Awkward Dimensions Redux

About

Awkward Dimensions Redux is a single player simulation game with a drama theme. It was developed by StevenHarmonGames and was released on October 21, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

"Awkward Dimensions Redux" is an interactive dream journal that showcases the dreams, thoughts, and fears of its creator. Lasting between 20 minutes to an hour, the game features unconventional interactions and a variety of quirky elements, including conversations with roosters and disembodied legs. The game is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, with a limited gamepad support. The soundtrack can be obtained separately. This game is a remastered version of the original jam prototype.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,418 reviews

music179 positive mentions

optimization5 negative mentions

Unique and artistic experience that explores the developer's emotions and dreams.
Beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere.
Short and free, making it accessible for players looking for something different.

Controls can be clunky and frustrating, making some levels difficult to navigate.
The narrative can feel self-indulgent and overly focused on the developer's personal struggles.
Some levels lack clear objectives, leading to confusion and a sense of aimlessness.

music
317 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The music in "Awkward Dimensions Redux" is widely praised for its eclectic and immersive quality, enhancing the game's surreal environments and emotional depth. Many players describe the soundtrack as a standout feature, with a mix of soothing melodies and unsettling tones that effectively complement the gameplay experience. However, some critiques highlight issues with audio balance, where the music can overpower dialogue, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack is as eclectic as the visuals, shifting from soothing melodies to unsettling noise, depending on the mood of each dimension.”
- “The music really hit my soul and the story hit my heart.”
- “Overall, a lovely and thoughtful game with lots of love poured into it, great music, wonderful atmosphere, and an experience I would gladly go through again.”
- “It's a music album, not a game, that wasn't even made by the developer.”
- “The music in the game is very overpowering, and the dev talks under the volume of the music, so you have to hear the ear-piercing background music to get the story, or hear nothing at all.”
- “The soundtrack throughout is flat and lacks dynamic range, making it very hard on the ear and they loop pretty quickly.”
story
286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
76%
5%
The game's story is a deeply personal and abstract exploration of the developer's life, emotions, and struggles, often conveyed through dream-like sequences and non-linear narratives. While some players found it touching and relatable, others criticized it for being self-indulgent and lacking a cohesive plot. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a unique artistic expression that may resonate with those who appreciate introspective and experimental narratives, but it may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay or clear storylines.
- “Strangely touching, profound and sincere, this walking simulator tells a personal story through visions and memories, the story of struggle and aspiration, failures and success, the story about one guy's path through life.”
- “The game tells a story about the developer and his dreams.”
- “Overall, the game is a beautiful story that touches on the problems people face and their inner struggles, reflected in dreams.”
- “It's a buggy crap, bad storytelling, mostly just childish whining at life and instead of fixing the problems and getting better, he just whines that he is not naturally good and that people don't like his badly made games.”
- “The 'dream' excuse falls flat pretty early on and it becomes quite evident that this is just an interactive sob story from a kid who didn't get enough hugs from mommy.”
- “The story was aimed at gaining players' sympathy for his struggles to be a game developer; sadly, after playing this, I feel the school/college was right to reject him.”
gameplay
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The gameplay of "Awkward Dimensions Redux" is largely characterized as simplistic and often frustrating, with many reviewers noting it feels more like an interactive art piece than a traditional game. While some mechanics are praised for their creativity, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls and a lack of coherent gameplay, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness in conveying the developer's artistic vision. Players seeking complex mechanics or a compelling narrative may find the gameplay lacking, as it primarily revolves around exploration and minimal interaction.
- “Awkward Dimensions Redux is a personal and, yes, awkward project that leans more toward interactive art than 'game.' Each 'level' introduces new mechanics and ideas which kept this casual player entertained.”
- “The gameplay itself was very intriguing, and finding this game was an experience.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's a walk and look at stuff simulator with one actual interesting moment involving paintings.”
- “The gameplay is bad, with terrible pixel hunting.”
- “The concept of walking through someone's mind has potential, but it turned out more like a collection of half-finished set pieces with frustrating game mechanics.”
- “There's so little gameplay; most of the time you just walk from point A to point B, sometimes you just have to wait till the screen changes by itself without doing anything.”
graphics
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
48%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally described as striking and emotionally evocative, with a diverse range of artistic styles that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted that the visuals can be simplistic or dated, many appreciated the unique aesthetics and how they contribute to the game's narrative and atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, even if they don't reach high technical standards, and they effectively complement the game's themes and emotional depth.
- “Each dimension has its own aesthetic, ranging from minimalist black-and-white spaces to bizarre, colorful dreamscapes.”
- “The visuals were amazing, and the connection between funny dreams and intense self-reflecting dreams creates this feeling where you are almost exploring a part of your thoughts you've never been to.”
- “The graphics are lovely, they're very dream-like, as they are intended to be.”
- “The graphics aren't great and the walking is glitchy, but it really helps with the story and I am glad it looks this way.”
- “No options menu, poor graphics, absent storytelling, and an ugly art style make this game just painful to play.”
- “The graphics are not something to brag about; they're quite choppy.”
emotional
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players describing it as a deeply moving experience that evokes a range of feelings, from joy to sadness. Reviewers highlight its ability to resonate on a personal level, often drawing parallels to their own life experiences, and some even report being brought to tears. While some critiques mention a lack of polish or coherence, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers a heartfelt and introspective journey that is both unique and impactful.
- “This game is not a game, but more of an experience, an emotional experience at that, and a great one.”
- “The ending cutscene of Griptape Backbone almost made me cry because of the context.”
- “This game genuinely made me cry.”
atmosphere
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
21%
4%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and artistic qualities, with players appreciating the unique environments and emotional depth conveyed through sound and visuals. Many describe it as a thought-provoking walking simulator that excels in creating diverse and captivating atmospheres across different levels, despite some inconsistencies and technical issues. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the player's experience and engagement with the game's narrative and artistic intent.
- “Don’t go in expecting complex mechanics—it’s more about soaking in the atmosphere and experiencing each 'dimension' the game throws at you.”
- “I really enjoyed the atmosphere each dream had, the stories behind them, the developer's reasoning as to why he made what he did and how he masterfully put it into art and gave us the privilege to get a glimpse into his life and the strife included.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is interesting, nothing else like I have played before, and what adds to it is the real photos/videos.”
- “(I suffer from PTSD, so the anxiety-inducing atmosphere was not healthy for me) I had to quit very early on.”
- “First of all, the atmosphere is very inconsistent.”
- “Few of the dreams have a somewhat dreamy atmosphere, and in some others, you might just get confused about where to go next.”
humor
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of absurdity, emotional depth, and unexpected moments that evoke laughter, confusion, and introspection. Players appreciate the quirky references, such as a PewDiePie video and various surreal scenarios, which contribute to a unique experience that oscillates between funny and poignant. While some moments may feel clumsy or hard to relate to, the overall consensus is that the game successfully elicits a wide range of emotions, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “This game is so weird in so many ways, but it's funny and sad, which I never would have expected. Overall, this game is amazing; it might not be new or professionally made, but it is a great game.”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the movie that played while you climb the ladder.”
- “The movement is sketchy from level to level, but the puzzles are puzzling, the humor is humorous, and the feels are many.”
optimization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
75%
14%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including framerate drops and unresponsive levels, while others report smooth gameplay even on older hardware. Many reviewers noted that the game's minimalist design and simple graphics did not justify the performance problems, leading to frustration during certain segments, particularly those involving slow movements or lengthy performance art pieces. Overall, while there are moments of good optimization, the game struggles with consistency, making it feel more like an interactive performance art piece than a polished gaming experience.
- “The game splendidly runs on my worn-down 9-year-old laptop, which is a huge bonus, since it is clearly optimized while not sacrificing any of the atmospheric features.”
- “Optimization: there were a few frame drops on only 2 levels, but in a few 30 seconds, they went back to normal. As far as I know, optimization is really good.”
- “+ smooth gameplay/performance”
- “The movement is a little wonky, the framerate drops every so often, and unoptimized level portions almost freeze the game.”
- “This game ran poorly, even though it is empty and the graphics are very simple (a.k.a. terribly optimized).”
- “Badly optimized, pretentious, didn't look too nice in general.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting significant bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, such as clunky controls and visual issues. While some players were able to adapt to these problems and found the experience enjoyable, others described the game as unpolished and tedious, suggesting that the stability issues detracted from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, a few players appreciated the game's creativity and emotional depth, indicating that the bugs did not completely ruin their enjoyment.
- “100% bug-free product”
- “It's a buggy mess, with bad storytelling, mostly just childish whining at life instead of fixing the problems and getting better.”
- “Terribly buggy and tedious, and literally asking for sympathy.”
- “Feels very unpolished; I can't tell if some of the things I see are glitches or intentional, and many of the gameplay mechanics don't really make sense.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
23%
44%
Overall, the game lacks significant replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and limited exploration options. While some players may find value in revisiting the game's worlds, the consensus is that it does not offer substantial incentives for repeated playthroughs.
- “Usually, those kinds of games which are more like 'walking simulators' have a deeper meaning and some kind of replayability.”
- “Most levels are playable.”
- “Although games like this usually aren't really designed for replayability in mind, I can see myself making several returns to those worlds within the game.”
- “Replayability is not really there.”
- “The game also has virtually no replayability, as it is linear and there is not a lot to explore.”
- “Surely worth the journey (a couple of hours), but no replay value or actual point as a statement.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the varied environments and engaging exploration, many find the gameplay tedious and plagued by bugs. The level designs can feel repetitive and frustrating, leading to a sense of slow progress that detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Making them wade through long tedious sequences where no progress is made; when there is, it's slow and grueling.”
- “Terribly buggy and tedious, and literally asking for sympathy.”
- “But there's a point where I don't know if I like it or not, because the gameplay is kind of tedious and, how would I say, sometimes it 'doesn't work' (I mean, for real, sometimes you pass through walls or jump straight through the platform, and the jump is bad, by the way).”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the game's monetization is transparent, with accurate advertisements regarding duration, but some have experienced inflated gameplay hours due to pausing the game. Overall, the monetization model appears fair and straightforward.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
- “The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it ruins the overall experience.”