Lost in Cult
Lost In Cult is a UK creative publisher producing premium physical media for video game culture, including Design Works coffee table books, vinyl soundtracks, and the EDITIONS physical games label, sold direct-to-consumer globally and through major retail partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersCirencester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Lost in Cult does
Lost In Cult is a UK-based creative publishing studio specializing in premium physical media celebrating video game culture. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Cirencester, the company operates across multiple distinct product lines under its own sub-brands: the Design Works series of hardcover coffee table books documenting individual game development histories (titles include Outer Wilds, Animal Well, VA-11 Hall-A, TUNIC, Alan Wake, Sable, and Eastward); Cult Classics, a text-focused oral history imprint (Make Us Whole: The History of Dead Space, Perfect Organism, Itchy Tasty); the [lock-on] quarterly gaming journal; Lost In Cult Records vinyl and cassette soundtracks; the EDITIONS physical video games label for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2 launched in 2024–2025; tabletop games (World of Horror board game, Legacy of Kain TTRPG, Phasmophobia board game); comprehensive gaming history books (A Handheld History, The Console Chronicles, Joysticks to Haptics); and the Presents special-interest series. The company monetizes through direct e-commerce at lostincult.co.uk with global shipping, crowdfunding campaigns on BackerKit and Kickstarter for major releases, and retail distribution via Amazon, Waterstones, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and VGP, with US physical games distributed through a partnership with PM Studio and vinyl through Black Screen Records, Limited Run Games, and Very OK Vinyl.
The business operates as a content-curation and physical-production company, with editorial leadership drawn from credible gaming-media backgrounds (Editorial Director Chris Schilling, formerly of Edge Magazine) and physical games leadership staffed by Ryan Brown (ex-Super Rare Games, ex-Numskull). Production is capital-intensive at scale — flagship launches like How a Game Lives required 16,000+ copies printed, more than 10x usual production runs — and relies on official developer collaboration for Design Works content as well as a Fair Use approach for titles without formal licensing. Core technology is limited to the Squarespace e-commerce platform; there are no proprietary software products, APIs, SDKs, or AI capabilities.
Lost in Cult firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lost in Cult
- Legal name
- LOST IN CULT LTD
- Website
- https://lostincult.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lost In Cult is a UK creative publisher producing premium physical media for video game culture, including Design Works coffee table books, vinyl soundtracks, and the EDITIONS physical games label, sold direct-to-consumer globally and through major retail partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lost in Cult industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Publishing & Collectibles
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Subscription Game Libraries & Storefront Bundles (MPAFACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gaming & Interactive Entertainment (Digital Goods, Subscriptions) (CRAFAIAC), Wargames & Historical Board Games Retail (CRALALAD)
Keywords
Where Lost in Cult is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cirencester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lost in Cult business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Coffee Table Books and Design Works: The company produces and sells premium hardcover coffee table books documenting video game history, including Design Works series (comprehensive development retrospectives), Cult Classics titles, and history books. Revenue is generated through direct pre-orders, campaign crowdfunding, and retail sales.
- Vinyl Soundtracks and Music Releases: Lost In Cult Records releases video game soundtracks on vinyl, cassette, and other physical formats. These include signed limited editions and standard releases, with production runs often limited to 500-1000 copies.
- EDITIONS Physical Games Publishing: The company publishes limited physical editions of indie games for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2. Games include custom artwork, 40-page booklets, slipcases, and premium packaging. Standard retail versions are also released simultaneously through PM Studio distribution.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | EDITIONS Physical Games |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Signed Vinyl Soundtrack Editions |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Simogo Legacy Collection Partnership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels7 records
Lost in Cult product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lost in Cult is a UK-based publisher that produces and sells premium physical collectibles celebrating video game culture, including hardcover Design Works coffee table books documenting individual game titles, limited physical editions of indie console games under the EDITIONS label, vinyl and cassette video game soundtracks, tabletop board games and TTRPGs, and history books about gaming platforms. The company operates its own e-commerce storefront (lostincult.co.uk) with global shipping, supplemented by retail partnerships with Amazon, Waterstones, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, and uses Kickstarter/BackerKit crowdfunding for major product launches.
Product overview
Lost in Cult is a UK-based publisher specializing in premium collectible books, vinyl soundtracks, and physical video game releases celebrating gaming culture. The company operates several product lines: the Design Works series (coffee table books on individual game titles), Cult Classics (text-focused oral histories), [lock-on] journals (multi-title gaming articles), the EDITIONS physical games label (preservation-focused game releases), vinyl soundtracks, gaming history books (A Handheld History, Console Chronicles), tabletop games, and Presents series. All products are distributed globally through their website and retail partners including Amazon, with physical games also available at Best Buy and VGP. The company has partnerships with major publishers, developers, and archives for content licensing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EDITIONS: A prestige, preservation, and design-focused physical games label launching with titles for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5
- Design Works
- Cult Classics
- Lost In Cult Records
- [lock-on]
- Presents
Products and services
- Design Works Series
- EDITIONS Physical Games
- Vinyl Soundtracks (Lost In Cult Records)
- Cult Classics Series
- [lock-on] Journal
- Gaming History Books
- Tabletop Games
- Presents Series
Quantifiable outcome
- Amazon bestsellers achieved with A Handheld History and The Console Chronicles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lost in Cult
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lost in Cult technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lost in Cult partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- SimogomajorLost In Cult is partnering with Simogo to produce a 250-page coffee table book documenting the studio's 15-year history. The book will be released alongside the Simogo Legacy Collection on Steam and Nintendo consoles in December 2025, covering all seven of Simogo's mobile games from 2010-2015 including Year Walk and Device 6.
- PM StudiocorePM Studio is Lost In Cult's world-class US-based distribution partner for physical games, enabling simultaneous retail release of standard game editions alongside EDITIONS limited releases. This partnership ensures broad availability of physical games beyond the limited EDITIONS runs.
- DoesItPlay?coreDoesItPlay? is a testing group that verifies physical game releases are playable internet-free, completable start to finish without downloads, and have all primary content on disc/cart. Every EDITIONS game undergoes their thorough testing process to ensure preservation standards.
- Half Mermaid (Immortality developers)majorSam Barlow and the Half Mermaid team collaborated on IMMORTALITY EDITIONS physical release, providing creative input and approval on the in-fiction content for the Design Works book and ensuring the physical edition matches their vision for the game's 'immortality.'
- Cloak and Dagger Games (The Excavation of Hob's Barrow)majorCloak and Dagger Games partnered with Lost In Cult for the physical Switch release of The Excavation of Hob's Barrow, which had long been a dream for the developer. The collaboration produced a premium physical edition beyond their expectations.
- HarperCollins and ExpansemajorHarperCollins and Expanse partner with Lost In Cult for retail distribution of The Console Chronicles and Joysticks to Haptics. The Console Chronicles launched in September 2024 across Amazon, Waterstones, Target, Walmart, and major bookstores. Photography from Hookshot Media's Damien McFerran used in retail editions.
- Cook and BeckermajorLost In Cult collaborates with Cook and Becker on major projects including Sounds & Visions: Enhance At 10, Still Wakes the Deep, and Legacy of Kain encyclopedia and TTRPG. Cook and Becker handles direct customer communications and some order management for joint projects.
- Crystal DynamicsmajorCrystal Dynamics works closely with Lost In Cult and Cook and Becker on the Legacy of Kain encyclopedia and TTRPG project, providing internal lore approval and quality expectations. This collaborative effort ensures official, accurate documentation of the Legacy of Kain universe.
- Hookshot Media (Nintendo Life, Push Square, Pure Xbox, Time Extension)coreHookshot Media sponsors The Console Chronicles and provides sponsorship support enabling retail distribution. Their publications Nintendo Life, Push Square, Pure Xbox, and Time Extension help promote Lost In Cult releases.
- Embracer Games ArchivecoreThe Embracer Games Archive sponsors The Console Chronicles and provides access to their extensive collection for photography in the book. They preserve video games and have been accommodating to the Lost In Cult team for physical visits to photograph items.
- Retro ModdingcoreRetro Modding sponsors A Handheld History 88-95, contributing to the production of the book about handheld gaming history.
- FangamerminorFangamer partnered with Lost In Cult on The Horror: Mansion book, working on distribution of the gorgeously gruesome title.
- SquarespaceminorThe Lost In Cult website and online store is hosted on Squarespace's e-commerce platform.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lost in Cult competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cook and Becker: Premium art prints, soundtrack vinyl, and gaming media publisher — explicit Lost in Cult collaboration partner on Legacy of Kain, Sounds & Visions, and Still Wakes the Deep, with near-identical product positioning.
- Limited Run Games: Premium physical game publisher producing limited-edition console releases for indie titles; Lost in Cult's EDITIONS label is a direct competitor in the same collector-focused, premium-format physical games category.
- Fangamer: Long-standing gaming merchandise and apparel publisher (notably for The Legend of Zelda); an existing distribution partner of Lost in Cult and a competing collector-focused gaming goods publisher.
- Signature Edition Games: UK-based limited physical indie game publisher (Switch/PS5) — geographically adjacent and a direct EDITIONS competitor targeting the same collector audience.
- iam8bit: Specialty publisher and creative studio producing premium physical games, vinyl soundtracks, and collectibles tied to indie and AAA video game IPs — directly overlapping with Lost in Cult's Design Works, vinyl, and EDITIONS product lines.
- Black Screen Records: European video game vinyl soundtrack label — direct competitor in the Lost In Cult Records category and an existing distribution partner for releases such as C-Smash VRS.
- Numskull Games: UK-based gaming collectibles, vinyl soundtracks, and physical games publisher — directly comparable product mix to Lost in Cult and former employer of Head of Games Ryan Brown.
- Special Reserve Games: Premium physical editions publisher for indie games (e.g., Chicory, Untitled Goose Game); competes with Lost in Cult's EDITIONS label in the same limited physical games market.
- Super Rare Games: UK-based physical indie game publisher offering limited Switch and PS5 editions with collector packaging — a direct EDITIONS competitor and prior employer of Lost in Cult's Head of Games, Ryan Brown.
Emerging players
- Bitmap Soft (Retro Gamer Magazine): Long-running print gaming magazine covering retro and contemporary gaming history; overlaps thematically with Lost in Cult's A Handheld History and The Console Chronicles titles, though as a periodical rather than book publisher.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lost in Cult social profiles
Digital presenceLost in Cult financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lost in Cult leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Lost in Cult funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lost in Cult M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lost in Cult
What does Lost in Cult do?
Lost in Cult is a UK-based publisher that produces and sells premium physical collectibles celebrating video game culture, including hardcover Design Works coffee table books documenting individual game titles, limited physical editions of indie console games under the EDITIONS label, vinyl and cassette video game soundtracks, tabletop board games and TTRPGs, and history books about gaming platforms. The company operates its own e-commerce storefront (lostincult.co.uk) with global shipping, supplemented by retail partnerships with Amazon, Waterstones, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, and uses Kickstarter/BackerKit crowdfunding for major product launches.
Is Lost in Cult a public or private company?
Lost in Cult is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lost in Cult founded?
Lost in Cult was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lost in Cult based?
Lost in Cult is headquartered in Cirencester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Lost in Cult make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Coffee Table Books and Design Works are the primary driver. The others are vinyl Soundtracks and Music Releases and EDITIONS Physical Games Publishing.
Who are Lost in Cult's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cook and Becker, Limited Run Games, Fangamer, Signature Edition Games, iam8bit, Black Screen Records, Numskull Games, Special Reserve Games and Super Rare Games. Bitmap Soft (Retro Gamer Magazine) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lost in Cult have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lost in Cult.
What industry is Lost in Cult in?
Lost in Cult's product category is Video Game Publishing & Collectibles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFACAE, Subscription Game Libraries & Storefront Bundles, with a secondary code of CRAFAIAC, Gaming & Interactive Entertainment (Digital Goods, Subscriptions). Its NAICS code is 459120 and its SIC code is 5945.