Don't Wake Me Up
- February 1, 2024
- Hosted Games
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Don't Wake Me Up" , players are trapped in a virtual reality with no memories, except for those of past video games. They must navigate through levels of video game pastiches and satirical commentary, encountering eccentric characters and confronting personal truths. As a 400,000-word interactive novel, this text-based game is penned by a professional game screenwriter, offering a unique and introspective journey.
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Reviews
- The game features a rich array of references and internet humor, making it entertaining and relatable for those familiar with video games.
- The narrative is engaging, with choices that feel meaningful and a surprising level of reactivity, enhancing the interactive experience.
- The characters are well-developed, and the game explores deep themes, providing a reflective experience that resonates with players.
- A significant twist near the end disrupts the narrative flow, leaving players feeling disconnected and disappointed with the overall experience.
- The game imposes restrictions on endings based on romance choices, which limits the inclusivity and roleplaying potential that players expect.
- The pacing can be inconsistent, with some players finding the humor and meta-commentary overwhelming or off-putting.
- story8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story is described as hard-hitting yet enjoyable, featuring compelling characters that leave a lasting impact. However, potential players should be aware of its darker themes and consider their emotional readiness, as some endings may not be uplifting. Overall, the narrative provokes thought and is recommended, despite some aspects that players might wish were different.
“I enjoyed the story and the characters.”
“This story was very hard-hitting, but of course fun.”
“The game gave me a lot to think about, and while there are certainly things I would like to have been different, overall I would recommend this one.”
“If you don't feel like you're in the right headspace for a story that might have some not-so-happy endings (or you just don't want anything to do with them), then maybe hold off on this one (or if you can stand to leave something unfinished: [spoiler] cut the game before chapter 5 [/spoiler]). The game gave me a lot to think about, and while there are certainly things I would like to have been different (see spoiler below for a hint), overall I would recommend this one.”
“If you don't feel like you're in the right headspace for a story that might have some not-so-happy endings (or you just don't want anything to do with them), then maybe hold off on this one (or if you can stand to leave something unfinished: [spoiler] cut the game before chapter 5 [/spoiler]). The game gave me a lot to think about, and while there are certainly things I would like to have been different (see spoiler below for a hint), overall I would recommend this one.”
“All I know is this story was very hard-hitting, but of course fun.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its hilarious jokes and clever parodies of video game culture, with many players finding it to be a source of genuine laughter. Despite the underlying darker themes, the comedic elements stand out as memorable highlights, leading some to express a desire to meet the author to discuss the humor further.
“It's hilarious, loved the jokes, the whole thing feels like a video game parody.”
“Just ignoring the darker, heavier, philosophical, and ethical issues involved for a moment, there were some absolute comedy gems in this game that had me gut laughing, and I always appreciate that.”
“Would love to meet the author one day to see if the sense of humor and memes/references translate to real life.”
