This brand new hidden object game from Thai animation studio Bit Egg Inc. is a gem that every player should be eager to find.
Unlimited findings
In Lost and Found Co., players are tasked with providing Lost and Found services as a quite silly cast of characters. The game is structured into missions that can be accessed from an overworld that has a surprising amount of depth. It doesn’t confine itself to a simple level-by-level structure, instead providing ways to make the game feel like a personal experience for each player.
I wasn’t expecting there to be such an entertaining story to accompany a hidden-object game. Despite introducing some stakes throughout the first half of the game, our protagonists Ducky and Mei — as well as the friends they meet along the way — keep the story light and whimsical. Even the stakes of the game are presented in very cartoonish and fun ways. It toes the balance of presenting a fun story to follow while not taking itself seriously enough to bore or stress players.
For an animation studio, I was surprised to see that the little animations that give visual story beats were quite low resolution. It was something that, every once in a while, disappointed me, but was immediately forgotten once I was back in the very polished animations of the actual game itself. It is around a 99% to 1% split between in-game animations and those animated comic-style cutscenes, so it did very little to affect my enjoyment of the game other than a few seconds worth at a time. While I wish those particular animations were better, I only find myself reflecting now on how stylized and well-designed the rest of the game was.
Finding your way
The scope of the game increases to unexpected levels. Considering the game is comprised of completely hand-drawn objects and animations, the complexity held in level designs is astounding. Not only does Bit Egg ensure every environment is full, but they even go the extra mile by including tons of optional content in each level. Gathering groups of similar people, finding secret rooms, disrupting sneaking ninjas, and countless other activities are on the list of bonus tasks that can be completed alongside the main quest in each level.
There are also side-missions to explore to keep the content rolling. To be able to take on new jobs for the main quest, a certain number of “likes” must be received from doing jobs. Those likes can be earned from the tasks and extra tasks in main quest missions, but can also be earned by doing side missions. These extra jobs really help players who are having a tough time finishing tedious bonus tasks in main quest missions, but want to move on in the story. The side missions are handled with just as much care as the rest of the game, and just as much fun to play.
Never too lost
Coming down to the last few objects in a hidden object game can result in tedious, dragging moments. Fortunately, Lost and Found Co. eliminates almost all possible instances of this. Clicking on the icon for an object gives an initial hint, usually one that is vague enough not to immediately give it away, while providing a bit of context about what areas to look around. In smaller settings, this can sometimes result in a dead giveaway, but as the scope of missions get larger, the hints will eventually become crucial to anybody who doesn’t want to spend over an hour looking for a single object.
Not only is there the option for a hint per object, but by spotting out greyscale out-of-place objects in each environment, you can earn the ability to access an even more detailed hint for an object. Mechanics like these that are integral parts of modernizing this genre, implemented in creative ways that fit the style and environment, make the game feel like more than just point-and-click.
Featured findings
Even more than adapting hidden object games to modern game design and putting on a masterclass of it, Lost and Found Co. has even more features to make the game feel more rewarding. Completing jobs earns you both currency and items. The items can be used to decorate the inside of Ducky’s room at the Lost and Found Co. office, as well as the exterior of the office square. The currency can be used to buy even more items to customize the office locations with. By the end of the game, each player can have a very unique style to the room and office that is littered with keepsakes related to missions and characters in the game.
This feature really rounds out the tone of the game, that being one that’s meant to be enjoyed while relaxing. The visuals are great, but there’s nothing wrong with putting a show or movie on another monitor while playing. The soundtrack is sweet and calm, but there’s nothing wrong with popping a CD or vinyl on while you hunt down objects. All features of the game keep your brain occupied, and it creates a relaxing environment that makes the player eager to return to the game, knowing that it’s nothing but pure enjoyable downtime.
Found the formula
Lost and Found Co. is a mixture of game design with passion that is created for an undersaturated market. Video games are often built as competitors to the titans of whatever genre they’re created in. Bit Egg decided to focus instead on servicing a genre that hasn’t had nearly as many high-quality releases in the modern gaming landscape. As an animation studio, it knew its strengths lay in its visual designs. They honed in on a genre all about art and style, using its animation prowess and combining it with satisfying and relaxing game design. The result was a pleasant, low-stress, delightful experience. More importantly, setting an expectation for other games in the genre to meet, it proves that hidden object games are far from an object of the past.
Hidden object games are one of the most accessible genres there is. While not every player is going to be drawn in by this style of game, it is a game that can be enjoyed by any kind of gamer. Don’t let your usual genre confines hold you back from exploring something lighthearted and fun. Lost and Found Co. is a modern take on a historied genre that shows just how far you can take a “simple” genre when a studio understands game design and develops a game with love and care.
Lost and Found Co. is out now on PC.
