Wikipedia

Lost in Play

Lost in Play is a 2022 point-and-click adventure game by Happy Juice Games and published by Joystick Ventures. It was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Nintendo Switch on August 10, 2022, and for iOS and Android on July 12, 2023. As a family-friendly game intended to look like a children's cartoon, the game follows the adventure of two imaginative siblings. Upon release, the game was praised for its charm, creativity, and accessibility.

Lost in Play
Developer(s)Happy Juice Games
Publisher(s)Joystick Ventures
Snapbreak Games (iOS, Android)
Designer(s)Yuval Markovich
Oren Rubin
Alon Simon
Programmer(s)Yuval Markovich
Nisim Gerbi (iOS, Android)
Doron Weiss
Artist(s)Oren Rubin
Alon Simon
Matan Yam
Writer(s)Tal Goldberg
Chen Ashkenazi
Guy Harlap
Composer(s)Alon Kaplan
Naor Hazan
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Windows
macOS
iOS
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation
Release
  • August 10, 2022 (Steam, Switch)
  • July 12, 2023 (iOS, Android)
  • August 10, 2024 (PlayStation)
Genre(s)Point-and-click adventure game
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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The player controls both siblings, alternating between them as the story progresses.[1] The characters progress through levels by interacting with various objects, solving puzzles, and completing tasks.[1]

Characters communicate in a gibberish language, using visual gestures and aural vocalizations to explain to the player how to progress.[2][3][1]

Synopsis

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Lost in Play centers around grade school-aged brother and sister, Toto and Gal, who are living out an imaginative playtime session. A bored Gal tries to get Toto to play with her, which takes them on a far journey across their imaginations. Switching between reality and fantasy, the siblings ultimately find themselves on an adventure back home.

Development

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The game was developed by new Tel Aviv-based developer Happy Juice Games and published by Joystick Ventures, a partnership between venture capital company Nazca and Xsolla.[4] First released on Microsoft Windows, macOS and Nintendo Switch on August 10, 2022, and iOS and Android by Snapbreak Games on July 12, 2023.[5]

 
Gal attending a tea party in a dream during which the player solves a puzzle to progress during the opening scene of the game.

Reception

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The game received "generally positive reviews" according to aggregator Metacritic. Pocket Gamer said it "captures the beauty and wonder of imagination".[8] Roland Ingram of Nintendo Life rated the game 9 out of 10 and claims that the game "barely puts a foot wrong, delivering cerebral gaming and effervescent entertainment".[2] Katherine Castle of Rock Paper Shotgun called the game "a gorgeous point and click puzzler," stating that "Lost In Play is like curling up with a good book, and four hours later you'll suddenly wonder where the time's gone".[3]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Lost in Play for "Family Game of the Year" during the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.[9]

Lost in Play has been awarded iPad Game of the Year by Apple in 2023 App Store Awards[10] as well as Apple Design Award 2024 for Innovation.[11]

List of Awards and Nominations

Apple App Store Awards[10] 2023 Best iPad Game Winner
Apple Design Award[11] 2024 Innovation Winner
D.I.C.E[9] 2023 Family Game of the Year Finalist
Golden Joystick[12] 2022 Best Visual Design Finalist
BIG[13] 2023 Best Art Finalist
BIG[13] 2023 Best international game Finalist
IndieCade[14] 2022 Developer Choice Award Winner
DevGAMM[15] 2022 Best Indie Game Winner
DevGAMM[15] 2022 Excellence in visual design Winner
Reboot Develop Blue 2022 Visual Excellence Winner
GDWC 2023 Xsolla Game of the Year Winner
Anifilm fest 2023 Best game for children Winner
Digital Dragons 2022 Best Indie Game 3rd Award
WN Dev Contest 2022 Best Indie Game Semi-Finalist Award
Pocket Gamer Awards[16] 2023 Mobile Game of the Year Finalist
Pocket Gamer Awards[17] 2023 Mobile Puzzle Game of the Year Finalist
Pocket Gamer Awards[18] 2023 Best Mobile Storytelling Finalist
Asif Animation 2023 Best Game Finalist

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Lost In Play (Switch, PC)". GamerDad: Gaming with Children. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  2. ^ a b c "Review: Lost In Play - A Fantastic Adventure Game That Cleverly Sidesteps Genre Pitfalls". Nintendo Life. 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  3. ^ a b Castle, Katharine (2022-08-10). "Lost In Play review: a gorgeous point and click puzzler". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  4. ^ Partis, Danielle (2022-02-15). "Joystick Ventures launches, aims to fuel indie developers". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  5. ^ Madnani, Mikhail (2023-06-15). "Puzzle Adventue Game 'Lost in Play' Is Coming to iOS and Android Next Month as a Free To Start Release". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  6. ^ "Lost in Play for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  7. ^ "Lost in Play for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  8. ^ Dellosa, Catherine (2023-07-18). "Lost in Play review - "Nothing beats the power of childlike imagination"". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  9. ^ a b "2023 Awards Category Details Family Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ^ a b "App Store Awards 2023 - Apple Developer". developer.apple.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  11. ^ a b "2024 winners and finalists - Apple Design Awards - Apple Developer". developer.apple.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  12. ^ Sam Loveridge (2022-11-22). "Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 winners". gamesradar. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  13. ^ a b ""Finalists for the 2023 Annual Brazil International Games Festival Announced" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  14. ^ "Festival 2022 Award Winners – IndieCade". Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  15. ^ a b "DevGAMM Awards". DevGAMM Game Fest 2022 | November 23–25. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  16. ^ "Pocket Gamer Awards 2023 - Winners and finalists". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  17. ^ "Pocket Gamer Awards 2023 - Winners and finalists". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  18. ^ "Pocket Gamer Awards 2023 - Winners and finalists". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
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