Lost In Cult

Lost In Cult
Industry
  • Video games
  • Book publishing
Founded2020; 6 years ago (2020)
FounderJon Doyle
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Benjamin Hayhoe (CEO)
  • Chris Schilling (editorial director)
  • Ryan Brown (head of publishing)
Websitewww.lostincult.co.uk

Lost In Cult is a UK-based video game design collective and book publisher. The company was founded in 2020. It produces books on video game history and design, gaming journals, board games, and vinyls.

The company's Editions label releases physical video games that include extras such as posters and essays.

History

Lost in Cult was founded in 2020, by Jon Doyle. Doyle met the studio's CEO, Benjamin Hayhoe, whilst they worked at the magazine Switch Player.

Products

Many Lost In Cult products are limited edition.

Books

In April 2023, Lost In Cult's first crowdfunded book, A Handheld History was announced. The book covers the history of handheld game consoles. It was released in October 2023, and praised for its "new and personalised perspective". In April 2024, the studio announced The Console Chronicles, a series of essays on the history of console gaming. It was created in collaboration with Time Extension, sponsored by The Embracer Games Archive, and released on October 1, 2024. In August 2024, the studio announced Kill the Past, a book on the history of the studio Grasshopper Manufacture. The book was released in mid-2025, and includes interviews with Suda51 and Shinji Mikami. In July 2025, the studio released Joysticks To Haptics, a book on the history of video game controllers.

In March 2024, YouTuber Jacob Geller announced How a Game Lives, a book of essays published in collaboration with Lost In Cult. A second book titled You're Not Overthinking It was planned. In October 2026, Geller publicly admitted to sexual assault. In response, Lost In Cult removed the books from sale, and stated that it would no longer work with him.

Design Works

The studio's Design Works series includes books on video game design, and vinyl records of game soundtracks. It has produced books for Mundaun and Sable.

In May 2023, Lost in Cult announced fundraising for a Citizen Sleeper Design Works artbook.

In September 2024, the company announced Outer Wilds: Design Works. The deluxe edition included items such as a papercraft model, posters, and stickers.

In April 2025, the company announced Immortality: Design Works. It was the company's largest book, at almost 600 pages. The book covers the creation of Immortality, and of the three films produced for it. It uses thermo-reactive-ink and differing page sizes to reflect the game's themes.

In May 2025, the company announced a book on the creation of Animal Well, which released in 2026. In August 2025, the company announced a book on the history of Alan Wake.

Lock On

Lost In Cult creates Lock-On gaming journals, which include essays and artwork. The project began in 2021. The first volume was funded through a Kickstarter campaign, and focused on PlayStation consoles.

Board games

In October 2025, Lost In Cult announced its first board game, an adaptation of Phasmophobia.

In March 2026, it was announced that Lost In Cult was adapting World of Horror into a card-based board game. Shintaro Kago, Noroi Michiru, Kanafuro Taro, and Cojima Miyako worked on the art for the deluxe edition.

Vinyls

In April 2025, Lost in Cult announced Kenji Eno 55: Soundworks, a box set of vinyls dedicated to the Japanese musician and designer Kenji Eno. It includes fifty-five tracks, on seven discs.

Labels

Editions

In late 2023, Lost in Cult began work on Editions, a physical game label which releases editions of games that include physical extras such as posters and essays. The label focuses on preserving indie games.

Editions was announced in May 2025. The first releases were Immortality, Thank Goodness You're Here!, and The Excavation of Hob's Barrow. Only a few thousand copies of each game were released. Other 2025 releases were Paper Trail, Arco, Norco, and Promise Mascot Agency. In July 2025, Lost In Cult announced the publication of a physical edition of Animal Well. Derek Yu created art for the project.

The studio planned to release one game per month until July 2026. The games were sold in mass retail and premium editions. Retail editions are available online and in physical shops, whilst premium editions are only available though Lost In Cult's website.

The games can be played without internet access. Lost In Cult partnered with DoesItPlay?, a game preservation group, which tested the games for offline functionality.

Editions has been compared to The Criterion Collection.

Marketing director Ryan Brown is also the head of Editions.

Everything Not Saved

In May 2023, Lost In Cult launched "Everything Not Saved", a label that preserves video game culture.

Awards

Year Organisation Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2023 MCV/Develop Awards Newcomer of the Year Lost In Cult Won

References

  1. 1 2 3 Goodchild, Wayne (5 May 2026). ""We're Fighting to Assign Critical and Historical Value to Games" – an Interview With Lost In Cult". Eneba. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 McEvoy, Sophie (20 May 2025). "Lost in Cult launches physical games publishing label". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Goodchild, Wayne (21 May 2025). "Lost in Cult Introduce Combined Game Preservation/Physical Media Initiative". Eneba. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Colantonio, Giovanni (20 May 2025). "The Criterion Collection of video games is finally here". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 McFerran, Damien (3 October 2023). "Lost In Cult On Books, Vinyl And Working With PlayStation, Naughty Dog And HarperCollins". Time Extension. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (8 April 2022). "Lost In Cult's 'A Handheld History' Is An Unofficial Love Letter To Portable Gaming". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 10 July 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  7. ↑ Phillips, Rebecca (22 September 2023). "Interview With Independent Book Publisher Lost In Cult On A Handheld History". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 5 October 2026. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  8. 1 2 Bonthuys, Darryn (17 April 2024). "New Lost In Cult Book Chronicles The Rich History Of Console Gaming". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  9. ↑ McFerran, Damien (26 September 2023). "Lost In Cult And Time Extension Announce 'The Console Chronicles'". Pure Xbox. Archived from the original on 11 May 2026. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  10. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (20 August 2024). "Lost In Cult Is Launching A Huge Book On The History Of Grasshopper Manufacture". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 29 September 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  11. ↑ Bonthuys, Darryn (31 March 2025). "Explore The Last 50 Years Of Gaming Controllers With Lost In Cult's Upcoming Joysticks To Haptics Book". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  12. ↑ King, Andrew (15 March 2024). "After Jacob Geller's Book, More YouTube Creators Should Release Their Work In Physical Form". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 5 October 2026. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  13. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (1 October 2026). "MinnMax, Nebula, And Lost In Cult Remove Video Essayist And YouTuber Jacob Geller Following Sexual Assault Allegations". Aftermath. Archived from the original on 7 October 2026. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  14. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (2 May 2023). "Lost In Cult Launches Fundraiser For Gorgeous Citizen Sleeper Artbook". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  15. ↑ Grant, Christopher (25 September 2024). "Hurry and pre-order this Outer Wilds art book". Polygon. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  16. ↑ Nubin, Tyler (3 October 2024). "Outer Wilds: Design Works Now Available for Pre-Order". Nintendojo. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  17. ↑ Leone, Matt (12 April 2025). "Immortality: Design Works is one of the biggest game art books to date". Polygon. Archived from the original on 12 April 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  18. ↑ Dean, Ian (1 March 2024). "Making Immortality: Design Works - the book of the game of the films of the actress". Creative Bloq. Archived from the original on 7 June 2026. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  19. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (8 May 2025). "Stunning 'Animal Well: Design Works' Book Announced By Lost In Cult". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 1 August 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  20. ↑ Williams, Leah J. (19 August 2025). "Lost in Cult announces Alan Wake Design Works book". ScreenHub. Archived from the original on 6 October 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  21. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (18 October 2023). "Lost In Cult's Premium Gaming Journal 'Lock-On' Now Funding A Sixth Volume". Time Extension. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  22. ↑ Renadette, Brian (11 March 2021). "Indie Publisher Lost in Cult Kickstarting a New Video Game Journal". TechRaptor. Archived from the original on 23 March 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  23. ↑ Purchese, Robert (27 October 2025). "Can ghost-hunting phenomenon Phasmophobia work as a board game? We're about to find out". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 4 September 2026. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  24. ↑ Goodchild, Wayne (2 March 2026). "Face Eldritch Horrors in the World of Horror Board Game". Eneba. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  25. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (16 April 2025). "Lost In Cult's Next Project Is A Celebration Of A Video Game Icon". Time Extension. Archived from the original on 20 May 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  26. ↑ Leone, Matt (15 April 2025). "Revisit the work of Kenji Eno with this 7-disc vinyl collection". Polygon. Archived from the original on 3 November 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  27. 1 2 Reynolds, Ollie (22 May 2025). "Feature: "Game-Key Cards Don't Sit Right With Us" - Lost In Cult Dives Into Its New Physical Games Line". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Faulkner, Cameron (20 May 2025). "Lost in Cult's new Editions publishing label focuses on art and indie games preservation". The Verge. Archived from the original on 24 May 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  29. 1 2 Nightingale, Ed (20 May 2025). "Immortality and Thank Goodness You're Here first releases from Lost in Cult's new premium physical games label". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 30 August 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  30. ↑ Bonthuys, Darryn (20 May 2025). "Lost In Play Is Releasing New Physical Editions Of Games With Offline Play And No Hidden Catches". Game Spot. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  31. ↑ Hagues, Alana (26 September 2025). "Lovely Craft Puzzler 'Paper Trail' Is Getting A Gorgeous Physical From Lost In Cult". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  32. ↑ Romano, Sal (29 October 2025). "Promise Mascot Agency physical editions announced for PS5, Switch". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  33. ↑ Hagues, Alana (29 July 2025). "Animal Well Is Getting A Gorgeous New Physical From Lost In Cult". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 11 June 2026. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  34. 1 2 Romano, Sal (20 May 2025). "Lost in Cult launches physical games publishing label". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  35. ↑ Lindsay (May 2025). "Lost in Cult launches a new physical game publishing label". Digitally Downloaded. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  36. ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (21 May 2025). "Lost In Cult Launches New Prestige Physical Video Game Label". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  37. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (16 May 2023). "Lock-On Creator Lost In Cult Is Launching A New Preservation-Focused Label". Time Extension. Archived from the original on 8 October 2026. Retrieved 11 October 2026.

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