Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a single-player narrative adventure about four friends, a pivotal summer in 1995, and the adult lives they return to in 2022. It launched in two parts: Tape 1, “Bloom,” arrived on February 18, 2025, and Tape 2, “Rage,” followed as a free update on April 15, 2025. This review considers the complete story, not just the first episode.
What kind of story is Lost Records: Bloom & Rage?
Swann, Nora, Autumn, and Kat are high-school friends whose summer in 1995 becomes bound up with a mysterious event. The story moves between that summer and 2022, when the friends are adults. DON’T NOD describes the game as a narrative adventure in which decisions across both periods affect relationships and the story.
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Lost Records - Bloom & Rage PS5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The setup is part friendship drama and part mystery. The appeal depends on whether you enjoy spending time with characters before every question has an answer: the everyday conversations and shifting bonds are not simply a prelude to the supernatural thread, but a central part of the experience. Creative Director Michel Koch described the themes as “finding your own space among your friends, overcoming adversity, growing up, and embracing who you are” in the developer’s February 18, 2025 launch announcement.
How do choices and the camcorder shape play?
Dialogue and relationships
Much of the play revolves around conversations, choices, and exploring the spaces around the characters. The four-friend dynamic gives those choices their context: how Swann responds can shape relationships and the story, rather than functioning as detached dialogue trivia. The official description confirms that decisions in both timelines matter, but does not quantify how many branches or endings there are; it is better to approach choices as part of shaping the group’s dynamics than to expect a particular amount of radically different content.
#1 Best Overall
- Includes: Reversible Cover Art, Tape 1 "Bloom" & Tape 2 "Rage" All On One Disc, & 3 Double-sided Art Cards
- A 27-YEAR PROMISE: Navigate between dual timelines and shape both narratives – in 1995 and 2022
- CAPTURE & CONNECT: Connect with your newfound sisterhood through lifelike interactions and conversations that feel real
- GIRLS TO THE FRONT: Connect with your newfound sisterhood through lifelike interactions and conversations that feel real
- A NOSTALGIC DREAMSCAPE: In a picturesque corner of Michigan in 1995 lies the seemingly sleepy little town of Velvet Cove
Filming the summer
Swann’s camcorder is the game’s most distinctive play device. It lets her film the summer and look at the world through the camera lens, adding a personal, observational quality to exploration. The device fits the story’s concern with memory and perspective: it is a way of paying attention to the world the friends inhabit, not a promise of action-game combat or a separate filming simulator. The PlayStation product description presents the camcorder as a central part of Swann’s experience.
Does the slow build and mystery work?
The main question for prospective players is pacing. If you like character-led stories that take time to establish a place, a friend group, and old tensions, the everyday texture is part of the point. If you want the mystery to take over quickly, the measured buildup may feel like a delay. The two timelines offer a useful contrast between the friends’ teenage summer and their adult return to it, while also asking the player to piece together what connects them.
In a review published at the first-part launch, Pierre Trouvé of Le Monde highlighted the alternation between adult Swann in 2022 and the vivid summer of 1995, as well as the four-character and supernatural elements. That February review covered only Tape 1 and noted its cliffhanger; it cannot establish how the full story pays off after Tape 2. With both tapes now available, the complete mystery can be experienced without waiting for a later episode, but the source material does not establish a broad critical consensus about its final payoff.
Is it one game or two episodes?
Bloom & Rage was released in two tapes, but it is not a pair of separately sold episodes. Tape 1, “Bloom,” launched February 18, 2025. Tape 2, “Rage,” launched April 15, 2025 as a free downloadable update for owners. DON’T NOD’s FAQ says the tapes are not sold separately and describes both parts as included in the purchase. A launch-era review that covered only Tape 1 therefore assessed an incomplete story; the complete-game assessment here includes the April update.
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How long is Lost Records: Bloom & Rage?
DON’T NOD estimates approximately 10–12 hours to complete the game, depending on playstyle and how much you explore. This is the developer’s estimate, not an independently measured completion time. Players who move quickly through conversations and exploration may spend less time, while thorough exploration can extend a narrative playthrough.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What platforms is it available on?
The game is available on PC through Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. DON’T NOD’s FAQ says it is not available for PS4 or Xbox One. A physical PS5 edition was announced through the publisher’s partnership with Maximum Entertainment, but current stock and retailer availability can change.
PC requirements
The publisher’s February 2025 FAQ lists an SSD as required and gives these PC tiers. Store specifications can change, so check the current Steam listing before buying or upgrading hardware.
| Tier | RAM | Graphics class | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 8 GB | GTX 1050 Ti / RX 560 / Intel Arc A380 class | SSD required |
| Recommended | 16 GB | RTX 3080 / RX 6800 XT class | SSD required |
| Optimum | 16 GB | RTX 4090 | SSD required |
The listed recommended and optimum graphics tiers are demanding, so do not assume a modest gaming PC will match the developer’s higher-end recommendations. The FAQ does not provide a performance target or resolution for these tiers.
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The publisher lists an 18 rating under PEGI and Mature under ESRB. PlayStation’s content descriptors include mild blood, sexual themes, strong language, use of drugs and alcohol, and violence. For more detail about suitability, consult DON’T NOD’s content-warning page; the descriptors alone do not establish how or how often particular material appears.
DON’T NOD lists English and French audio. Subtitles are listed for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain and Latin America), Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian. The FAQ also describes customizable accessibility and control options; a controller is optional on PC.
Verdict
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is best suited to players who value character chemistry, reflective exploration, and a mystery that develops alongside a friendship story. Its 1995/2022 structure and Swann’s camcorder give the narrative a clear identity, while the two-tape release means the full story is now available together. The main reservation is pacing: the slow, slice-of-life buildup will be a strength for some players and a hurdle for those looking for immediate momentum. The strongest reason to play is the chance to spend time with this group and see how their summer and adult lives connect.
Quick Recap
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