Finding Light in Loss: How Apart of Me Helps Young People Grieve

"It's not about completing the game. You don't just get over your grief." Female, 14 years old, multiple bereavements

This quote, simple and profound, captures something at the heart of Apart of Me – not just the game but the charity of the same name that built it. For Code Wizards, working with Apart of Me has been one of those rare moments where a technical challenge meets a human need in one of the most meaningful ways imaginable. We didn’t simply port a mobile game to desktop and browser – we helped extend a vital resource to those who need it most. And it’s honestly changed us.

We sat down with Apart of Me to reflect on the work that we’ve done, but more importantly, to shed more light on the work that they’re doing and the very real impact they’re having on young people dealing with loss.

A Game for Grief

Apart of Me is a free-to-play, award-winning mobile game designed to support young people who are facing, or have faced, the death of someone close to them. It offers a safe, gentle, and immersive space where players can explore feelings of grief through storytelling, mindfulness, and discovery. But it’s more than just a game. It’s a companion, a mentor, and a guide with a message: you are not alone.

The game was developed by the charity Apart of Me, which was founded by child psychotherapist Louis Weinstock, who had spent years working with bereaved children. He saw how easy it was for children to unravel between sporadic, often inaccessible therapy sessions. Many were struggling not just with loss but with complex emotions like guilt, anger, or even relief; often compounded by difficult home lives or broader trauma. Inspired by this, Weinstock was keen to create something to support yound people with no access to therapy.

To reach them more effectively, Weinstock joined forces with software developer and Apart of Me Co-Founder, Ben Page to create a game that could support children at any hour, in their own space. Launched in 2019, Apart of Me has now been downloaded over 150,000 times by users across the globe. It was developed with input from the likes of Headspace and has received glowing feedback from young people, mental health professionals, educators, and parents of the bereaved.

Meeting Young People Where They Are

Apart of Me aims to meet young people in the digital world, not pull them away from it. As Justina Forristal, Interim CEO of Apart of Me, said:

“I love the image of a young person sitting by themselves and, instead of scrolling TikTok, navigating their emotions through a game. Tech can be a really powerful force for good. We wanted to curate a safe digital space, not just tell kids that tech is bad.”

What sets Apart of Me …apart is how much it trusts its players. It isn’t a lecture. It’s not a worksheet or a well-meaning brochure. There’s no “fix” offered. The gameplay is soft and exploratory in a gently unfolding world. Players explore a tranquil island with beautifully designed characters, collecting fireflies, bottles and rocks. These contain reflections, meditations, and memories. They can enter The Cave and listen to other young people talk about their lived experiences of loss. Players level up slowly, not to gain power, but with the eventual goal of becoming a Guide – someone who can help other young people navigate their grief and its surrounding emotions.

In the players’ own words:

“It’s calm, soothing and relaxing. You go at your own pace.” Female, 14, multiple bereavements

“You’re not playing it as a competitive game. You play it when you need to.” Male, 14, lost mother to cancer

“Just playing it is really relaxing… even if you don’t want to do anything in particular, you can just have the phone on and listen to the noises.” Male, 14 years, lost father to cancer

From a design point of view, it's subtle brilliance. The game creates a visual, sonic, and emotional safe space that gives young people time to reflect, without pressure. And it’s working. The game has seen a 33% return rate, nearly ten times the average for digital mental health apps.

“Most mental health apps are deleted in under two weeks,” Justina tells us. “People open them once or twice, spend a couple of minutes and never come back. But young people are coming back to Apart of Me. They’re spending time with it. They’re returning to their favourite stories or meditations. That tells us we’ve made something that matters.”

The Cave. A digital sanctuary of shared experiences.

The Power of Shared Stories

Often cited by players as one of the island’s best areas is The Cave, a place where young people can listen to others share audio stories about their own experiences of loss. These are real voices, telling real stories. For many players, this is the moment when something clicks: "I’m not the only one."

“The stories are good because it’s about actual stuff that’s important. Real life stories help you feel less by yourself. It’s comforting.” Female, 14, multiple bereavements

The stories are short, digestible excerpts. Players can return to specific ones that resonated most. In many cases, they come back not for gameplay but to re-listen to a story that gave them hope, comfort, or further understanding.

Grief Isn’t Linear

One of the insights gleaned from the game’s 2019 Evaluation Report was that grief doesn’t follow a single pattern, and so support shouldn’t either. The game tends to resonate most with players aged 13–16, and particularly those who are 6–24 months beyond a loss. But even outside those ranges, it still offers solace.

As one participant shared:

“I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who had just been bereaved — you need time to accept what’s happened first.”

For younger children, the appeal is often more environmental – the peaceful island, the soothing sounds, the ability to wander freely. For older teens, certain elements can feel a little “young,” but many still appreciate the stories and meditations. And in some cases, adults who have experienced loss find comfort in the app, too.

From Grief to Growth

There are three main goals in the work of Apart of Me, as Forristal explains:

1. To reduce loneliness by connecting young people through stories and experiences

2. To foster compassion for themselves through mindfulness and self-guided learning

3. To grow compassion for others by encouraging players to become Guides

This arc of healing is baked into both the charity’s wider initiatives and the gameplay itself. What begins as a solitary journey becomes something shared. What feels overwhelming and painful becomes understandable and bearable.

And the charity’s impact continues to grow! Apart of Me now also runs a schools programme, currently active in seven UK schools, supported by a new resource hub on their website, called Pathlight. What makes it truly remarkable is that it’s being curated entirely by young people. From letters and artwork to practical advice for the adults, it’s a living, growing collection of guidance and empathy, created by those who’ve lived it.

“We don’t want adults writing resources for kids,” says Forristal. 

“It's much more impactful when young people use their experience to help others. That’s the soul of Apart of Me.”

Enter the Wizards

We were initially brought in to help make Apart of Me more accessible by porting it from mobile to desktop and in-browser versions. The need for this became clear as the charity began working more with schools, where phones are banned in classrooms. Now, thanks to that work, the game can be used in PHSE lessons and other structured group sessions, opening up access to more children who need it.

We’ve worked on dozens of games, but this one struck a special chord. It’s rare to work on a project where success isn’t measured in CCU or a drop in latency but in stories shared and young lives changed. Every Wizard who touched this project has come away moved by the game and its raison d'être.

As Forristal put it:

“This game has been developed with love. Code Wizards have been super generous and supportive. It’s been a whole team effort, and the enormous generosity of spirit is hugely appreciated.”

A significant challenge faced by Apart of Me is that they are not one of the household-name charities with huge operating budgets and global staff teams.

“It’s such a small team,” Justina explains. “Everything is part-time. I only work [at Apart of Me] three days a week and that’s the most of anyone. The fact that we’ve got here is largely because of pro bono support and people who genuinely love the project. Code Wizards has been part of that; really believing in what we’re building. And that kind of love makes a difference.”

We are unspeakably proud to play a small part in this team’s journey. Because while we love building great games for any audience, there’s something satisfying to the soul about helping a game like this find the reach it deserves. Apart of Me truly is a game made with love in an industry too often driven by metrics and monetisation.

For a more in-depth technical insight into the work Code Wizards Group carried out, read our case study.

Apart of Me, from mobile to PC.

Help Us Grow The Light

Apart of Me now works across three strands: the game, the 15-week school programme, and Pathlight.

But there’s more work to do!

The charity is actively looking for a trustee with experience in the games industry, someone who can help guide the game’s next iteration. They’re also keen to gather more feedback from players, spread the word, and raise the funds needed to keep the game free at the point of access.

“We don’t want to put a price point on it,” says Forristal. “But we do want it to be sustainable for young people and for the people working to make it possible.”

Apart of Me is still a small charity, running on a shoestring budget. Every member of the team is part-time. The demand is growing, but resources are tight. That’s why they’re currently looking for:

• A trustee with games industry experience to help guide their next phase of development
  

• Donations to keep the game free and accessible to every young person who needs it
  

• More players and feedback, especially from schools and youth groups

Find out more about the charity and game by visiting www.apartofme.org. And if you’re interested in becoming a trustee, contact Justina at hello@apartofme.app.

Apart of Me. Creating safe spaces for young people to transform their grief into compassion and wisdom.