Lost In Random: The Eternal Die Review
I didn’t expect a return to the world of Random to come in the form of a roguelite, let alone one that ditches the board game mechanics of the original entirely, but “Lost in Random: The Eternal Die” does exactly that. And surprisingly, it works. Stormteller Games takes a bold swing here, shifting from a whimsical, narrative-driven adventure into a chaotic, fast-paced action roguelite with just enough personality and polish to make it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre. This time around, I played as Queen Aleksandra, the former ruler of Random who now finds herself on a grim quest for redemption, armed with four swappable weapons, a deck of mystical cards, and the ever-reliable die-companion, Fortune. The moment-to-moment action is quick and twitchy, but it’s never brainless. Every encounter forces you to make tactical choices on the fly, when to dodge, when to summon a relic, when to go all-in on a risky dice roll that might swing the tide or blow up in your face. That constant tension between control and randomness gives “The Eternal Die” its unique flavor.
Combat is where the game truly shines. The mix of melee and ranged weapons, along with elemental relics and over a dozen powerful abilities, creates a fluid combat sandbox that rewards experimentation. I never settled into a single build for long, one run I leaned hard into a fire-and-poison relic synergy, the next I was stacking cooldown-reducing cards and playing more like a hyper-agile glass cannon. With over a hundred relics, fifteen ability cards, and four fully upgradeable weapons, the build variety is impressive, and I always felt like I was discovering new combinations or tactics to try. That said, the dice mechanic is the real twist. Mid-fight, I’d roll Fortune to manipulate the battlefield, sometimes freezing enemies, sometimes summoning hazards, or even triggering high-stakes wager events where one lucky toss could land me a powerful boon or a serious setback. These moments walk a tightrope between thrilling and frustrating. When the dice favored me, I felt like a genius. When they didn’t, it stung, but that unpredictability is baked into the game’s identity, and for the most part, it’s more engaging than annoying.
Between runs, I’d return to the Sanctuary, a safe hub where I could chat with quirky allies, accept side quests, and upgrade my gear using the resources I’d gathered. This layer of meta-progression helps soften the sting of death and adds a nice sense of forward momentum. Even after a failed run, I usually felt like I’d unlocked something worthwhile or discovered a new bit of lore. The four biomes you’ll explore are randomized but tied together by a cohesive, unmistakably Burton-esque art style, dark fairytale landscapes filled with crooked architecture, moody lighting, and bizarre enemy designs that look like they wandered out of a sketchbook and into a nightmare. It’s the kind of atmosphere that sticks with you, and combined with a haunting, melancholic soundtrack and fully voiced dialogue, it gives the game a strong sense of place, even when you’re doing repeat runs through similar layouts.
Not everything hits perfectly. The story, while functional, never resonated as deeply as the original’s strange fairy tale vibe. Aleksandra’s journey is more of a framing device than a narrative centerpiece, and though there are multiple endings to discover, I never felt all that compelled to chase them for the plot alone. And yes, the roguelite structure brings with it the usual pitfalls, some repetition, some randomness-induced frustration, but the systems in place mostly balance it out with depth and progression. What I appreciated most about “The Eternal Die” is that it doesn’t just slap a roguelite label on top of a recognizable IP, it completely reinvents it. And in doing so, it breathes new life into the world of Random. The combat is sharp, the mechanics are fresh, and the aesthetic is as weird and wonderful as ever. It might not reach the narrative heights of the original game, but as a mechanically rich, visually distinct roguelite, this one’s got real staying power. I came for the charm, but I stayed for the dice rolls.
8.5/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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