Video Game Review: Lost In Play

Developer: HappyJuice Games

Genre: Adventure

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PC

At a glance, Lost in Play appears to be a fairly traditional point and click game. You have an experience that clearly emphasizes the narrative, a sense of wonder, and cartoon visuals. The characters seemingly go on grand adventures and explore their environments. It doesn’t take long for it to become obvious that Lost in Play doesn’t actually lean on genre conventions much at all.

In Lost in Play, players take on the role of a brother and sister who are pretty bored. With a little imagination, the two go on an adventure. The player and the siblings will encounter many colorful settings and personalities as they solve puzzles and marvel at everything around them. 

Lost in Play works well as an all-ages game. The animated art style is sure to appeal to children. Adults are sure to find themselves grinning as well as they take in all of the game’s charm. The story stays wholesome throughout, making it a relaxing yet engaging experience. 

One downside to the point and click genre is how vague direction is sometimes. Even the greats like Monkey Island and Grim Fandango sometimes suffer from vague puzzles that expect a little too much from the player. In Lost in Play, everything feels intuitive. It’s not a traditional point and click, because players aren’t really able to click all over the environment. The puzzles utilize these mechanics, but that is it. The end result is a game that is clear on what players can and can’t do. It’s more accessible, and makes for a less frustrating experience. 

The puzzles themselves aren’t too difficult, and are mostly fair. They are full of variety, ensuring that the experience doesn’t get stale. If a certain puzzle is too difficult, there is a hint system present. Lost in Play can be as easy as players need it to be, which is a nice touch. No one, including hardcore fans, will likely feel excluded from what Lost in Play has to offer.