Upcoming Stars: Bloom & Rage Heads the Promising 2025 Double-A Roster

Reflecting back on a conversation from a few years ago, I recall casually mentioning in a comment section my ideal game—a Don’t Nod adaptation of a Stephen King novel, specifically “It.” Now, with the upcoming release of Don’t Nod’s self-published game, “Lost Records: Bloom & Rage,” set for early 2025, it feels like someone might’ve tapped into my imagination. The game seems to draw some inspiration from King’s classic 1986 story about an otherworldly spider-clown and a band of misfit kids who confront it.

Let me assure you, I don’t actually believe anyone at Don’t Nod stumbled upon my old comment. It’s just an amusing thought that validates my knack for spotting promising concepts for story-centric adventure games, a genre I deeply admire. Given that some time has passed since the “It” movie remakes captured audiences from 2017 to 2019, the timing seems perfect for new inspired stories to start emerging.

“Lost Records: Bloom & Rage” centers around a group of four friends, weaving between their teenage years in the ’90s and a reunion in their early middle age nearly three decades later. Notably, the 27-year gap is either a clever nod to “It” or quite a spectacular coincidence.

As hinted by the game details, these friends drifted apart after their typical Xennial coming-of-age journey was startlingly disrupted by an uncanny discovery in the woods near their hometown. While trailers and demos keep the nature of this discovery under wraps—showcasing only a glowing, otherworldly purple light at the bottom of a crater—you might start forming your own theories.

At this stage, it’s tough to elaborate much further on “Lost Records.” The marketing strategy seems to thrive on teasing the audience, offering just enough intrigue without revealing too much. Despite my earlier inklings about the storyline, the only thing I can truly anticipate is to expect the unexpected when the game releases in two parts between February and March.

While personally, “Lost Records” aligns perfectly with my gaming preferences, it’s not the only title stirring my excitement for early next year. The initial months of 2025 appear to be a goldmine for notable releases that, while not massive blockbusters, shine too brightly to be considered indie.

I’m particularly thrilled about “Split Fiction,” from the collaboration of Hazelight and EA Originals. It’s a tale of two authors, one crafting sci-fi, the other fantasy, who find themselves ensnared in a publisher’s AI-generated version of their imagined worlds. Those who value playing co-op with a close companion will likely be just as eager for Hazelight’s latest venture, promising a fresh take on genre-blending with surprises in store.

In addition to that, my list includes titles like “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2,” slated for February, following up the beloved albeit gritty medieval RPG; “Two Point Museum,” due in March, which is set to extend the quirky infrastructure management series; and “The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy,” a strategic collaboration from the creators of Danganronpa and Zero Escape, arriving in April. These selections highlight not only the variety of games that await us but also their expansive scope.

Some years are dominated by large-scale triple-A launch events, others by indie breakthroughs. But if 2025 turns into the year of diverse double-As, catering to every niche interest, like it appears it might, then gamers of all stripes could find plenty to be excited about.