D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Season 1 Game Cover

About

"D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Season 1" is a time-traveling adventure game where players assume the role of a detective with the ability to "dive" into the past. By using supernatural artifacts called "mementos," the detective seeks to solve his wife's murder before it occurs. With a film noir aesthetic and unique gameplay mechanics, players uncover the truth behind the wife's death through investigations and conversations.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die - Season 1 screenshot

+26

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,014 reviews

story443 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

Unique and bizarre storyline that keeps players engaged.
Memorable and eccentric characters that add charm to the game.
Fun gameplay mechanics with a mix of point-and-click and quick time events.

The game is unfinished and ends on a cliffhanger, leaving many questions unanswered.
Short playtime with only a prologue and two episodes, which may not justify the price.
Controls can be clunky and may not translate well from the original Kinect design.

story
1,165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The story of *D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die* is a unique blend of quirky characters and surreal narrative elements, revolving around detective David Young as he investigates his wife's murder while navigating time travel and bizarre scenarios. However, the game is left unfinished, concluding on a significant cliffhanger with no plans for a sequel, which has left many players feeling frustrated and disappointed despite the engaging storytelling and rich atmosphere. Overall, while the narrative is compelling and filled with potential, its abrupt ending and lack of resolution detract from the overall experience.
- “Even though it will likely remain an incomplete story, what is on offer here is one of the most unique experiences in the episodic narrative genre.”
- “The characters are exceptionally written and the plot and mystery surrounding them is astounding.”
- “I'm truly sorry and shocked that this game didn't get the attention it deserved because to me, this is the pinnacle of storytelling in video games that are mostly consisted of walking around and interacting with different objects and people.”
- “Too bad there will never be a season two, so if you don't like playing a game with no real ending to the story, this is not the game for you.”
- “The game ends abruptly on a cliffhanger, and the continuation of the story was canceled.”
- “The fact that the story will never be finished is heartbreaking.”
gameplay
405 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The gameplay of "D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die" is primarily a blend of point-and-click mechanics and quick-time events (QTEs), which some players find engaging while others consider it simplistic and tedious. Many reviews highlight the game's narrative and quirky characters as its main attractions, often suggesting that the gameplay is secondary to the storytelling experience. Overall, while the gameplay has its unique moments and humor, it is generally viewed as lacking depth and complexity, making it more suitable for fans of narrative-driven games rather than those seeking intricate gameplay mechanics.
- “D4 is a much more entertaining game in that it has gameplay that makes you think and super interesting characters.”
- “The gameplay is great, the humor is hilarious, it's a good game that was left unfinished.”
- “The gameplay while still minimal is highly refreshing.”
- “It's very light on the gameplay part, similar to Heavy Rain or Beyond: Two Souls.”
- “On top of the terrible writing, the gameplay is a huge pain in the ass.”
- “I really do appreciate how the game is trying something different, and the wacky characters and set pieces, I actually do find funny, and the story interesting, but the gameplay is just tedious and uninteresting, which sucks because they do actually try to offer you some variety and off-the-wall stuff, but the adventure game setup just means that most of the time I'm just putting my mouse cursor over things and waiting to click; it sucks.”
music
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its exceptional quality, featuring a diverse soundtrack that blends genres like jazz, rock, and ambient sounds, perfectly complementing the game's quirky narrative and atmosphere. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack is not only memorable but also elevates the overall experience, with some tracks being so catchy that players continue to listen to them outside of the game. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's charm and engagement.
- “The soundtrack is similarly awesome, veering between eerie ambient, sultry jazz, and more uptempo rock and pop-based music; it fits the tone of the game perfectly.”
- “The music alone is an absolute treat, and I still listen to some tracks of the OST regularly.”
- “With a great balance of old point-and-click conventions and elements from the newer Telltale games, an engaging story with the most bizarre yet lovable set of characters you will ever encounter, a fantastic soundtrack that ranges from relaxing jazz and piano music to Irish rock, and being a game that oozes soul and creativity, D4 is a fantastic game that will suck you into its world in a way few games this generation will ever hope to achieve.”
- “The only thing that sucks is that the mini soundtrack only comes with 4 songs, and if you wanted to buy the full soundtrack, well, in CAD, for the David and Peggy disc, it's $30, while most soundtracks for video games cost around $5. I think it might be wrong, but I feel as though it's a bit much.”
- “I didn't hate it, but it feels like getting an album with 3 songs on it.”
- “The transition from each scene looked like it could have been interesting, but the exposition was so drawn out with a soundtrack from something I'd expect on the Lifetime channel.”
humor
217 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, off-beat style, blending absurdity with clever writing and memorable characters. Players appreciate the unique comedic elements, which range from intentionally bizarre scenarios to witty dialogue, often drawing comparisons to the creator's previous works. While the humor is a standout feature, it complements the game's darker themes, creating a light-hearted experience that keeps players engaged and entertained.
- “The game is still hilarious and always a blast to play through.”
- “Swery has such a unique sense of humor and this game overflows with it, be it in narrative elements, characters, little references, or even certain gameplay actions.”
- “I found myself laughing at the outrageous moments, funny writing, and scenarios that transform this game dealing with what would be considered a dark subject - murdered spouse mystery story - into a light-hearted game.”
- “It's not funny because of how bad it is; it's funny because of the ridiculous situation. Clam chowder, am I right?”
graphics
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique cel-shaded art style that many players find charming and visually appealing, though opinions vary on their execution, with some describing them as low-resolution and glitchy. While the distinctive comic-like visuals and vibrant colors enhance the overall aesthetic, they are sometimes hindered by technical issues and a lack of environmental variety. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's quirky atmosphere, despite not being cutting-edge.
- “Amazing game with a really unique art style, I've never seen anything like that.”
- “The visuals are astounding; the graphic style is similar to comics, with lush colors and a lot of contrast.”
- “The graphics are nice with a distinctive comic-style and the voice actors deliver their lines accordingly to the crazy situations.”
- “Graphically, the game is terrible.”
- “Graphics are like a low-res PS3 game and have no anti-aliasing.”
- “Crappy graphics, runs like shit even on a new gaming computer.”
atmosphere
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its outstanding quality, blending engaging storytelling, unique visual styles, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the harmonious integration of gameplay mechanics and optional activities that complement the immersive environment, creating a surreal and expansive feel. The combination of jazz and eerie tunes, along with well-developed characters, contributes to a distinctive atmosphere that keeps players invested throughout the game.
- “The atmosphere and storytelling make it feel quite a bit more expansive and engaging.”
- “The soundtrack, humor, and visual style are highlights all, creating a distinctive atmosphere that will sink its claws into you without relenting.”
- “It has a fantastic atmosphere, story, and characters.”
- “It's a real shame too, since due to the storytelling and general atmosphere, I was quite looking forward to its conclusion.”
- “The only issues that I have with the game are that it is quite short, and the awkward controls, but you get over the latter pretty quickly, as the atmosphere the game creates is really why you keep playing.”
- “At first I thought the game elements would just get in the way of the storytelling, but actually I think they just added to the surreal atmosphere.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke deep feelings, with players noting the heartbreak of an unfinished story and the sincerity of character experiences. The blend of humor and poignant moments, particularly through well-developed characters and impactful flashbacks, creates a unique narrative that resonates with players. Despite its oddities, the game is praised for its heartfelt storytelling, making it a memorable experience that lingers with players.
- “The fact that the story will never be finished is heartbreaking.”
- “D4 also blindsided me with how sincere and emotional it is.”
- “Characters feel well developed, especially the main character who has strong emotional moments that are brought out through the gameplay and various flavor text rather than a cutscene.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
The game is designed with replayability in mind, offering players the chance to discover missed dialogues, side missions, and collectibles on subsequent playthroughs. While some reviews highlight a lack of meaningful rewards for replaying, many players appreciate the variety of experiences and mechanics that encourage multiple runs, especially for those aiming for 100% completion. Overall, the game has a solid replay value, though opinions vary on its execution.
- “Still, I enjoyed playing the game and it does have replay value in that there are things you can miss or not see the first time you play it, and also depending on your responses to characters may unlock or reveal new information in the story.”
- “Like with Deadly Premonition, D4 offers a lot more mechanics and detail into the game that provides replayability and appeal.”
- “Game has fairly high replay values for getting 100% completions, so perhaps during the second playthrough I can see more of the actual actions instead of big arrows.”
- “However, the game does not have any replayability.”
- “I honestly thought this form of reward was weak and artificially encouraged replayability - when the game stands fine on its own for replayability - and also seemed like the designer wanted to reward the player but didn't quite know what to give them or do with the currency system he made up.”
- “- not the best replayability if you don't miss some extra investigations (which are nice).”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
14%
57%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players noting it is less buggy than typical titles from the developer, Swery65, while others report severe performance issues, including low frame rates, long load times, and poor controls. Despite these optimization challenges, many still find the game's story and overall experience compelling enough to recommend it, viewing it as a unique, albeit unfinished, project.
- “Even though it isn't finished, it shows peak Swery65. Swery's games are always buggy as hell, but this is the one game that isn't a glitchy mess. The story, gameplay, OST, and comedy are amazing, and it hurts that it will never be finished. All I can hope is that Swery can keep making amazing games and that he can keep amazing devs that keep the games well optimized like this.”
- “To the game, I can say it has performance issues, but they are not too bad.”
- “An unplayable, unoptimized mess of a game.”
- “Awful optimization (never reached more than 9 fps) and controls.”
- “It also seems to be fairly poorly optimized with frequent fps drops and long load times.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for its tedious and repetitive gameplay, with players expressing frustration over the chapter replay system and the need to perform the same tasks repeatedly. While the humor and wacky characters are appreciated, many feel that the gameplay lacks engagement and variety, leading to a sense of monotony that detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential, the grindy elements and poorly designed mini-games significantly hinder the enjoyment of the adventure.
- “The gameplay is just tedious and uninteresting, which sucks because they do actually try to offer you some variety and off-the-wall stuff, but the adventure game set-up just means that most of the time I'm just putting my mouse cursor over things and waiting to click.”
- “The repetition of the same chores over and over is tedious as hell.”
- “A couple of characters quickly become tedious and don't add much to further the plot, their continual interactions serving no other purpose than to take up more time.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players noting a significant reduction in bugs and glitches compared to previous titles from the developer. While some users experienced occasional issues at startup, the majority report a smooth experience, particularly in the PC version, highlighting the game's narrative focus as a contributing factor to its stability.
- “Sometimes when I start the game, it is very buggy.”
- “Even though it isn't finished, it shows peak Swery65. Swery's games are always buggy, but this is the one game that isn't a glitchy mess. It hurts that it will never be finished.”
- “Plus, the more narrative-focused gameplay means there are no strange design decisions and glitches that make the game unplayable.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
The game features strikingly stylish character development, with unique designs and personalities that enhance the narrative's mystery and intrigue. Influenced by Twin Peaks, the characters are intricately woven into a semi-cryptic story filled with dark themes, making their interactions and backstories compelling. Overall, the combination of distinctive character traits and an episodic storytelling approach contributes to a rich and engaging experience.
- “Where this game excels is the interesting character designs - everything from how they talk, act, dress, etc. On top of the interesting characters is a mystery/detective story layered with murder, amnesia, drugs, and all kinds of weird crimes from exsanguinated bodies, bodies with the flesh inside out, drowning without water, etc.”
- “+ brilliant character design”
- “This game combines Swery's Twin Peaks-influenced storytelling and character designs with an episodic style of gameplay that Telltale is known for nowadays.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express concern that the game's monetization strategy appears to prioritize profit over player experience, as evidenced by the abrupt conclusion of the first season after only two episodes, which some perceive as a cash grab.
- “This makes me think that the developer was aiming for a second cash grab by ending the first season after just 2 episodes (about 3 hours of gameplay).”