Lost Judgment

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,490 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Lost Judgment Game Cover
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Lost Judgment is a mystery hack and slash game with both single-player and multi-player modes. It features a splendid story, outstanding game mechanics, ingenious graphics, phenomenal music, and plenty of humor. As private detective Yagami, players will unravel a series of crimes and defend the law in Japan using detective tools and action combat. The Digital Deluxe edition includes additional in-game content, such as the Detective Essentials Pack and School Stories Expansion Pack.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,490 reviews
story457 positive mentions
grinding39 negative mentions
  • story1,296 mentions

    The story of "Lost Judgment" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it tackles serious themes such as bullying and the flaws in the legal system, it doesn't quite reach the narrative heights of its predecessor, "Judgment." Critics have pointed out that the pacing can be uneven, particularly in the latter half, and some side stories feel overly drawn out or disconnected from the main plot. However, the character development and emotional depth are praised, with many finding the new school stories engaging and the overall narrative compelling, making it a worthwhile experience despite its flaws.

    • “The story is great and really fun gameplay!”
    • “The story feels much tighter this time with very little stutter in the flow, making you feel the game is short while having 70 hours of playtime, making it an enjoyable and exciting experience.”
    • “Lost Judgment is a story about trying to do the right thing in a situation where there are only up, down, and left things to choose from - you might end up disagreeing with Yagami's choice at the end of the game, but it doesn't make it a bad story.”
    • “The story starts strong but loses momentum toward the end of the game.”
    • “The story is not as solid as the original Judgment and that's solely because of a very skewed view on morality up to it becoming absolutely obnoxious in how it beats you over the head with preachiness.”
    • “The main story is well-written and full of twists and turns that keep you hooked until the end, but it feels like the story drags on forever and ever.”
  • gameplay345 mentions

    The gameplay in this title has received widespread acclaim for its significant improvements over its predecessor, featuring refined combat mechanics, new styles, and a variety of engaging activities. While the core combat remains a highlight, some players noted issues with certain mechanics like stealth and parkour, which felt underdeveloped or tedious. Overall, the game is praised for its smooth gameplay, diverse mechanics, and the integration of detective elements, making it a standout entry in the series.

    • “The gameplay is a very refined, fun, and engaging upgrade from its predecessor, and the amount of minigames will make you forget that you had a main quest going on.”
    • “Lost Judgment improves upon an already amazing predecessor in both its skillset, fighting gameplay, and grinding aspect.”
    • “The gameplay is varied and fun, offering you a lot of freedom and choice in how you approach each situation.”
    • “Amazing combat brought down by absolutely garbage substories, bad story, and mediocre gameplay outside of combat.”
    • “Some of the gameplay mechanics were improved over its predecessor, but others were dumbed down like the chasing, which feels just unsatisfying.”
    • “The new introduced mechanics (parkour and stealth) are so linear, you'll get bored while doing them for the second time.”
  • music202 mentions

    The music in "Lost Judgment" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its outstanding soundtrack and immersive audio design. Tracks like "Unwavering Belief" and "Final Destination" are highlighted as standout pieces that enhance the emotional and action-packed moments of the game. While some feel it doesn't quite surpass the original "Judgment," the overall consensus is that the music is a significant strength, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere and memorable experiences.

    • “The soundtrack is not only phenomenal, but also extremely varied and has something for everyone.”
    • “The music alone is worth it.”
    • “Lost Judgment's soundtrack is a masterpiece, with incredible tracks such as 'Unwavering Belief' and 'Final Destination'.”
    • “☐ audio or music sometimes feels out of place”
    • “The game is a bit step down from its predecessor in terms of music, mobile UI flexibility, combat, and street ambience.”
    • “The side content and especially the music is a step down from the original.”
  • graphics99 mentions

    The graphics in this game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers noting significant improvements over previous titles, showcasing stunning visuals and smooth animations. While some side characters may appear dated, the overall presentation is described as gorgeous and immersive, effectively bringing the vibrant cities of Kamurocho and Yokohama to life. However, the game can be resource-intensive, requiring a powerful system to fully appreciate its graphical fidelity.

    • “The graphics are astounding and the sounds and music make you feel like you're actually walking around these cities in real life.”
    • “The stunning visuals and meticulously crafted audio design bring the bustling streets of Kamurocho and Yokohama to life, enveloping you in its vibrant atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are definitely at their best, and the sound/music makes you feel the essence of walking around the city of Kamurocho and Ijincho.”
    • “☐ Sub-par or outdated visuals for a AAA title.”
    • “Graphics terrible.”
    • “For anybody running this on a less powerful graphics card, such as a GTX 750 Ti, most of the time, changing graphics settings mid-game will cause your entire PC to crash.”
  • emotional67 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players reporting that it elicited strong feelings, including tears during key moments. Reviewers highlight the depth of the story, particularly the impactful character arcs and themes of loss and belief, which create a compelling narrative that resonates on a personal level. Overall, the game is described as a masterful blend of emotional storytelling, engaging characters, and a heart-wrenching soundtrack, making it a standout experience in the genre.

    • “I would describe this game as an emotional-driven story while the first one is more of a plot-driven story, evidenced in the final bosses of the two games, and both succeeded at what they were trying to convey.”
    • “The death of a main character introduces deep emotional layers, while the high school storyline, though separate, ties in closely with the main narrative.”
    • “Lost Judgment isn't just RGG's finest game, or a landmark title for the genre, but a work of emotional maturity so engrossing that I would eagerly recommend it to anyone that plays video games.”
  • grinding46 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Lost Judgment" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding certain elements, particularly the school stories and side quests, to be tedious and formulaic. While some appreciate the improvements over its predecessor, including a reduction in certain grind-heavy mechanics, others feel that the game still suffers from repetitive tasks and a lack of engaging content, leading to a frustrating experience at times. Overall, while the combat and story elements are praised, the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “It is incredibly easy and not very grindy to get all skills before you beat the game.”
    • “The school stories were a blueprint for something incredible; I know they can pull off in a future game, but they had me so bored at times I thought they'd never end with how grindy and formulaic they are, and I almost gave up on them when I found out all 9 need to be maxed out before Amasawa lets you progress the investigation.”
    • “While the combat is fun and the variety of different activities is interesting for a while, the number of times you need to play and win each minigame eventually feels repetitive and grindy, while the number of hours it takes to do so has a negative impact on the pacing of the main story, which is usually a key strength of this franchise.”
    • “The payoff is... decent, but the journey is tedious.”
  • humor44 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players noting a shift away from the classic wacky antics of the Yakuza series, while others appreciate the funny side missions and character interactions that still deliver laughs. Although the main story is more serious, it features humorous moments and engaging side quests that provide a balance of comedy and depth. Overall, while the humor may not reach the heights of previous titles, it remains a notable aspect that adds enjoyment to the gameplay experience.

    • “This game has top tier story cutscenes, absolute banger of a soundtrack, emotional story, some real funny as well as heartwarming side stories, and an unprecedented amount of minigames. It's still an absolute treat!”
    • “Yagami is so funny in his straight man humor that each side case is a blast to play through.”
    • “The combat is fluid and the side stories are hilarious, all the while a heartbreaking main story plays out in the background.”
  • optimization33 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with many users reporting smooth performance and minimal technical issues, even on lower-end hardware. While some players experienced occasional frame drops and performance hiccups, particularly during demanding scenes, the game has been praised for its solid PC port and improvements over previous installments. Many reviews highlight that the game runs flawlessly on various setups, including the Steam Deck, making it one of the better-optimized titles from the studio.

    • “I've been at PC gaming about a year now and have run across a few janky ports, even in that small window. Thankfully, this game is well-optimized and I've run into zero issues.”
    • “Game runs buttery smooth now with no performance decay over time.”
    • “Best optimized port by the studio so far.”
    • “However, performance might be an issue even on lower settings due to how demanding the game is.”
    • “Would be better if the performance issues didn't randomly jettison my game down to < 10 fps which sometimes had me redo portions.”
    • “That being said the performance was fine but not good.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some side characters experience significant growth that resonates emotionally, the main character, Yagami, lacks depth and remains static throughout the sequel, leading to a less engaging narrative. Despite this, the overall storytelling and character arcs in various side quests are praised for their quality, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate character-driven narratives. Players are encouraged to experience the first title to fully appreciate the character development and references in the sequel.

    • “At first, some side characters rubbed me the wrong way, but character development kicked me in the heart, and I love them all.”
    • “The storytelling and character development is fantastic; the action is great too.”
    • “There are 10 different school stories (quest chains) in this, and a number of them have fantastic character development.”
    • “The sequel offers nowhere near as much character development time: Yagami stays the same from beginning to the end, his character story incredibly bland, frustratingly boring to watch.”
    • “Yagami is also here but his character development is not as deep as the previous title and Kaito takes much more of a backseat as well, but I think this is what makes Kuwana shine the most.”
    • “He can hold his own in a fight, and has character development, but personally, I don't find him as likable as Kaito.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some users reporting noticeable frame rate drops, bugs, and glitches, particularly during chase scenes and when loading new areas. While it runs well on higher-end systems and is generally well-optimized, issues such as crashes in specific modes and glitches related to high frame rates have been noted, especially on lower-end graphics cards. Overall, while the game performs admirably on capable hardware, it exhibits unpolished mechanics and stability concerns that can detract from the experience.

    • “Well optimized, runs great even on a 1060.”
    • “This game runs great on a laptop too.”
    • “PC port runs great with high frame rates available.”
    • “While I don't necessarily consider this a negative enough to leave a negative review alone, it feels like this spin-off really exposes just how buggy and unfun RGG's games can actually be, and how much they don't want to deviate from the main series.”
    • “I don't know if it was buggy or what, but several times during chase scenes, I would miss the grab at the end even though I was spamming the button and time was slowing down, but the button prompt wouldn't show up at all.”
    • “You can obviously tell when a new area is being loaded because the game freezes for a couple of seconds, and this was a thing until the very end of the game.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its stunning visuals and immersive audio design, effectively bringing the vibrant streets of Kamurocho and Yokohama to life. Players appreciate the contrasting contexts and emotional weight of key moments, particularly during climactic fights, enhanced by a powerful soundtrack. While some feel the atmosphere in the sequel is less polished, the overall experience remains captivating, contributing to the game's status as one of RGG's best.

    • “The stunning visuals and meticulously crafted audio design bring the bustling streets of Kamurocho and Yokohama to life, enveloping you in its vibrant atmosphere.”
    • “Amazing combat with style switching and juggle combos, amazing soundtrack, amazing world and atmosphere, and overall everything in this game is goddam amazing. Holy shit, this is RGG's best game yet.”
    • “The best detective thriller you will ever play, great characters, great soundtrack, and just overall a really sick atmosphere, much recommended!”
    • “I believe the narrative plot is better, but I believe the atmosphere is less polished in the 2nd episode.”
    • “The best detective thriller you will ever play, great characters, great soundtrack and just overall a really sick atmosphere, much recommended!”
    • “The story of Lost Judgment is fantastic, while most people will definitely enjoy Judgment's story more than this game's, this story shouldn't be slept on since it's one of RGG's best stories out there at the moment, the school is an interesting part of the story (you also get to beat up high school children) and yeah there are some pacing issues in the middle, and a certain someone getting mentioned by Yagami every 15 seconds in the finale, but the villains of the story are incredible, and the final boss goes really hard in terms of both characters, atmosphere, moral, and its music.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is rated highly, with many users noting abundant post-game content, multiple endings, and engaging side missions that encourage repeated play. While some players feel it may primarily be a one-time experience, the majority highlight the potential for infinite hours of fun through various modes and challenges.

    • “High replay value with plenty of post-game content.”
    • “Good replay value, with multiple endings or modes.”
    • “Infinite hours of fun with side missions and cases, also highly replayable.”
    • “Some replay value, but mostly a one-time experience.”
    • “Lacking replayability or post-game content.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Play time

30hMedian play time
37hAverage play time
20-59hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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