Lost and Found Co. – Find the Things, Save a Goddess!

“Getting lost is just another way of saying ‘going exploring’.” – Justina Chen Headley

Overview

Lost and Found Co. is a cosy hidden object adventure game in which players visit a vast array of colourful locations in which to solve puzzles, find lost items, and help a forgotten goddess regain her power.

Narrative

Unlike a lot of hidden object games, Lost and Found Co. has a strong narrative aspect that is integral to the game. It follows Mei Long, a weakened and forgotten goddess, alongside her new assistant Ducky, as they start a lost and found company in a bid to gain followers by earning the faith of the locals and, in doing so, return Mei to her former glory, lest she disappear! To make things more complicated, they must also work to save Mei’s millennia-old shrine from the corporate villain Zorro, a famed businessman monopolising the local area and running in the upcoming election.

Overall, the game provides a light but engaging narrative, whimsical but with a good amount of mischief and some mild peril to keep things interesting. It is delivered largely through dialogue and comic-book style cutscenes, often reinforced by the gameplay itself, such as through the specific tasks or setting of each level.

Gameplay

Lost and Found Co. has all the things you might expect from a hidden object game, but offers an elevated experience somewhat akin to a light adventure game or interactive fiction. Players progress through the various story mode levels, requiring a certain number of followers in order to advance. More followers can be obtained by also completing the various challenge levels that come in four difficulties. Each level will have a selection of individual objects, all with clues, for players to find. Some will require interaction with another object first, others, once discovered, will reveal a secondary item or character that also needs to be found. While searching for different things, players will sometimes spot slightly glitchy, black and white objects which are, in fact, camouflaged cursed spirits called Juju. If caught, they can be used to access extra hints.

Within each level, there are also additional, optional requests, such as finding all the balloons or all the unique animals; these work more like puzzles and often require some deduction or action in order to manage them successfully. A common additional task is to take a photo of a specific character (usually with a pun-tastic name such as John Lemon) to post to Instapix in a bid to gain followers. Instapix can be accessed via a phone with a number of other functions, such as photos and messages.

As Lost and Found Co. is a business, Mei and Ducky earn money, which can be spent on upgrading and decorating the shrine, particularly Ducky’s room. A friendly fox called Kit sells a sizeable array of items which can be used to customise the space. This provides another fun aspect to the gameplay and is a nice way to take a short break from the main hidden object gameplay, which requires more focus and concentration.

Styling

Lost and Found Co. boasts a cute, anime art style and themes, using bold outlines and solid, vibrant colours to depict scenes with an isometric viewpoint. There is a huge range of characters and scenes to encounter, all presented in the same bubbly cartoon-like visuals that perfectly fit the tone of the narrative and gameplay.

The game’s soundtrack is quite varied, matching different tracks with each level or scene. The music ranges from stealthy tracks with a mysterious feel and short, punchy, staccato notes to more upbeat, jolly tunes with a faster tempo. Sounds such as plucked string instruments, traditional woodwind, and twinkling elements feature heavily, helping to reiterate the themes and styling of the game as well as aiding immersion in the narrative. A strong selection of adorable and sometimes amusing sound effects also helps to bring the game world to life.

Summary

Lost and Found Co. is a fantastic game with a casual feel overall. It offers quality hidden object gameplay alongside a host of additional mechanics, such as more puzzling challenges and room customisation. Additionally, the game offers a well-written and captivating narrative full of fun characters, delightful cartoon visuals, and an eclectic and immersive soundtrack. The experience is cohesive and well-rounded, with none of the elements feeling tacked on or gimmicky. It is a highly satisfying game that will easily appeal to a broad audience and a variety of gamer types. I would definitely recommend it to fans of hidden object games, but also those who may find typical offerings in the genre to be unengaging or too minimal.

If you enjoy hidden object games, you may also be interested in these reviews:
Hidden in my Paradise – Hidden Through Time – A Building Full of Cats – Wind Peaks