Ministry of Lost Things: Case 2 – Finders Keypers (PostCurious) // Review

Ministry of Lost Things: Finders Keypers is the second case in the whimsical puzzle adventure series from PostCurious. Whether you are a veteran Scout for the ‘Department of Returns’ or a new recruit, this standalone instalment in the Ministry of Lost Things series will delight with its clever puzzles and vibrant artwork.

Players: 1+ // Age: 14+ // Playtime: 2-4 hours // Regiftable: Yes; refill kit provided

Requirements: A pencil and an internet-connected device.

Please note: The copy of Ministry of Lost Things – Case 2: Finders Keypers used for this review is a prototype. Artwork and components may differ slightly from the final product. The game is available to back on Kickstarter from 30 September 2025.

Story

“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, they were transported to the Elusiverse. It’s is a parallel world that houses forgotten memories and lost items. The Ministry of Lost Things is tasked with managing misplaced items from our world. Occasionally, something is taken that shouldn’t have been. As a Scout for the Department of Returns, you must help locate and return these items.”

In Case 2, you are tasked with helping Jenna reunite her lost keys and keychains with her trusty carabiner Cari. Are you up for the challenge?

First impressions

A mere day after I published my review of Ministry of Lost Things – Case 1: Lint Condition, a preview copy of the second game arrived. I don’t normally jump straight into the second game in a series, as I like to try and share the spotlight on different companies. Given the imminent launch of Case 2: Finders Keypers on Kickstarter and wanting to help my readers decide if they’d like to back the campaign, it shot to the top of my list.

It’s worth noting that you don’t need to have played Case 1: Lint Condition before this game, although I personally prefer to play games in order. This case is completely standalone and doesn’t feed into a larger narrative arc, which appears to be a conscious decision by PostCurious to make the games more accessible.

I honestly didn’t think it was possible to pack more puns into a box after playing Case 1: Lint Condition; I was wrong. Rita Orlov, Mark Larson and Chelsea Stark have doubled down and found myriad ways to incorporate key puns into this game. I had planned to include some in this review, but frankly, they’ve left no stone unturned!

Finders Keypers features five transmission envelopes, or chapters, which is one more than its predecessor. This is reflected in the slightly longer playtime estimate (up to four hours instead of three). Each transmission features a selection of physical ephemera, including journal entries, sticker sheets, postcards and more. The box also includes a case conclusion envelope and a refill kit.

Gameplay

Getting started

If you are new to the Elusiverse, a welcome letter contained within the box will bring you up to speed. It covers your role in the game, the world you’ll inhabit and outlines the case you’ll be handling. For returning players, the first page of the letter acts more as a refresher, especially if it’s been a while since you solved the first case.

The first task is to log into the Department of Records web portal, which houses key information that you’ll need to complete the case. For every envelope you open, there will be a corresponding set of questions to answer in the web portal. Get everything right and you’ll be invited to open the next envelope and progress to a new set of objectives.

Use of the web portal is fairly minimal, so you won’t be chained to your laptop or phone. If you completed the previous case, you can log in using the same email address. Otherwise, just enter your email address to set up a new account. There isn’t a lengthy form to complete, and you don’t need to remember a password. Just click the link in the email when you receive it and you’ll be logged straight in. It’ll keep track of your progress and allow you to pick up where you left off.

Presentation

Finders Keypers features some really wonderful artwork. I was particularly enamoured with an exquisite set of postcards featured in one of the later transmissions. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, full of character, and so vibrant and colourful. Nicole Gustafsson has such a knack for capturing warmth and whimsy, and these games are all the better for her involvement.

Text on some of the documents felt a little on the small side, which could just be my eyesight, but I think it would benefit from being slightly larger. As the copy I played was a prototype, nothing is fully set in stone, so this may be adjusted before the final release.

Perhaps controversially, I have conflicting feelings about the box for Case 2, which uses the same cover art as Case 1 with a slightly different colour palette. On the one hand, this allows for a nice visual continuity between the boxes, and I do love the artwork. I do think I would have preferred for each box to feature the same style, but a different Ministry of Lost Things setting. It really is a small niggle, though, as the box is still gorgeous.

Puzzles

Keys are a central theme in this game, which carries through across all aspects: puzzles, puns and paraphernalia. You get more bang for your buck this time around, with an extra transmission offering up additional puzzles. Expect to find ciphers, logic puzzles, wordplay, and pattern recognition, among others. Everything feels distinctly PostCurious, in its design and execution, which is definitely a positive. So many of the puzzles were tactile, and I appreciated that gameplay is predominantly offline.

Personal highlights were the beautiful postcard puzzle, which wasn’t particularly challenging, but it was really fun. A jukebox logic puzzle proved tricky for a bit, but left me feeling smug when I finally cracked it. I also really enjoyed the sticker chart puzzle, the ID cards and a fun puzzle involving keys and locks.

Hints & Difficulty

I found the difficulty to be broadly similar to the first case (easy to medium), although a couple of puzzles seemed trickier. I did play solo, so I may have found these easier if playing with someone else. After all, people have different strengths and weaknesses for certain puzzle types. None of the puzzles felt impossible, and overall, there was a good balance of types and difficulty levels.

A tiered hint system is available and works in the same way as the first game. You can access it at all times by clicking ‘HELP’ in the web interface. Some hints for more complex visual puzzles also feature super helpful images.

Verdict

Disclaimer: PostCurious kindly sent me a copy of this game in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences the content of my review.