According to a recent post on the game’s Twitter page, Lost Words was announced to be included in the lineup of games, published by Modus Games, for this year’s E3 2019 event. The upcoming game is a beautiful, watercolored fantasy-adventure co-developed by Sketchbook Games and Fourth State studios. The project will be showcased alongside other titles including Bear With Me, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, and Ary and the Secret of Seasons.
Lost Words is a 2D platforming puzzle game focusing on the writing process of a young girl named Izzy. To help her cope with her grandmother’s stroke, Izzy begins writing a fantasy novel. In her journal, she imagines a magical world, known as Estoria, and creates herself as the protagonist and guardian of the realm. Half of the game will be played on the actual pages of Izzy’s diary. Players will need to utilize written words to construct pathways to help the protagonist continue onto the next page. The second half will take place in the fantastical world of Estoria. Here, Izzy’s words have the power to influence and alter the world’s environment. Players will need to help secure safe passage for the protagonist to navigate the realm. All of the player’s decisions greatly influence the final outcome of the story, making for a variety of unique possible playthroughs.
A major theme of the game is dealing with feelings of grief or the loss of a loved one. The team seems to be aiming to touch on the heavy topic in a more positive light, even consulting with mental health professionals in order to portray a realistic depiction of grief. The game will feature a fully voice-acted, original and emotional narrative crafted by experienced video game writer and journalist, Rhianna Pratchett.
Sketchbook Games and Fourth State have yet to reveal an estimated release period. However, fans can add the game to their Steam wishlist in order to be notified when the game becomes available. For more information and updates on the development of Lost Words, be sure to visit the game’s website or check out its official Twitter page.