Dreamed Away

About

Dreamed Away is a single player role playing game with horror, fantasy, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Nicolas Petton and was released on October 23, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Dreamed Away is an emotional action-adventure RPG with psychological horror elements. Play as Théo, a boy lost in a dark, mysterious world. Explore a unique reality, duel against darkness and mind your choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

story20 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating and emotional story that resonates with players, drawing them into the journey of the protagonist, Theo, as he searches for his sister.
The pixel art and visual presentation are beautifully crafted, creating a unique and immersive atmosphere that blends cozy and spooky elements.
The combat system is engaging and offers a variety of mechanics that keep battles fresh and challenging, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies.

The pacing can be inconsistent, with long stretches of dialogue and fetch quests that detract from the overall gameplay experience.
Some players find the combat system frustrating, particularly on higher difficulty levels, where enemy attacks can feel unfair and difficult to avoid.
The story may leave some players wanting more, as certain plot points and character developments feel underexplored or unresolved.

story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The story of the game is widely regarded as its strongest aspect, featuring a captivating and emotional narrative that unfolds like a mystery, centered around a young boy's quest to find his missing sister. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and personal touch, some players noted issues with pacing and dialogue that occasionally detracted from the experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven RPGs, with a blend of whimsy and darker themes that create a rich atmosphere.
- “Dreamed Away is exactly what I look for in an indie game: it has straightforward, but satisfying gameplay; an attractive, unique visual presentation; great music; a captivating story with interesting characters that feels deeply personal and sincere; and a general impression that it was made by a small passionate team that poured their heart and souls into every aspect of it.”
- “The story is probably the strongest aspect of the game, so if you appreciate a story-driven RPG, this is definitely worth picking up.”
- “The world balances whimsy and dread with such a fine balance that the two never conflict with each other, but become inseparable, a melancholy that haunts you throughout the story even as you find yourself charmed by the world and its mysterious inhabitants.”
- “The characters weren't engaging, the story was all over the place, the actual gameplay was mostly fetch quests and tediously unfair battles; it was just not fun.”
- “There were also characters like the storyteller who felt like they should be important but barely did anything the whole game and were never fully explained, which felt convoluted at best and like a waste of time at worst.”
- “The issue here is that this is where the game's plot ends.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchiness and beauty, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its ability to evoke emotions and complement the game's unique visual style. Many agree that the music, crafted by a single developer, significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “Dreamed Away is exactly what I look for in an indie game: it has straightforward, but satisfying gameplay; an attractive, unique visual presentation; great music; a captivating story with interesting characters that feels deeply personal and sincere; and a general impression that it was made by a small passionate team that poured their heart and souls into every aspect of it.”
- “The last thing for now is the music: this game’s music is super catchy and just as beautiful as the art.”
- “The atmosphere is very well done, thanks in particular to the amazing soundtrack.”
- “The music is haunting and fitting as you journey through strange dimensions.”
- “I recommend playing with the volume on high, as the complimentary soundtrack is very fitting for the vibes of this game.”
- “Not to spoil too much, but if the hotel’s theme music doesn’t get stuck in your head, then I don’t know.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The gameplay is a blend of engaging story-driven puzzles and RPG-style combat, reminiscent of titles like Undertale, though opinions vary widely. While some players appreciate the satisfying mechanics and unique visual presentation, others find the combat frustrating and the gameplay repetitive, often reduced to tedious fetch quests. Overall, the game offers a mix of emotional storytelling and skill-based challenges, appealing to fans of indie games with a personal touch.
- “Dreamed Away is exactly what I look for in an indie game: it has straightforward, but satisfying gameplay; an attractive, unique visual presentation; great music; a captivating story with interesting characters that feels deeply personal and sincere; and a general impression that it was made by a small passionate team that poured their heart and souls into every aspect of it.”
- “Gameplay is a nice mix of RPG battles (think Undertale) and puzzles.”
- “It's a real-time, skill-based combat system with mini-game mechanics.”
- “The only actual gameplay you're given here is running errands for the director, and by errands, I mean slowly running back and forth through giant, long corridors to deliver mail to doctors whose names you don't know yet.”
- “The characters weren't engaging, the story was all over the place, the actual gameplay was mostly fetch quests and tediously unfair battles; it was just not fun.”
- “Mechanically, the combat could be compared to Undertale with its use of a 'bullet board' analogue, though said combat isn't accompanied by the SMT-style conversation system that Undertale had.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively emulates the aesthetics of the Mother series while incorporating unique elements. Reviewers appreciate the clarity and emotional depth of the visuals, noting that they complement the engaging gameplay and narrative. Overall, the artwork is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The art style resembles the mother series, but once again with its own unique distinctions.”
- “Pixel art is one of my favorite aesthetics in video games, and this game nails it.”
- “With its interesting combat system, beautiful pixel-style graphics, and abundance of puzzles, Dreamed Away is quickly becoming a game I know I'll come back to.”
- “One obvious thing are the graphics.”
- “It does delve into some emotional topics that definitely contradict its bright cheery visuals though and is not to be taken lightly.”
- “Dreamed Away is a game that caught my attention with the demo, but the cute and well-done pixel graphics mixed with disorienting events can be jarring.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, blending both pleasant and creepy elements that enhance the mysterious storyline and engaging side quests. The soundtrack plays a crucial role in creating a spooky ambiance, drawing players into the world and fostering a deep connection with the characters and environments. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players throughout their experience.
- “The atmosphere is very well done, thanks in particular to the amazing soundtrack.”
- “It has this atmosphere that just immerses you into the game world.”
- “The dark atmosphere was what initially drew me in, and as I played more of the game, I fell in love with the world and characters that inhabited it.”
- “The dark atmosphere was what initially drew me in, and as I played more of the game I fell in love with the world and characters that inhabited it.”
- “The atmosphere is what really stands out from my point of view, and I came to love the characters and the various places I visited as I tested the game.”
- “A big part of the atmosphere for me is the soundtrack.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, blending heartfelt storytelling with themes of loss and childhood trauma, reminiscent of the Earthbound and Undertale styles. Players report a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, highlighting the contrast between its bright visuals and serious subject matter. Overall, it is described as engaging and beautifully written, with a rich emotional depth that resonates throughout the gameplay.
- “What a beautiful and emotional story that was.”
- “I laughed, I cried, I reflected.”
- “A very heartfelt story-driven game that follows in the footsteps of the Mother series, somewhat.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by witty dialogue and amusing interactions with characters and objects, providing a lighthearted contrast to the more serious themes. While some players find the humor engaging and enjoyable, others feel it lacks depth and comparison to classic titles like the Mother series. Overall, the humor adds a layer of charm, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “Funny and witty dialogue boxes when checking different objects or hidden items that are rare and very helpful only found by you checking every nook and cranny.”
- “On top of that, all the characters are very interesting and leave you eager to talk to them to see what more eerie or hilarious things they’ll say.”
- “There are characters to talk to and most objects can be interacted with, which either can give you an item or just provide some dialogue that can be quite funny at times.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers express a desire for deeper character development, indicating that the essential characters lack sufficient growth and complexity throughout the game.
- “The character development in this game is truly remarkable, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The depth of character development adds layers to the narrative, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “I wish we could've seen more character development with the essential characters.”
- “The character arcs felt rushed and lacked depth, leaving me unsatisfied.”
- “There was little to no growth for the main characters, making it hard to connect with them.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players found the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, citing unengaging characters, a disjointed story, and repetitive fetch quests combined with frustratingly unfair battles. Overall, the grinding experience detracted significantly from the fun factor of the gameplay.
- “The characters weren't engaging, the story was all over the place, the actual gameplay was mostly fetch quests and tediously unfair battles; it was just not fun.”
- “Grinding feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, making it hard to stay motivated.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel more like a job than a source of entertainment.”