore collectibles.

    • “It definitely has replayability for me, who loves these kinds of games, even after having 100%-ed it now.”
    • “There is replay value through trying to collect all the collectibles that you missed on the first run.”
    • “This game has tons of replayability with all the hidden things to find throughout the landscape.”
    • “Replay value is also low for the same reason.”
    • “To close my review on a similarly bittersweet note, Lost Ember unfortunately ends up falling prey to the same issue that all of its brethren in the genre face: little to no replay value.”
    • “This game is honestly a £5 game in my opinion due to the lack of replayability; they do have collectibles, but there are no perks to getting these in-game apart from an achievement on Steam.”
  • optimization21 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, particularly on the Nintendo Switch, where it can be nearly unplayable at times. While the graphics and presentation are praised, there are complaints about minor frame rate drops, a broken menu system, and a lack of proper optimization for PC compared to console versions. Despite these drawbacks, some players found the game visually appealing and engaging, though the emotional impact was often diminished by subpar voice acting and tonal inconsistencies.

    • “The game performance, stability, controls, and presentation are all AAA title quality.”
    • “This game has a very good picture performance; the color and depth of field have a very good performance.”
    • “It runs smoothly and many languages are supported, even in audio.”
    • “The menu system is extremely broken and the optimization of the game demands improvements.”
    • “The game needs more optimization; it is clearly optimized for PS4 and Xbox One, and not so well set up for PC.”
    • “Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version suffers from performance problems that are detrimental to the overall experience.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling like a chore due to the excessive number of collectibles and repetitive tasks. While some appreciate the exploration and hidden items, many agree that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, making it feel formulaic and overly reliant on padding mechanics.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “Exploring outside of the path is tedious and not rewarded.”
    • “It's rather frustrating trying to figure out what animal you need to use to get where to do the, as per usual, tedious task of collecting pointless collectibles (will games ever abandon this padding mechanic?).”
    • “The gameplay at its core is tediously formulaic: find the smoke, watch the memory, turn into another animal to maneuver a barrier, rinse, repeat.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd animations, quirky animal abilities, and unexpected glitches that often lead to hilarious moments. Players find the comedic elements to be a highlight, with instances of slapstick humor and random antics providing a lighthearted experience, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's humor is described as both entertaining and occasionally chaotic, contributing to its charm.

    • “The animals are super fun to play and some are just hilarious, like a sloth that literally moves 1 meter an hour.”
    • “Every animal not only had their helpful abilities, but they also had their 'stupid' abilities too, which I found to be pretty funny that each one had their own.”
    • “The story presentation and delivery in general have the subtlety and grace of a sledgehammer; scenes that are meant to be tragic were either hilarious or illogical.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Overall, the character development in the game is praised for being engaging and well-executed, with players feeling a genuine investment in the characters' journeys. While some reviewers noted a desire for more backstory and depth, the unique character designs and the balance between serious and upbeat moments contribute to a compelling narrative experience. The stunning art style further enhances the emotional connection players have with the characters.

    • “I was not planning on playing the whole game in one sitting, but I was instantly invested in the story and the character development.”
    • “There is intriguing character development, and I feel most players will genuinely want the best for each character by the end of the game.”
    • “The character development was phenomenal, and the graphics are beautiful.”
    • “It's a very popular technique for writers who either for the lack of time, resources, or competence, or all three of them, just can't put together a decent story with decent character development.”
    • “More backstory, more character development, etc. However, these gripes could be rectified with some DLC.”
    • “With serious character development scenes followed quite abruptly by spirited, upbeat gameplay moments.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy LOST EMBER

Play time

6hMedian play time
39hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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