“Speedrunning” in video games conjures images of frenetic sprints and glitchy hacks to go as fast as possible while skipping as much as possible.
Lorn’s Lure is a speedrunning game that lets you take it slow
You won’t even miss the yellow paint
Clayton Ashley , senior video editor, has been producing and editing videos for Polygon since 2016. He is the lead producer of the tabletop gaming series Overboard.
But what if you didn’t have to go so fast?
Lorn’s Lure is a first-person platforming exploration game. Even though it looks like a retro FPS, you don’t fight: you just jump and climb and parkour your way through gobsmackingly massive structures.
You can do this really fast if you want to: in fact, the game is made for speedrunning, with built-in timers for per-level and full-game runs. But it’s also built for players (like me!) who will probably never do a speed run.
What makes this such an entertaining experience for those who take it at a slower pace is its absolutely gigantic environments: they’re astonishing and oppressive, a place that doesn’t feel made for you. And that’s the point! Exploring these massive levels takes a little effort on the player’s part: there’s not a drop of yellow paint to be seen. The joy is not just in navigating these words, but in figuring them out.
We spoke to developer Rubeki about their inspirations for the game’s environments, its parkour-style gameplay, and their favorite speedrunning games in the video above. If you enjoy it, be sure to check out our other deep dives and developer interviews on our YouTube channel!
