In the realm of digital innovation, Justin Jacobson stands out as a beacon of creativity and compassion. His journey from therapist to game developer is a testament to the power of play in fostering connections. Jacobson’s latest creation, Gather-2-Gether is a cooperative game on Roblox designed to bring children and parents closer together.
Jacobson’s career began in therapy, where he worked with children coping with trauma. He quickly realized that traditional talk therapy wasn’t the most effective way to build connections. “When a child has a hard day, they don’t say ‘can we talk?’ They say play with me,” Jacobson remarked. This insight led him to explore play therapy a method that uses play to communicate and heal.
From Therapy to Game Development
Jacobson’s background in web development proved invaluable as he sought to create digital play experiences for his patients. He enrolled in graduate school at the University of Miami to deepen his understanding of immersive virtual experiences. His capstone project, Gather-2-Gether was born out of this journey.
The game, launched in April 2026, encourages children to play with a parent, caregiver, or friend. Players gather seeds, grow plants, and craft their own community together. Jacobson hopes that parents will be willing to enter the digital spaces where their kids are, fostering a sense of togetherness.
Recognized for Innovation
Gather-2-Gether has gained significant exposure and recognition. It won first place in the Encouraging Positive Connection and Well-being Challenge from Roblox and Games for Change a nonprofit that celebrates video games with real-world impact. The game was awarded a $15,000 prize, highlighting its potential to empower meaningful connections.
Daniel Haun, senior manager of civility and partnerships at Roblox, praised the game’s cooperative nature. “It’s not a competitive game, so this is a great way for caregivers and kids to work together cooperatively,” Haun said. The game also opens up conversations about why gaming is important to kids, helping parents better understand their children’s lives.
The Power of Play Therapy
Jacobson’s adviser, associate professor Clay Ewing, noted that Jacobson’s notion of play as a powerful tool was evident even before grad school. “With Gather-2-Gether, a child and a parent who do not live together can still share an experience through the game,” Ewing said. This aligns with the belief that technology should help people maintain meaningful relationships across distances.
Lecturer Lorena Lopez helped Jacobson refine the game’s design, which is grounded in play therapy research. The game includes obstacles that encourage structure, nurture, challenge, and engagement. Players must overcome these tasks to gather different types of seeds, ultimately building their own world. Jacobson’s brother, Jalen Jacobson, contributed to the game’s art.
Parent Hacks and Future Research
For adults, Jacobson offers “parent hacks” in the game that provide tips on forging healthy interactions with a child during play. “These ‘parent hacks’ can enrich the moment with their child,” Lopez said. Jacobson hopes that the popularity of Gather-2-Gether will grow to benefit even more families.
During testing, Jacobson observed how excited kids were to play tag or dance with their parents’ avatars. He is hoping to conduct research about its effectiveness as the number of users grows. “When parents and kids get in there, the children light up because they get to share something they love with their parents,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson’s initial goal remains to help parents and children who need it. “I would love to get more users, but I don’t care about that as much as if I could know it was helping parents and children who need it,” he said.
