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Lost Judgment

Lost Judgment starts strong and finishes with a bang, leaving a feeling of uncertainty of what justice actually means.
89%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
97% User Score Based on 8,276 reviews
Critic Score 81%Based on 62 reviews

Platforms

PCXboxXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStationCloudXbox OneNVIDIA GeForce NOW
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About

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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Lost Judgment screenshot
Lost Judgment screenshot
Lost Judgment screenshot
Lost Judgment screenshot

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,276 reviews
story661 positive mentions
grinding53 negative mentions
  • story
    1,866 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Lost Judgment" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth and exploration of serious themes such as bullying and justice, while others feel it lacks the compelling narrative of its predecessor, "Judgment." The game introduces a variety of side stories, particularly through its school setting, which some players found engaging, though others criticized them for being overly lengthy or disconnected from the main plot. Overall, while the story may not reach the heights of the first game, it still offers a rich and immersive experience with well-developed characters and intriguing plot twists.

    • “Lost Judgment is an excellent sequel, characterized by a truly fascinating story, full of very well-drawn characters and packed with two maps that offer a huge amount of side activities and side quests.”
    • “The story is great, a lot of plot twists as always but characters are especially good.”
    • “The story needs a while to get going, but once it picks up you are absolutely glued to it, lots of intrigue and interesting characters, with the usual RGG plot twists with cool fights and scenery.”
    • “What you get here is a 2-hour story stretched out over 30+ hours, and it becomes agonizing to sit and watch these characters fumble through the 'mystery' like amateurs.”
    • “The story of this game was a big disappointment coming off the masterpiece that was Judgment and its fantastic murder mystery plot.”
    • “The story is just begging to tackle bigger issues than it ends up focusing on.”
  • gameplay
    500 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Lost Judgment" has received widespread acclaim for its significant improvements over its predecessor, featuring refined combat mechanics, the introduction of new styles, and a variety of engaging side activities. While the core combat remains a highlight, some players noted that certain mechanics, such as stealth and parkour, feel underdeveloped or tedious. Overall, the game successfully blends action and detective elements, providing a rich and immersive experience, though some aspects may detract from the overall flow.

    • “Another RGG masterpiece, the gameplay is especially incredible - like they took everything from previous games and fully refined it.”
    • “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.”
    • “The combat mechanics are smoother and more responsive, allowing for seamless combos and satisfying transitions between moves.”
    • “So many gameplay mechanics just bring things to a halt for no good reason.”
    • “From shallow combat, to shallow stealth sections, to shallow chase sequences, to shallow parkour sections, Lost Judgment wants not for variety, but it sorely wants for mechanical depth at all.”
    • “While some gameplay mechanics, such as parkour and investigations, feel underdeveloped, the gripping plot and memorable characters make up for these minor shortcomings.”
  • music
    256 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Lost Judgment" has been widely praised for its exceptional quality and variety, with many reviewers highlighting standout tracks like "Unwavering Belief" and "Final Destination" as some of the best in the series. The soundtrack effectively enhances the game's emotional and action-packed moments, contributing to an immersive experience that resonates with players. While some noted a slight dip in the overall impact compared to its predecessor, the consensus remains that the music is a significant highlight, elevating the gameplay and narrative throughout.

    • “The music throughout the main story and the side cases/general world is tremendously successful at continuing to give the Judgment games their own vibe, while not straying too far from the mainline series OST's vibes.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game’s tone, with a blend of dynamic and emotive tracks that heighten the impact of key scenes.”
    • “The soundtrack is not only phenomenal, but also extremely varied and has something for everyone.”
    • “A lot of the new music is also a bit of a letdown.”
    • “The side content and especially the music is a step down from the original.”
    • “Unfortunately, the style themes are ungodly bland even without the comparison to Judgment's, but the rest of the soundtrack is about on par.”
  • graphics
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and significant improvements over previous titles, showcasing detailed character models and vibrant environments that enhance immersion. While some users noted occasional outdated elements and performance issues on lower-end hardware, the overall presentation is considered top-notch, with many praising the smooth animations and dynamic lighting. Overall, the game is recognized for its impressive graphical fidelity, making it a standout in the series.

    • “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 have improved a lot from the previous part, and I can say this is the game with graphics most similar to AC Unity, especially when you choose to visit Yokohama at noon.”
    • “1/10: outdated graphics, outdated gameplay, plays like something from the 00s.”
    • “☐ sub-par or outdated visuals for a AAA title.”
    • “Graphics terrible.”
  • emotional
    87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing that it evokes strong feelings, including tears of joy and sadness. The narrative is described as engaging and impactful, balancing intense moments with humor, while character deaths and personal struggles resonate deeply with players. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to tackle serious themes, creating a rich emotional experience that enhances the gameplay.

    • “There's a wonderful balance of an emotionally engaging story and characters, atmosphere, mechanics, and comedy.”
    • “Lost Judgment weaves a complex and emotionally charged narrative that keeps players on the edge of their seats from start to finish.”
    • “The story here is really dark and emotional, probably one of RGG's best.”
  • humor
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mix of absurdity and clever writing, with players finding joy in the juxtaposition of a nearly 40-year-old man, Yagami, engaging in comedic violence against high schoolers and navigating humorous side quests. While some players noted a decline in the wacky humor typical of previous Yakuza titles, many still appreciated the funny character interactions and side stories that provided genuine laughs. Overall, the game balances its comedic elements with deeper themes, resulting in a fun and engaging experience.

    • “I found myself laughing out loud at character moments and story developments because the timing of them was so fantastic, just as much as I found myself sitting back and letting cutscenes play because I was enthralled by the performances.”
    • “The school side stories are fun (for the most part) since it's funny seeing a 38-year-old man fighting kids, hanging out, or gossiping with them.”
    • “Kaito is hilarious, clumsy, and awesome.”
  • grinding
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Lost Judgment" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding certain elements, such as VR sessions, side quests, and minigames, to be tedious and overly repetitive. While some appreciated the improvements in gameplay and combat, they noted that the extensive grinding required for upgrades and completion detracted from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore at times. Despite these criticisms, the game still offers enjoyable content, though players may need to invest significant time to fully engage with it.

    • “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 it 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. 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.”
    • “I found the chase sections tedious since the person you are chasing often gets an arbitrary boost of speed just to run around the same city block until their health bar drains.”
  • optimization
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Lost Judgment" has received largely positive feedback, particularly for its PC version, which runs smoothly with minimal technical issues and impressive graphics. While some users noted occasional performance dips and bugs, the overall experience is enhanced by modern upscaling technologies like FSR and DLSS, making it one of the best-optimized ports from the studio. Players have praised the game's seamless performance across various hardware setups, including lower-end systems and the Steam Deck.

    • “The PC version is very well optimized and runs great.”
    • “With modern upscaling technologies like FSR and DLSS, Lost Judgment runs smoothly with minimal technical issues, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “I only focused on the story because I didn’t like the poor console performance.”
    • “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.”
  • character development
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players praise the depth and emotional engagement of side characters, others criticize the main character Yagami for lacking growth and a compelling arc compared to previous titles. The sequel offers less character development time, with some characters shining more than others, particularly Kaito, who receives more focus and emotional depth. Overall, the storytelling and character interactions are highlighted as strong points, but the inconsistency in character development leaves some players wanting more.

    • “Lost Judgment is nothing short of delivering an engrossing blend of gripping storytelling, deep character development, and exhilarating gameplay.”
    • “Loved the character development, excellent dialogues, great plot with excellent twists, loved the snake fighting style too; it's great to beat armed enemies!”
    • “The storytelling and character development is fantastic; the action is great too.”
    • “The sequel offers nowhere near as much character development time: Yagami stays the same from beginning to the end, his character story is incredibly bland and frustratingly boring to watch.”
    • “Whereas Lost Judgment, you are playing a guy doing his job, with a weak excuse for emotional investment into the case and basically no character development for Yagami. In Kaito Files, you get to learn a lot more about Kaito and his past, and he is emotionally involved with the story too.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its vibrant cityscapes, immersive settings, and top-notch audio design, which together create a living, breathing world that enhances the narrative experience. Players appreciate the balance of emotional storytelling, engaging characters, and diverse environments, particularly in the contrasting atmospheres of Kamurocho and Ijincho. While some feel the sequel's atmosphere is less polished, the overall ambiance remains captivating, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The vibrant cityscapes and atmospheric settings contribute to an immersive experience that captures the essence of the game’s world.”
    • “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 mix of different architectural styles and atmospheres creates a sense of diversity and depth, making it feel like a living, breathing city and it fits into the narrative's plot very well.”
    • “I believe the narrative plot is better, but I believe the atmosphere is less polished in the 2nd episode.”
    • “Another good thing is that something about the environment, the atmosphere or whatever it was had some sort of appeal, which had me launch the game time after time despite the many times I got annoyed.”
    • “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, and yeah there are some pacing issues in the middle, 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.”
  • stability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game varies significantly across platforms, with the PC version generally praised for its optimization and smooth performance, even on lower-end hardware. However, users report notable bugs, glitches, and frame rate drops, particularly during specific gameplay scenarios and when using certain graphics settings. While the game runs well overall, issues like freezing during area loads and crashes in specific modes detract from the experience.

    • “The PC version is very well optimized and runs great.”
    • “Well optimized, it runs great even on a 1060.”
    • “PC port runs great with high frame rates available.”
    • “It's buggy, feels bad to play, and looks like it was taken out of a web browser game.”
    • “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.”
    • “Glitches will occur if your framerate is too high, and for some reason, AMD Radeon Super Resolution just refuses to work on this game.”
  • replayability
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its engaging substories, multiple endings, and a variety of mini-games and post-game content. Players can enjoy infinite hours of fun through side missions and diverse activities, making it more than just a one-time experience.

    • “The substories add a lot of charm and replayability to the game.”
    • “High replay value with plenty of post-game content.”
    • “Some replay value, but mostly a one-time experience.”
    • “Lacking replayability or post-game content.”
    • “From engaging in drone races to participating in school club activities, these mini-games provide delightful diversions and enhance the game’s replayability.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the game overall but find the presence of in-game ads on the phone feature to be bothersome.

    • “Good game, but it's annoying that there are in-game ads on the in-game phone.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I understand the need for revenue, but the constant prompts to purchase items are frustrating.”

81%Critics’ scoreBased on 67 critic reviews

Buy Lost Judgment

30h Median play time
37h Average play time
20-59h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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