Bad Dream: Purgatory

About

Bad Dream: Purgatory is a single player open world puzzle game. It was developed by Desert Fox and was released on June 23, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Bad Dream: Purgatory" is a surreal adventure game with a 2.5D format and first-person camera, featuring hand-drawn illustrations and unusual characters from a cancelled project. As the player, you have the power to give meaning to these trapped characters and decide their fate in a haunting limbo-like world. This game is the latest addition to the Bad Dream series, known for its unique storytelling and artistic style.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

story5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a unique 3D exploration style that adds a refreshing twist to the series, allowing for more freedom and interaction.
The hand-drawn art style and ambient soundtrack create an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
There are multiple endings and secrets to discover, providing replayability and encouraging players to explore different choices.

The map design is confusing, with repetitive visuals and a lack of vertical movement, making navigation frustrating.
Gameplay can feel tedious due to the back-and-forth nature of quests and the absence of clear objectives or guidance.
Technical issues, such as crashes and awkward controls, detract from the overall enjoyment and can lead to a frustrating experience.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The game's story, centered around themes of afterlife and purgatory, has received mixed reviews; while some players found it engaging and emotionally impactful, others criticized it for being confusing and boring. The narrative unfolds across three chapters, combining linear storytelling with open-world exploration, but many felt that the open-world aspect detracted from meaningful progress. Overall, the story shows potential for depth and character development, though it may not resonate with all players.
- “The story itself is fantastic; I won't spoil it in my review, but it really makes you feel sad for the trapped characters!”
- “You have the main story chapters combined with open world exploration.”
- “There are many different ways you can change the story just by doing one thing differently!”
- “It is a story about the afterlife/purgatory, and yet it's so boring I just couldn't be bothered to finish it.”
- “Another amazing thing about this game is that there are different 'game modes' (uninspired story and open world).”
- “There are 3 chapters to play; the other 2 unlock upon completing the original story.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the hand-drawn art style that echoes the original point-and-click games, while others prefer the 2D format over the first-person perspective. The art style is praised for its similarity to other well-received titles, enhancing the overall atmosphere with effective sound and ambience that contribute to a sense of unease. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, despite differing preferences in gameplay perspective.
- “I love the art style; it's always right up my street.”
- “The sound and ambience are incredible, and coupled with the classic desert fox hand-drawn graphics, it really gives you goosebumps and that uneasy 'you're being watched' feel!”
- “While I didn't personally enjoy the first-person perspective as much as the 2D point-and-click versions, I still think the game is worth recommending because it retains a lot of the same hand-drawn art styles of the original games.”
- “I didn't like this first-person perspective version of the game as much as I did the 2D point-and-click ones. While I didn't personally enjoy it very much, it's not a terrible game, and I think I will still recommend it because it has entertainment value and it keeps a lot of the same hand-drawn art styles of the original point-and-click games.”
- “The sound and ambience is incredible and, coupled with the classic desert fox hand-drawn graphics, it really gives you goosebumps and that uneasy 'you're being watched' feel!”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some users appreciating the style and ambient soundtrack, while others find the gameplay lacking or unsatisfactory.
- “I like the style and the ambient soundtrack, but the gameplay is lacking.”
- “The controls feel clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to play.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are repetitive and fail to keep my interest.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is characterized by a minimalistic approach, featuring a pleasant ambient soundtrack and limited sound effects. While some players appreciate the style of the music, they feel that it does not significantly enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “I like the style and the ambient soundtrack.”
- “It's pretty much silent, other than the background music and a handful of effects.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of Purgatory is noted for its distinctive 3D setting and minimalistic design, which sets it apart from other games in the bad dream genre.
- “Purgatory stands out among the other bad dream games with its 3D setting and very minimalistic atmosphere.”