With Spooky Season upon us, why not take the opportunity to dive into this beautifully haunting-looking game with the creepy aesthetic? I have got to be THE most impatient person I know (and that’s saying something), especially when it comes to things that I like. Spooky season happens to be my very favorite of all the seasons, from the creepy décor on all my neighbors’ homes to the amazing fall-flavored drinks and scary movies! As impatient as I am, I find myself replaying my favorite Tim Burton movies, year-round, especially the animated ones, as I am a HUGE fan of the breathtaking artwork that never fails to impress the fanbase. So, if you are anything like me, you would instantly revel over the graphics in The Eternal Die as it features a dark, gothic, and whimsical art style that blends a cozy, creepy aesthetic with a twisted, imaginative world, drawing inspiration from Tim Burton and other dark fairy tales.
For those who are already familiar with the franchise, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die picks up where the previous game, Lost in Random, left off with a bit of a twist. Aleksandra, better known as the Queen of Random, the antagonist in the original installation of the game, has made a bit of a heel-faced turn in the Eternal Die as she has now become the main character and protagonist of this game! What a turn of events, huh? I mean, I would never have guessed that she would become the new main character, as I am so used to the antagonists remaining as such across all game instalments, where the only actual change is simply that they have become more powerful. The game developers absolutely knew what they were doing by taking this story in a new direction, offering a fresh perspective to the storyline.
In the game, Queen Aleksandra attempts to destroy the Black Die but is consumed by it, becoming a child trapped in its realm and accompanied by her die-companion Fortune. Under the control of the villainous Mare the Knight (got to love the play on words), who manipulated events and murdered her sister in the first game, Aleksandra journeys through the die’s nightmarish, randomly generated realms seeking revenge. Her choices in this rogue-like adventure will influence her path towards revenge or redemption.
Thankfully, Aleksandra is not on this journey alone; she is accompanied by Fortune, who is her trusty dice companion and is also her last connection to her lost sister Natalya. She also encounters a slew of allies along the way, some that are discovered within the different levels, along with some familiar ones that appear in The Sanctuary, the more you progress through the game. In Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, when you lose, you don’t start from scratch but instead retain essential resources called cinder and pip dust. You will lose upgrades and temporary buffs gained during the failed run, but this “eternal die” mechanic is designed to turn failure into a story progression and a learning opportunity rather than a demoralizing reset, allowing you to grow stronger and uncover more about the characters.
The Sanctuary, or Hub, is the realm that you spawn into every time you die in the game. There, you can use the different forms of currency to purchase items to help you along your journey. Aama provides blessings and upgrades, Rack provides new weapons and enhancements, The Rug Reader handles your wardrobe, providing aesthetically pleasing outfits for you and Fortune. Anything purchased within The Sanctuary is permanent.
Throughout your runs, the player can find and activate Blessings at Shrines throughout the game world. These provide permanent passive benefits to Queen Aleksandra, such as increased damage, improved movement, or new combat options. Glory is also earned by completing quests, defeating enemies, and finding hidden collectibles. This is the currency used to purchase permanent upgrades at Shrines and can also be used to unlock upgrades for your cards, which are obtained throughout the game by completing objectives or discovering new locations and items. Just like the character, cards can also be permanently upgraded using Glory. This can enhance their effects or unlock new ways to use them in combat. The game allows you to experiment with different blessing combinations at shrines to discover what works best with your preferred weapon and playstyle. The player must keep in mind that both the weapons and the deck of cards are part of the combat arsenal. They are meant for you to use in combination to tackle enemies and challenges.
In my honest opinion, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is extremely engaging and contains a smart progression system. The game is very well-crafted, featuring smooth animations, detailed character models and impressive voice acting and sound design. I didn’t feel so bad when I died because I noticed that you benefit from your deaths as it is how you can enter The Sanctuary to purchase all of your permanent weapons, gear, blessings and upgrades. This gives a very satisfying sense of reward and replayability from the relic system and variety of content, making it an excellent and addictive action roguelike. I also very much enjoyed the soundtrack as it also complements the game’s eerie and fairytale-esque atmosphere, contributing to the overall unique tone.
As addictive as the game is, it does have its faults. The storyline was a big one for me since it feels very disjointed, and it doesn’t really carry the same emotional depth and heartfelt moments as the original Lost in Random. It is a bit off-putting to newcomers of the franchise since the narrative isn’t clearly set up, so it may be slightly confusing and uninviting to those who purchased Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, BEFORE playing the original installment of Lost in Random. Despite being roguelike, there’s not enough randomness in the key mechanics, like boss fights or starting equipment, which makes the game somewhat linear.
I am a sucker for a good storyline, but the whimsical, melancholic, and emotionally layered soul of the original game is mostly gone, leaving the world feeling like a beautiful but shallow playground. This aspect can be a bit disappointing to the fans of the original game, like myself, because it feels like the game is missing the story that gave the game its real charm. It is overall a pretty good game, but it does leave me feeling a bit of emptiness due to the missing storyline components. Is the missing storyline a dealbreaker for me? No, but only because I am also a fan of straightforward combat style games, and I don’t see how anyone could not absolutely fall in love with how adorable Fortune is!!
Positives
💚 Rewarding Combat and Progression
💚 Fun Rogue-like Gameplay
💚 Visually Appealing & Polished
💚 High Replay Value
Negatives
❌ The story is more of a backdrop
❌ Weak Narrative for players who are new to the franchise
❌ Gameplay may be too short for experienced players
36yr old mom of 3! I am what you call a SUPERMOM, as I manage to maintain a 4.0GPA in my online schooling towards my associate’s degree in science for medical billing and coding, while absolutely crushing it at this mom thing! I am also a twitch streamer and content creator, and I also run my own discord community for fellow gamers and streamers alike! I love cats, baking, art and singing!
Written by
Kitty
Lost in Random The Eternal Die
by Stormteller Games & Thunderful Publishing
PC (Steam), Playstation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch
Edited by
Lewis Langton
