Among the Sleep

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,878 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
Among the Sleep Game Cover
Among the Sleep’s short runtime and fairly anticlimactic ending does take away somewhat from what is otherwise a great game.
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Among the Sleep is a first-person horror adventure where you play as a two-year-old child exploring the dark after waking up to mysterious sounds. The game focuses on atmosphere and exploration rather than combat, emphasizing vulnerability and fear as you try to make sense of the world. This unique perspective and tone distinguish it from typical horror games.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,878 reviews
story729 positive mentions
replayability36 negative mentions
  • Unique perspective of playing as a toddler, which adds a fresh twist to the horror genre.
  • Emotionally impactful story that addresses serious themes like family struggles and childhood trauma.
  • Atmospheric design and sound that effectively create a sense of dread and immersion.
  • Very short gameplay, typically around 2-3 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, primarily consisting of simple puzzles and fetch quests.
  • Technical issues such as bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience.
  • story1,843 mentions

    The story of "Among the Sleep" is a deeply emotional and haunting exploration of childhood trauma, told through the eyes of a toddler navigating a surreal and nightmarish world. Players uncover the narrative through environmental storytelling and subtle hints, piecing together the troubled family dynamics that shape the child's experiences. While the game is short, lasting around 2-4 hours, its poignant themes and unique perspective resonate long after the credits roll, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate story-driven games.

    • “The narrative unfolds through small hints and environmental storytelling, encouraging players to piece together the plot on their own, resulting in a lingering emotional resonance even after the game ends.”
    • “Essentially, Among the Sleep transcends typical horror gameplay; it is a moving exploration of fear and innocence through a child's perspective, seamlessly merging psychological tension with a heartfelt story.”
    • “The story is deeply emotional, gradually revealing itself in a way that is both unsettling and poignant.”
    • “Overall there are no interesting puzzles or involving action and the story itself is mediocre at best.”
    • “The story is linear and for me was very predictable, but I was still engaged throughout the whole story nonetheless.”
  • atmosphere734 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Among the Sleep" is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively capturing the perspective of a toddler navigating a nightmarish world. Reviewers highlight the game's strong sound design, eerie visuals, and emotional storytelling, which together create a deeply atmospheric experience that relies more on tension and psychological horror than on jump scares. While some note the gameplay can be simplistic, the overall ambiance and thematic depth make it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric horror.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing and the story (while a bit confusing at first) slowly starts to creep into your head.”
    • “The atmosphere is perfectly executed; it looks like a twisted world and feels very tense.”
    • “The atmosphere and sound effects of this game are unmatched by any other horror game I have played.”
    • “The game tries to create a spooky atmosphere, but most of the time the audio doesn't fit the game's pace and on-screen action.”
    • “Despite the effort and atmosphere that obviously went into the game, the full price of $20 is just a little bit steep for the length.”
    • “While the atmosphere is incredibly thick, it takes until about halfway through the game before you are in any actual danger.”
  • gameplay701 mentions

    The gameplay of *Among the Sleep* is characterized by its simple mechanics, such as crawling and climbing, which effectively convey a sense of vulnerability and helplessness from a child's perspective. While the game emphasizes exploration and narrative over complex gameplay, many players find it repetitive and lacking in depth, with a typical playtime of around 2-4 hours. Overall, the experience is often described as atmospheric and emotionally engaging, but some reviewers feel it falls short in terms of gameplay innovation and challenge.

    • “The gameplay is well-balanced, focusing more on exploration and narrative rather than complex mechanics or difficulty spikes.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and its a blast to play but there are problems that weigh down the experience.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but interesting enough, and the music, atmosphere, and tension will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “The gameplay is where the game lost me.”
    • “The gameplay lacks so much depth...the story seems to offer interesting suggestions here and there, but not that much is getting delivered.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely similar (despite being in 1st person) and some of the sounds are uncannily like those found in Little Nightmares.”
  • graphics528 mentions

    The graphics of "Among the Sleep" are generally praised for their unique art style and atmospheric design, effectively capturing the eerie perspective of a child's imagination. While some players note that the visuals can be dated or occasionally glitchy, many appreciate the game's ability to create a haunting and immersive environment that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's emotional storytelling and spooky ambiance, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.

    • “The game's world is filled with haunting sounds and visuals that capture the wonder and dread of a child's imagination.”
    • “Visually, the game is quite appealing, with its stylized graphics and surreal designs adding to the overall mood.”
    • “The graphics are superb, and exploring new environments is a trippy and mesmerizing experience.”
    • “The graphics are dated, but I didn't really notice.”
    • “Graphics and animations are nothing to write home about, especially for an enhanced edition that supposedly includes 'improved visuals'.”
    • “The graphics aren't spectacular.”
  • emotional177 mentions

    "Among the Sleep" is widely praised for its deeply emotional narrative, which explores themes of childhood innocence, fear, and family dynamics through the perspective of a vulnerable toddler. Players report a profound emotional impact, particularly from the game's poignant ending and the way it intertwines horror with heartfelt storytelling, leaving a lasting resonance long after completion. The game's unique approach to psychological horror, combined with its immersive atmosphere and artistic direction, makes it a standout experience that evokes strong feelings and reflections on personal experiences.

    • “Among the Sleep is a deeply emotional and immersive game that places players in the shoes of a small child facing a world filled with nightmares.”
    • “Essentially, Among the Sleep transcends typical horror gameplay; it is a moving exploration of fear and innocence through a child's perspective, seamlessly merging psychological tension with a heartfelt story.”
    • “The story is incredibly touching and will leave you with some pretty heavy emotions by the time you reach the end.”
  • music142 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a haunting and immersive atmosphere, effectively enhancing the tension and fear throughout the experience. Many reviewers highlight the eerie ambient sounds and unsettling melodies that contribute significantly to the game's overall mood, although some note that the soundtrack can be forgettable at times. Overall, the sound design, including both music and effects, is considered a standout feature that elevates the gameplay and emotional impact.

    • “The audio quality is very engaging, with ambient sounds and unsettling music that enhance the tension and contribute to the fear factor.”
    • “The music is really creepy and adds to the atmosphere of creepiness in this game.”
    • “With its haunting atmosphere and eerie soundtrack, Among the Sleep: Enhanced Edition excels at immersing players in a tense and foreboding atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack wasn't really that present, and when it was, I never really noticed it, which was really disappointing.”
    • “I'm so disappointed... it's my first bad review. I waited impatiently to play this game after all; it was a cheap product as graphics, the story, music, and gameplay are just not worth it. Sorry, but I suggest you not waste time and money on this game.”
    • “I truly believed that the entire game was just creepy music/atmosphere and jump scares... no big deal.”
  • replayability110 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that once completed, there is little incentive to play again. Most players found the game to be very short, typically finishing it in under three hours, and while some mentioned the potential for collecting achievements, the overall consensus is that the experience does not warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, the replay value is considered low to nonexistent, making it more suitable for a single playthrough rather than repeated enjoyment.

    • “There is even a replayability factor because the world is so atmospheric and wonderfully surreal that it feels like a crazy dream you had that you want to have again.”
    • “Krillbite Studios have added Steam achievements to the game, so there’s a bit of replayability in terms of collecting everything and unlocking each achievement.”
    • “It's short, but sweet, and while it does have little replay value, I'd love to play it again with a loved one.”
    • “It is also dreadfully short; you could probably go through it in just about an hour, and apart from trying to find the collectibles, there is little replay value.”
    • “There's no replayability here, which means once you're done, you're pretty much done for good.”
    • “The only drawback is the price given the game's length and replayability.”
  • stability75 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with collision detection, graphical errors, and audio problems. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly at times and can be enjoyable despite these flaws, the overall consensus is that the numerous technical issues detract significantly from the experience, making it difficult for players to fully immerse themselves in the game.

    • “It runs great, I've experienced no issues at all.”
    • “Runs great on Linux.”
    • “Looks great, runs great, plays great (even with controller).”
    • “It was a good experience with a nice concept, but $20 for a buggy game with 3 hours of gameplay isn't worth it in my eyes.”
    • “The enemies are terribly placed and buggy, breaking the game experience.”
    • “If you are using Nvidia hardware, there are unresolved visual glitches that make the game virtually unplayable.”
  • optimization37 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and flexible settings, many others experience significant stuttering, framerate drops, and bugs that detract from the experience. Despite some beautiful graphics, the optimization issues are particularly pronounced on lower-end systems and certain platforms, leading to frustration among users. In summary, while the game has potential, its optimization leaves much to be desired, impacting immersion and gameplay for many players.

    • “The game’s settings are flexible enough to adjust the experience to your liking, and technically, the game runs smoothly with no major issues or bugs.”
    • “Performance is as you can imagine, really good, no issues running the game and I have not encountered any kind of bugs.”
    • “Among the Sleep is very well optimized and runs very smoothly even on my old laptop.”
    • “It does have some optimization problems and the lower-end graphics glitched/stuttered at some points on my average laptop, but the visuals are still beautifully done and only add to the immersion and fantasy-based storytelling.”
    • “The stuttering and major FPS drops are distracting and certainly take away from the game's immersion.”
    • “Framerate is erratic, jumping around even vsynced, stream loading of environments are bad, and certain areas have some bugs making the framerate flicker from 57-60-62-60 all the time even when synced causing major stuttering and general unsmoothness.”
  • grinding33 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing it as a "crawling simulator" that detracts from the initial enjoyment. While some elements, like collecting memories, are appreciated, many reviewers express frustration with the slow pace, lack of engaging puzzles, and the need to repeatedly traverse the same areas, leading to a generally uninteresting experience. Despite a compelling story, the gameplay is frequently criticized for being overly grindy and lacking challenge.

    • “Collecting the memories and drawings wasn't tedious at all, and the drawings add more depth to the story.”
    • “Loved the concept, and was deeply enthralled by the first 10 minutes or so - but then it quickly devolved into little more than a clunky, tedious, and largely uneventful crawling simulator.”
    • “This game is seriously boring and tedious the entire time, extremely short for its price, and overall just plainly sucks.”
    • “The puzzles aren't puzzles, but really just tedious tasks to perform.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the juxtaposition of a child's perspective against a horror backdrop. Many reviews highlight moments of levity, such as the protagonist's antics and the humorous portrayal of the mother, which provide comic relief amidst the game's eerie atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully elicits laughter through its quirky scenarios and unexpected twists, making it a memorable experience for players.

    • “Oh also, this is probably the only game in existence to feature the Swedish nurse rhyme 'trollmors vaggsång', which is pretty funny as it's something I recognize from my own childhood.”
    • “Sometimes utilizes a good sense of repeated imagery, but ultimately just a 3-hour long interactive fun-house with a painfully hilarious ending.”
    • “There's no better way of lightening the creepy mood than watching the protagonist toddler spinning on its head and laughing whilst jammed halfway down a watering well, even if it means you have to restart the level once or twice.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The game features no microtransactions, which is positively noted by users, although some express concerns about misleading advertising regarding platform compatibility. Overall, the monetization approach is appreciated for its transparency, but the replay value is considered moderate.

    • “There are no microtransactions, which is always a plus, and the replay value is moderate.”
    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “Misleading advertising.”
    • “This is like advertising a game to work on PC and Mac, buying it and finding out it doesn't actually work on PC yet.”
    • “=== microtransactions / DLC policy ===”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted as lacking depth, with players expressing a desire for more exploration of the characters' backgrounds and relationships. However, there are standout moments, particularly between the toddler and teddy, that provide meaningful interactions and emotional weight, surpassing some larger titles. Overall, while the story is engaging and well-presented through the environment and design, it leaves players wanting more in terms of character growth.

    • “I would have loved to have seen more character development, but the story is serviceable and interesting.”
    • “There were a few great moments between the toddler and teddy, which make for more character development than I've seen in AAA titles with ten times the gameplay duration.”
    • “The creatures themselves, being lonesome as they are, aren't particularly scary outside of the character design aspect.”
    • “There were a few great moments between the toddler and teddy which make for more character development than I've seen in AAA titles with 10 times the gameplay duration.”
    • “The story is better than I gave it credit for when I started playing, and it is told well through the environment and character design.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

Buy Among the Sleep

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2hMain story
3hCompletionist
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 61 analyzed playthroughs

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