After Dreams

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 128 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • emotional
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After Dreams is a story-rich exploration game based on real life experiences and events. The main focus of the story is to answer the basic human question that has pervaded our collective consciousness since sentience: What happens when we die?

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
story20 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful visual style and a haunting atmosphere that enhances the emotional experience.
  • The story, while short, is impactful and explores deep themes of grief and loss, resonating with many players.
  • Despite its flaws, the game has been praised for its voice acting and the emotional weight it carries, making it a memorable experience.
  • Many players found the gameplay directionless and boring, with a lack of clear objectives and minimal interaction.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs that can lead to frustrating experiences, such as getting stuck or losing progress.
  • Some reviews criticized the story's execution as predictable and lacking depth, making it feel trite despite its serious themes.
  • story56 mentions

    The game's story is a poignant exploration of grief, centered around a sibling coping with the loss of a loved one in a car crash. While some players found the narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, others criticized its execution as lacking depth and polish, with a predictable plot and a simplistic presentation. Overall, the story has the potential to resonate with many, but its delivery and gameplay mechanics left mixed impressions among reviewers.

    • “Fun exploration, very sad and emotional story, and incredibly short.”
    • “Sad yet very interesting and mesmerizing, it pulls you right into the story.”
    • “Art style is fantastic, and the twisted way that the story unfolds can really grip you.”
    • “Story was promising, execution was poor.”
    • “Every idea has been executed badly and the story, which is the main focus, falls totally flat for me despite its attempt to be deep.”
    • “The environment is boring and the story is a failed attempt at trying to be deep or sad, but it falls short and is just cringeworthy to be completely honest.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players finding the polygonal art style enjoyable and fitting for the storytelling, while others criticize it as glitchy, sub-par, and unfinished. Despite the dated visuals, many agree that the unique art style contributes to the game's unsettling atmosphere, though improvements could be made in both graphics and gameplay content. Overall, the graphics are seen as a divisive aspect, with a score averaging around 6/10.

    • “The polygonal art style may not be something for everyone, but I personally kind of liked it.”
    • “Art style is fantastic, and the twisted way that the story unfolds can really grip you.”
    • “The story seemed good, and the view of the polygonal art style was amazing.”
    • “Graphics are way too much for what little you do in the actual game and for how minimal the art is.”
    • “While your experience may differ, I found it to be very glitchy and the visuals, rather than being minimalism, just looked unfinished.”
    • “The graphics are sub-par and blocky, but there is a great game here if you can look past that.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a profound exploration of grief and psychological turmoil, often eliciting strong feelings of sadness and reflection. While some players found the emotional connection lacking, many praised the intense storytelling and voice acting that contributed to an impactful experience, despite the game's brevity. Overall, it is described as an emotional roller coaster that effectively conveys its themes within a short playtime.

    • “Very intense and emotional.”
    • “It's an emotional roller coaster of anxiety to confusion to sadness to contentedness.”
    • “A short, story-driven exploration game, very emotional, well-chosen design of the world and good voice acting.”
  • gameplay9 mentions

    The gameplay is largely criticized for being simplistic and limited, primarily consisting of walking and interacting with objects like tapes, akin to a typical walking simulator. Players have reported issues such as choppy mechanics and softlocking, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Gameplay wise, it's basically a walking simulator.”
    • “Gameplay felt choppy.”
    • “World doesn't feel like it matches the gameplay; I fell in a hole and softlocked on my first go.”
    • “However, it is very short and the gameplay is very limited to just walking around and clicking on tapes.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its eerie and suspenseful quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and providing a zen-like experience. The voice acting complements the soundtrack well, and while some users wish for more variety, the haunting melodies, especially during the credits, leave a lasting impression. However, there are concerns about copyright issues with certain tracks, suggesting a need for careful selection in future updates.

    • “The eerie music and feeling of suspense makes this game almost zen in a weird kind of way.”
    • “The voice acting was good and the music and sound fit perfectly to the atmosphere.”
    • “The world felt quite unique and I enjoyed your use of music.”
    • “Although I wish it was more show than tell, it still hits home, and the haunting music during the credits made this experience feel all the worthwhile.”
    • “Yes, for all its glaring flaws, its storyline through videotapes and its tragic music, I recommend it highly, and it's free, so why wouldn't you play despite its flaws?”
    • “However, if you are recording it, it does have one song that is copyrighted toward the end that I got flagged for.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its balance between peacefulness and subtle tension, creating an unsettling yet immersive experience. The quality of voice acting and the fitting music and sound design further enhance this ambiance, contributing to a well-crafted environment. Overall, it evokes a mix of tranquility and unease, with a rating of 7/10 reflecting its effectiveness.

    • “The voice acting was good and the music and sound fit perfectly to the atmosphere.”
    • “It's subtle, yet provides a perfect atmosphere that has you on edge and unsettled.”
    • “Very good atmosphere, peaceful, without fear.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, users acknowledge that the game has some bugs and glitches, such as issues with navigation, but many believe these do not significantly detract from the overall experience. They suggest that players should approach the game with the understanding that it may not be fully polished or finished.

    • “Yes, it is a bit buggy, but what game doesn't have that?”
    • “Don't listen to the people saying this game is buggy and laggy; it's still great. When you come into this game, remember that it is not finished and may never be (let's keep our hopes up).”
    • “Glitches... walking into a wall when there is a path that you must go...”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highly praised, particularly for its effective voice acting, which consistently elicits laughter from players.

    • “I was laughing my ass off the entire time with the voice acting!”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch; I couldn't stop chuckling at the witty dialogue.”
    • “Every character has a hilarious quirk that kept me entertained throughout the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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