Years ago, I casually mentioned in the comments section of an article about video games inspired by Stephen King stories how I would love to see a Don’t Nod adaptation of “It.” Recently, that memory has been playing on my mind ever since Don’t Nod announced a new project, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Set for release in early 2025, this game feels heavily influenced by King’s legendary 1986 novel about an otherworldly spider-clown and a band of misfit heroes determined to defeat it.
Now, before anyone thinks I’m pulling a smug “I told you so,” let’s be clear: I don’t believe for a second that the folks at Don’t Nod were searching through game site comments for ideas. It’s just a delightful coincidence that I get to prove I have a knack for spotting great concepts for narrative-driven adventure games, a genre I’m passionate about. The timing is also perfect, considering it’s been a few years since the “It” remake films graced movie theaters between 2017 and 2019, setting the stage for spiritual successors to emerge.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage involves a group of friends navigating two distinct timelines: their nostalgic teenage years in the 1990s and their reunion in early middle-age after nearly thirty years apart. Interestingly, there’s a 27-year gap—the same as in “It”—which could either be a playful nod to King’s work or a strangely precise coincidence.
Just like the eerie parallels in “It,” this group of four split ways following a surprising Xennial coming-of-age tale, which was rudely interrupted by a discovery in the woods near their hometown. This unusual find, cleverly kept somewhat mysterious in the trailers we’ve seen, lies at the base of a crater, emitting a mysterious purple glow. So, feel free to hypothesize what that might entail.
There’s a limited amount of information available about Lost Records at the moment, likely by design from the developers. They’re going heavy on the intrigue while playing coy with the details that would demystify the game. While I may have had some foresight about the game’s setting, the true surprises will only reveal themselves when the game is released in two parts come February and March.
Lost Records hits a sweet spot for me personally, blending elements I’m really into, but it’s not the only game luring me to the calendar next year. While there aren’t many blockbuster titles filling up the early 2025 schedule, a treasure trove of mid-sized releases is definitely making my anticipation grow.
One title that stands out is Split Fiction, a collaboration between Hazelight and EA Originals. It follows two authors – one into science fiction, the other into fantasy – as they navigate an AI-generated mashup of their fictional worlds, courtesy of a sketchy publisher. For everyone out there savoring couch co-op moments as much as I do, it looks like Hazelight’s new project is set to bring back that classic experience while offering a genre-blending twist unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Beyond these, there’s Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 arriving in February, acting as a gritty reminder of medieval knights’ grueling lives. March will see the return of civic planning chaos with Two Point Museum, and The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy will launch as a thrilling turn-based tactics game in April, thanks to a collaboration between the masterminds behind Danganronpa and Zero Escape. These titles showcase the rich diversity and vast scope of what early 2025 has in store.
Some years are dominated by massive triple-A releases, while others lean heavily into indie curiosities. But if 2025 manages to carve a niche path by presenting a delightful array of double-A titles that cater to specific nerdy interests, it promises to be a year filled with captivating gaming experiences. I suspect we’ll have little to grumble about.
