Lost in Play, a winner of the Apple Design Award, brings childhood imagination to life with its unique art and gameplay. (Illustrative AI-generated image).
- Lost in Play is a hand-drawn point-and-click adventure game developed by a small Israeli studio, Happy Juice Games, with a team of only seven people.
- The game won the 2024 Apple Design Award for Innovation and was named iPad Game of the Year in 2023.
- It captures the essence of childhood imagination and make-believe, blending puzzles and storytelling seamlessly.
- The game’s art style is fluid, colorful, and reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, with detailed animations and expressive characters.
- Nostalgia plays a key role, appealing to adults who grew up with classic adventure games and to children with its magical and funny world.
- The co-founders’ personal childhood memories and experiences heavily influenced the game’s characters, puzzles, and overall narrative.
Picture this: a sunny afternoon, a red-and-white checkered picnic blanket spread on a green hill. A young girl named Gal and her brother Toto sit cross-legged, their imaginations already buzzing. Nearby, a duck wearing pilot goggles squawks at a frog who sips tea from a tiny china cup. This is the opening scene of Lost in Play, a point-and-click adventure that pulls you into a world of pure make-believe. And it only gets stranger, funnier, and more wonderful from there.
The game, developed by the tiny Israeli studio Happy Juice Games, is a love letter to childhood daydreams. It follows Toto and Gal as they tumble from their ordinary picnic into a fantastical realm. They must navigate forbidden forests, dark caverns, and visits to goblin villages. They pull a sword from a stone, soar over the sea on the back of a giant bird, and even navigate the real-world challenge of sibling rivalry. All while ordering several pizzas. Yes, pizzas.
Lost in Play won the 2024 Apple Design Award for Innovation, and it was also named iPad Game of the Year in 2023. But what makes it truly special is the heart and soul poured into it by a team of just seven people. This is a story about how a small group of friends turned their own childhood memories into an interactive wonderland.
The Magic of Make-Believe: How Lost in Play Captures Childhood Imagination
From the very first scene, Lost in Play feels less like a video game and more like a Saturday morning cartoon you can control. The animation is hand-drawn, fluid, and bursting with color. Every character, from the mischievous gnomes with bushy beards to the friendly frog who offers tea, has personality. The world is alive with tiny details: leaves rustle, butterflies flutter, and the siblings’ expressions shift from wonder to determination to sibling annoyance in perfect comedic timing.
The game leans heavily into the idea of make-believe. The siblings aren’t just adventurers – they are playing pretend. One moment they are knights rescuing a kingdom, the next they are sneaking past a grumpy troll. This layered storytelling mimics how children actually play. One minute a cardboard box is a spaceship, the next it’s a castle. Lost in Play captures that free-flowing imagination where rules are bendable and anything can happen.
The puzzles and mini-games feel like natural parts of the play. You might need to herd sheep into a pen, help a ghost find its favorite books, or solve a riddle for a grumpy guard. Each challenge is cleverly woven into the story. You never feel like you are doing busywork. Instead, you are actively participating in the siblings’ adventure. And because the game is designed for touch screens, you interact with the world by tapping, dragging, and swiping – just like a child would.
Nostalgia plays a huge role here. The game’s creators grew up on classic point-and-click adventures and cartoons from the 90s. They wanted to bottle that feeling of sitting on the floor with a sibling, inventing entire worlds with nothing but a few toys and a big imagination. The result is something that appeals to both kids and adults. Adults will recognize the loving homage to games like Monkey Island or Day of the Tentacle. Kids will just see a magical, funny, and slightly weird world that makes them laugh.
A Small Team’s Big Dream: Inside Happy Juice Games
Happy Juice Games is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. The studio was founded by three friends: Oren Rubin, Lior Shachar, and Tomer Zik. They started out small, working on mobile games that didn’t quite capture their passion. Then they decided to make the game they always wanted to play – a heartfelt, hand-drawn adventure that celebrates imagination. With a team of only seven people, they set out to build something that would normally require a studio ten times the size.
How did they do it? The answer is focus and passion. Each team member wore multiple hats. The artists also helped with design. The programmers also tested puzzles. Everyone believed in the vision. They worked together in a cozy office, often staying late to tweak animations or rewrite dialogue until it felt just right. The result is a game that feels personal, like a gift from the creators to anyone who ever loved playing make-believe.
The small team meant they had to be efficient. They used tools like Unity and optimized everything for mobile devices. They also drew inspiration from their own childhoods. The game’s world is filled with references to the stories they loved and the games they played. It’s not just a product – it’s a piece of their collective memory.
Winning the Apple Design Award was a huge validation. “It felt surreal,” the team said in interviews. “We poured everything into this game, and to be recognized by Apple, a company that values design so deeply, was incredible.” The award brought attention from both players and other developers. It opened doors for future projects and gave the tiny studio confidence that they could compete with much larger teams.
From Childhood to Code: The Cofounders’ Inspiration
The cofounders – Oren, Lior, and Tomer – all grew up together in the same neighborhood. They were friends before they were business partners. They spent their childhoods building forts, drawing comics, and playing video games on old computers. Those memories are the foundation of Lost in Play.
Oren Rubin, the creative director, remembers being fascinated by the way a simple drawing could tell a story. He filled notebooks with characters and worlds. Lior Shachar, the technical lead, loved taking things apart to see how they worked. Tomer Zik, the designer, was the one who always came up with new games to play. Together, they were a perfect team – and they still are.
When they started Happy Juice Games, they tried making other types of games. But something was missing. “We realized we weren’t making games that we would want to play ourselves,” Oren said. So they decided to go back to what excited them most: storytelling and whimsy. They asked themselves: what would the perfect game look like if we were ten years old? The answer was Lost in Play.
Every element of the game is steeped in that personal nostalgia. The duck in pilot goggles? That came from a doodle Lior drew when he was twelve. The frog sipping tea? Inspired by a character Tomer’s little sister invented. The siblings themselves are loosely based on Oren and his own sister, their squabbles and teamwork mirroring real sibling dynamics. By drawing on their own lives, the team created something that feels universally true.
Designing Puzzles and Play: Crafting a Saturday Morning Cartoon
The game’s puzzles are designed to feel like play, not work. They range from simple drag-and-drop interactions to multi-step challenges that require creative thinking. For example, early on you need to help a fish find its way back to the sea. Later, you must orchestrate a heist to rescue a stolen treasure from a goblin king. Each puzzle is a mini-story in itself.
The team wanted the game to feel like a cartoon where you are the director. The animations are snappy and expressive. Characters react to your actions with hilarious results. Tap a character too many times, and they’ll get annoyed. Miss a puzzle solution, and they’ll offer a funny hint. The writing is sharp, full of puns and gentle humor that never talks down to the player.
Adapting a point-and-click adventure for mobile touch controls was a challenge. Traditionally, these games rely on precise mouse clicks. On a touch screen, every tap had to feel natural. The team redesigned interactions so that you can tap to walk, tap to interact, and swipe to drag items. They also made sure the interface never got in the way of the gorgeous art. Buttons are minimal. The world itself is the menu.
Testing was key. The team watched hundreds of hours of playtest footage to see where players got stuck or confused. They simplified puzzles that were too tricky and added visual cues to guide the eye. The goal was to keep the experience smooth and joyful. No one should need a walkthrough to enjoy the story.
The result is a game that feels intuitive. Even if you have never played a point-and-click game before, you can pick it up and start exploring. The controls become invisible. You are just a kid again, poking at things to see what happens.
The Apple Design Award Win: Recognition for Innovation
In 2024, Apple awarded Lost in Play the Apple Design Award for Innovation. The award celebrates apps and games that provide a unique experience through creative uses of Apple’s technologies. For the team at Happy Juice Games, it was a dream come true.
Apple praised the game’s “delightful interactions” and how it “combines thoughtful storytelling with inventive puzzles.” The award put the game in front of millions of Apple device users. It also brought recognition from the developer community. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know how this tiny team had created something so polished.
The award didn’t just boost sales. It validated the team’s approach. They had chosen to make a game that prioritized art and emotion over flashy graphics or microtransactions. The award showed that there is an audience for thoughtful, imaginative games. It also encouraged other indie developers to take risks and follow their creative instincts.
Winning the Apple Design Award also opened doors for future projects. The team received inquiries from publishers and investors. They were invited to speak at conferences. The award gave them a platform to share their story and inspire others. But more than anything, it confirmed that their seven-person team could compete with the best in the industry.
What’s Next for Happy Juice Games: Future Adventures
So what comes after winning one of the highest honors in mobile game design? For Happy Juice Games, the answer is: keep making magic. The team is already working on their next project. While they are keeping details secret, they hint that it will be another story-driven game with hand-drawn animation and the same heartfelt tone.
They are also exploring ways to expand the world of Lost in Play. Perhaps new chapters, or a sequel. The siblings’ adventure feels far from over. There are so many more worlds to explore and characters to meet. Fans are hungry for more Toto and Gal.
The team has grown slightly, but they remain committed to their small-studio ethos. They believe that a close-knit team can create something more personal and more cohesive than a huge studio. They plan to keep their team small and focused on quality over quantity.
If their next game captures even half the charm of Lost in Play, it will be something special. For now, the team is enjoying the moment. They are proud of what they achieved with their little game about two siblings and a duck in goggles. And they are grateful to everyone who joined them on the adventure.
How to Play Lost in Play: A Quick Guide for Newcomers
If you haven’t played Lost in Play yet, here’s how to get started. The game is available on iPhone and iPad. You can download it from the App Store. It works best on a recent device, but it runs smoothly on most models from the last few years.
The controls are simple: tap to move your character, tap on objects to interact, and swipe to drag items. You can also swipe the screen to pan around the scene. The game offers hints if you get stuck, but you probably won’t need them. The puzzles are clever but fair.
The game is suitable for all ages. Kids will love the cartoonish visuals and funny characters. Adults will appreciate the writing and the nostalgic feel. It takes about six to eight hours to complete the main story, but you might want to linger and explore every corner.
One tip: talk to all the characters. They often have funny things to say. And don’t forget to examine everything. You never know what hidden gem you might find. The game rewards curiosity, just like real make-believe.
So grab your device, find a cozy spot, and let yourself be transported. Lost in Play is a reminder that the best adventures happen when you let your imagination take the lead. And sometimes, all you need is a sibling, a picnic blanket, and a duck with pilot goggles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lost in Play?
Lost in Play is a charming point-and-click adventure game that immerses players in a world of childhood imagination. Developed by Happy Juice Games, it features hand-drawn animation, whimsical characters, and puzzles that feel like natural parts of a playful adventure.
Who developed Lost in Play?
Lost in Play was developed by Happy Juice Games, a small studio based in Tel Aviv, Israel. The game was created by a dedicated team of just seven people, including co-founders Oren Rubin, Lior Shachar, and Tomer Zik.
What awards has Lost in Play won?
Lost in Play has received significant recognition, including the prestigious 2024 Apple Design Award for Innovation. It was also named iPad Game of the Year in 2023 by Apple.
What inspired the game Lost in Play?
The game is deeply inspired by the creators' own childhood memories, their love for classic point-and-click adventures and 90s cartoons, and the power of make-believe. The co-founders aimed to recreate the feeling of imaginative play they experienced as children.
How are the puzzles designed in Lost in Play?
The puzzles in Lost in Play are designed to feel like organic parts of the game's narrative and the siblings' play, rather than tedious tasks. They range from simple interactions to multi-step challenges that encourage creative thinking and exploration.
What makes the art style of Lost in Play unique?
The game features a beautiful, fluid, hand-drawn animation style that resembles a vibrant Saturday morning cartoon. Every character and environment is filled with personality and detail, contributing to the game's whimsical and immersive atmosphere.
Is Lost in Play suitable for children?
Yes, Lost in Play is suitable for all ages. Its cartoonish visuals, funny characters, and gentle humor appeal to children, while adults will appreciate the nostalgic references, clever writing, and heartfelt storytelling.
How long does it take to play Lost in Play?
The main story of Lost in Play typically takes about six to eight hours to complete. However, players may want to spend additional time exploring the game's detailed world and discovering all its secrets.
