Ministry of Lost Things: Case 1 – Lint Condition (PostCurious) // Review

Ministry of Lost Things: Lint Condition is the first case in a whimsical puzzle game series from PostCurious. Take up the role of Scout at the Ministry of Lost Things and help reunite humans with their lost possessions. It won’t be easy, but it will be a lot of fun!

Players: 1+ // Age: 14+ // Playtime: 2 hours+ // Regiftable: Yes; refill kit provided

Requirements: A pencil, an internet-connected device and an appreciation of puns.

First impressions

PostCurious is known for its lengthy, detailed games, filled with challenging puzzles, intricate physical components and rich narratives. What’s been missing from the line-up, until now, is some lighter, more accessible entry points into the PostCurious catalogue, and the world of puzzle games in general. Introducing… Ministry of Lost Things!

Ever wondered what happened to the sock that vanished from your dryer, or the set of keys you were certain you hung back on their hook? Well, I have it on good authority that they were most likely transported to the mysterious Elusiverse. For the uninitiated, the Elusiverse is a parallel world that houses forgotten memories and lost items. Within this world exists an organisation known as the Ministry of Lost Things. Its purpose, in case it wasn’t obvious, is to manage misplaced items from our world. Occasionally, a signal will come through from the Realisphere (Earth) to indicate that an item of particular sentimental value has been taken in error. But fear not, a team of Scouts are tasked with locating these items and returning them to their owners. As a player, you take on the role of a Scout.

Gameplay

Getting started

Your ultimate aim for this game is to work out what item is missing, who it belongs to and where it was last seen. Everything you need to crack the case is contained within a deceptively small, but very pretty, box. You’ll find six labelled envelopes, including four ‘transmissions’ or chapters and a case conclusion. You’ll work through each envelope in sequential order until you reach the final solution. The sixth envelope contains a refill kit to replace any items you may have written on during gameplay. Helpfully, these particular items have a little pencil icon to indicate that they are replaceable! It may seem like a small detail, but I found it freeing to know what I could and couldn’t ‘destroy’.

Each M.O.L.T. case has a designated serial number, which you’ll need to access the classified records. You’ll find these records in the web interface; a link is included in your welcome letter. To gain access to the Department of Returns web portal, simply enter your email address and click on the link in the verification email that is sent to you. There are no passwords to remember or lengthy forms to fill out! The portal itself is primarily used to guide you through the game, with tasks and answer verification. All you have to do is follow the instructions and open up each envelope when you are asked to.

Presentation

Hats off to Nicole Gustafsson, Chief Illustrator! The box art is glorious, masterfully conveying the game’s magical, whimsical and cosy nature. It has a warming colour palette and features so many tiny, intricate details. Keep an eye out for some cryptic messages that may need deciphering… Nicole’s work in general is fantastic, but I couldn’t imagine anyone better suited to this project. I’m delighted to know that she will be returning for future instalments, which will also allow for visual continuity between the cases.

The Elusiverse map, which is illustrated in a similar style to the box art, is one of my favourite components in the game. Every time I look at it, I notice new, hidden details. I also love the illustrations for the characters in the game, along with some jigsaw-style cards featuring a selection of random, colourful items.

Puzzles

The mix of puzzles in Lint Condition allows for gameplay that’s tactile, layered and immersive. You can expect to be cracking ciphers, manipulating objects, solving logic puzzles and brushing off your maths skills. I was met with some wonderful ah-ha moments along the way, and felt that the puzzles were woven into the story really well. For example, having to learn how to decipher ‘Gneesterese’, the Elusiverse language, to unlock the location names on the map.

I loved solving a jigsaw centred around a pile of socks, and cracking a message hidden among some children’s drawings. There is a nice variety of tasks to complete, which will play to different people’s strengths when teaming up. The game ultimately reaches a satisfying conclusion, with an actual reward for your hard work. What this is, I will not say, beyond the fact that it is a lovely keepsake and one of my favourite components in the game.

A Whole New World

I have to take a moment to highlight the wonderful world-building in this game. Rita, Chelsea and Mark have created a brilliantly well-realised parallel world with its own language, naming conventions and metaphysical rules. It’s also a world laden with clever puns that permeate every inch of the game, from locations to character names. The colourful cast brought a smile to my face; vibrant, funny and perfectly named (i.e. Wooliam). I look forward to seeing how the world will continue to expand and evolve in future cases, along with the new faces that will pop up on the way.

Hints & Difficulty

Lint Condition is a great entry-level game into the PostCurious catalogue. That isn’t to say it is extremely easy; most will still find some level of challenge, but for puzzle enthusiasts, it will be a less taxing but fun experience.

Despite the lower difficulty level for this game, you may still need a helping hand at some points. Thankfully, a tiered hint system is accessible at all times by clicking ‘Help’ in the web application. This has really well-written hints, and you can choose how much or how little you want to see.

Verdict