‘Speedrunning’ in video games conjures up images of frantic sprints and glitchy hacks to go so fast possible while skipping so much possible.
But what if you didn’t? to have go that fast?
Lorn’s lure is a first-person platform exploration game. Even though it looks like a retro FPS, you don’t fight: you jump and climb and parkour your way through stunningly massive structures.
You can do this very quickly if you want: the game is basically made for it fast walkingwith built-in timers for level runs and full games. But it’s also built for players (like me!) who will probably never do a speedrun.
What makes this such an entertaining experience for those taking it at a slower pace are the absolutely gigantic environments: they’re astonishing and oppressive, a place that doesn’t feel like it was made for you. And that’s the point! Exploring these massive levels requires some effort from the player: there isn’t a drop of yellow paint in sight. The joy is not just in navigating these words, but in figuring them out.
We spoke to developer Rubeki about their inspiration for the game’s environments, parkour-style gameplay, and their favorite speedrunning games in the video above. If you like it, be sure to check out our other deep dives and developer interviews on our YouTube channel!