Dream Alone

About

In "Dream Alone," players navigate a 2D platformer with challenging gameplay and deadly traps, all while searching for a sorceress who can stop a mysterious sickness. Levels have alternative reality versions, revealing more about the hero's past and motivation as the game progresses. Instant death awaits mistakes or carelessness, requiring precision jumps and quick running.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game has a unique and atmospheric art style that enhances the horror theme.
The gameplay features challenging puzzles and requires players to learn from their mistakes, providing a sense of accomplishment.
The soundtrack and sound design contribute positively to the overall experience, creating an engaging atmosphere.

The checkpoint system is poorly designed, often forcing players to replay long sections after dying.
The game suffers from frustrating hit detection and controls, making platforming difficult and sometimes unfair.
There are significant graphical issues, including distracting visual effects that hinder gameplay and make it hard to see important elements.

gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its frustrating mechanics, including floaty jumping and inconsistent hit detection, leading to a trial-and-error experience filled with traps. While some players appreciate the puzzle elements and the dual-reality mechanic, many feel that these features are overshadowed by poor execution and lack of coherence with the story. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The game also has this power where you can switch between two different realities, which can help you solve puzzles or get past enemies.”
- “We found the gameplay and puzzles to be fun.”
- “The jumping mechanic has an automatic 'float' to it.”
- “The gameplay can be very frustrating; it's a simple side-scroller, but what made it bad and very annoying were all the traps in the game.”
- “Sadly, the gameplay is complete rubbish.”
- “The gameplay felt very floaty (by design), and the hit detection was sometimes hard to figure out; some ledges are very easy to grab, while others are not, and there are no markers or telltale signs to figure out which is which.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the grainy visuals and lack of options, which can hinder visibility and enjoyment. However, others appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric effects, likening it to the aesthetic of "Limbo," and find that the graphics enhance the overall horror experience. While the animations may not be perfect, the combination of dark visuals and sound design contributes positively to the game's mood.
- “I love the art style and the fact that the blinking of the character not only causes a challenge but feeds into the atmosphere and story as well.”
- “This game has its scary moments, but overall it is a beautiful horror platform that needs to get noticed for its art style and challenging levels.”
- “I actually found the graphics very refreshing and consider it to be an excellent example of what an ambitious creative team can accomplish.”
- “There are no graphic options, none at all.”
- “I've only just started playing and I already can't stand the flickering grainy visuals that make it hard to see anything.”
- “The game's graphics are really bad; it is black and white normally, which isn't a problem, but it has this very grainy look that can be hard to see sometimes. There's also this weird dark filter that makes the darkness close in and out like you're blinking, and it got really, really annoying.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The story of "Dream Alone" is described as confusing and inconsistent, with a fairytale-like introduction that fails to connect meaningfully to the protagonist's journey. While some players appreciate the art style and atmosphere, they find the plot lacking depth and coherence, despite the intriguing premise of a boy seeking Lady Death to save his village from a mysterious illness. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the story's potential and others deeming it poorly executed.
- “At the beginning, there's an intro telling the story of a village where everyone got sick and went into a coma.”
- “You play as a little boy who has the quest to find Lady Death, a mysterious person who can save his village and family from a horrible unknown disease.”
- “Great story, really great music; the game combines a creepy mood, black-and-white graphics, and challenging traps.”
- “To start, the story is very confusing; as I mentioned, at the beginning of a new chapter, it has a fairytale/storybook opening.”
- “But the problem with it is that it's very inconsistent and barely has anything to do with the boy’s story except for Lady Death. It's just too confusing and has nothing to do with the boy and his problem.”
- “All right then, with all that said, Dream Alone is a complete piece of trash and a horrible game. Its story is bad, its gameplay is bad, its level designs are bad, and even though I got this when it was on sale, I still feel ripped off.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
14%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, enhanced by the art style and character abilities that contribute to a sense of dread and unease. Reviewers highlight the effective use of horror elements without relying on jump-scares, creating a genuinely unsettling environment that captivates players. Overall, the combination of atmospheric visuals and thematic depth results in a compelling and absorbing experience.
- “This game has a beautiful atmospheric feel.”
- “The atmosphere of the game was pretty cool, the grainy graphics adding to the overall feel of dread of the game.”
- “The horror theme is quite heavy and does well to establish a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, but doesn't stoop to jump-scares or similar tactics.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
29%
29%
The music in the game received mixed reviews, with some players finding it generic and uninspiring, while others praised the soundtrack as amazing and well-complementing the visuals. Overall, the music was noted as a highlight for some, enhancing the game's atmosphere, particularly in its creepy and challenging moments.
- “What stood out to me the most was the soundtrack, which was simply amazing.”
- “The soundtrack also complements the visuals quite nicely.”
- “Great story, really great music; the game combines a creepy mood, black-and-white graphics, and challenging traps.”
- “Sound design and music were very generic and just plain meh.”
- “The music is actually the only part of this game that wasn't annoying.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, highlighting that the game is plagued by bugs that detract from the overall experience.
- “If that wasn't frustrating enough, the game is also buggy.”
- “The stability issues make it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “Frequent crashes and glitches ruin the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find humor in the game's numerous bugs and poor design choices, often laughing at the absurdity of the situation rather than the intended comedic elements.
- “After I realized how bad this game was, all the bugs and stupid design choices made me laugh.”
- “The humor in this game is so unexpected and absurd that it kept me chuckling throughout my playthrough.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Dream Alone is praised for its dark, emotionally charged narrative, showcasing how a minimalist approach can effectively evoke deep feelings and enhance the overall gaming experience.
- “Dream Alone is a dark, emotionally charged adventure and a perfect example of how to do more with less.”