| Lost in Play | |
| Developer: | Happy Juice Games |
| Publisher: | Joystick Ventures Snapbreak Games (iOS, Android) |
| Designer: | Yuval Markovich Oren Rubin Alon Simon |
| Programmer: | Yuval Markovich Nisim Gerbi (iOS, Android) |
| Artist: | Oren Rubin Alon Simon Matan Yam |
| Composer: | Alon Kaplan Naor Hazan |
| Engine: | Unity |
| Genre: | Point-and-click adventure game |
| Modes: | Single-player |
| Platforms: | Windows macOS iOS Nintendo Switch PlayStation |
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.
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.
Characters communicate in a gibberish language, using visual gestures and aural vocalizations to explain to the player how to progress.[2] [3]
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.
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]
The game received "generally positive reviews" according to aggregator Metacritic. Pocket Gamer said it "captures the beauty and wonder of imagination".[6] 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". 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".
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.[7]
Lost in Play has been awarded iPad Game of the Year by Apple in 2023 App Store Awards[8] as well as Apple Design Award 2024 for Innovation.[9]
List of Awards and Nominations
| Apple App Store Awards | 2023 | Best iPad Game | Winner | |
| Apple Design Award | 2024 | Innovation | Winner | |
| D.I.C.E | 2023 | Family Game of the Year | Finalist | |
| Golden Joystick[10] | 2022 | Best Visual Design | Finalist | |
| BIG[11] | 2023 | Best Art | Finalist | |
| BIG | 2023 | Best international game | Finalist | |
| IndieCade[12] | 2022 | Developer Choice Award | Winner | |
| DevGAMM[13] | 2022 | Best Indie Game | Winner | |
| DevGAMM | 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[14] | 2023 | Mobile Game of the Year | Finalist | |
| Pocket Gamer Awards[15] | 2023 | Mobile Puzzle Game of the Year | Finalist | |
| Pocket Gamer Awards[16] | 2023 | Best Mobile Storytelling | Finalist | |
| Asif Animation | 2023 | Best Game | Finalist |