Imagination is the cornerstone of pretty much every single thing ever. From books to games to TV shows and even the switch you use to switch on your lights at night, nothing could exist without someone first having imagined it. While imagination can’t be taught, it is something that can be nurtured and cherished, and that is the entirety of Lost In Play summed up.
The story of Lost In Play is pretty straightforward. You play as a brother and sister, Toto and Gal, who find themselves alone at home. Whatever could go wrong? Before long, the two siblings find themselves off on a crazy adventure through their shared imaginations with you along for the wild and always fantastical ride. The game is primarily a point-and-click adventure broken up with different types of puzzles to solve, all related to the area you are currently in.
I loved how well the point-and-click puzzles were put together. Not once did I feel the need to use moon logic and start clicking everything on everything, hoping and praying something would work. Instead, every puzzle had an obvious solution. On the off chance that you find yourself stuck, there is a great hint system that gives clues about what you should be doing instead of just ruining the whole thing by giving you the solution.
I can ramble on all day about Lost In Play (and if you ask my partner or my mom, my rambling isn’t just reserved for video games – instead, I can go on endlessly about anything I’m interested in). Still, one selling point stands far above all the rest—the art. Lost In Play has one of the cleanest visual styles I’ve seen in a long, long time. The game looks exactly like I remember the cartoons from my childhood – just better.
And when you’re dealing with a game about children and made-up stories and imagination, why shouldn’t your game look like a beloved childhood cartoon? It works. One of the things I think I most enjoyed about Lost In Play is how it is a children’s game. Over the last few years, I’ve struggled to find a game that I feel is perfect for children. One that is intriguing enough to keep them engaged, pretty enough to appeal, challenging enough to use their brains and with a story they can relate to and will stick with them. Lost in Play has all of these things.
Sure, the only dialogue used in the game is gibberish, but the story never calls for more than that. It’s up to you and your imagination to fill in the blanks. Despite no understandable dialogue, the moments of humour, sentiment and love never require anything more.
Lost In Play is a beautifully drawn and well-crafted puzzle adventure game that I can picture anyone being able to enjoy, regardless of age. The game tells a story about two siblings creating worlds with their imaginations to have adventures in, and it’s so damn sweet that even the coldest of hearts is sure to feel the warmth creeping in.
