Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 699 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Game Cover
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Dreamfall: The Longest Journey is the sequel to the award-winning game The Longest Journey, and continues the epic saga with an emotional storyline and interactive world. The game offers unparalleled gameplay variety, allowing players to choose how they want to approach challenges through dialogue, stealth, or combat. Experience a beautiful and stirring journey in this adventure game masterpiece.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 699 reviews
story401 positive mentions
gameplay40 negative mentions
  • Engaging and immersive story that continues the narrative from The Longest Journey.
  • Beautiful graphics and environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • Strong character development and memorable characters, particularly Zoe and April.
  • Clunky controls and camera mechanics that can be frustrating to navigate.
  • Combat and stealth mechanics feel poorly implemented and unnecessary.
  • The game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving many plot threads unresolved.
  • story1,015 mentions

    The story of *Dreamfall: The Longest Journey* is widely praised for its depth, character development, and engaging narrative, continuing the legacy of its predecessor, *The Longest Journey*. While many players appreciate the intricate plot and emotional investment it fosters, some express frustration over unresolved storylines and a cliffhanger ending that leaves significant threads dangling. Overall, the game is recommended primarily for its storytelling, despite criticisms of its gameplay mechanics and pacing.

    • “The story is the main draw of this game, and if it manages to grab your attention, some of those flaws can be more manageable.”
    • “Dreamfall: The Longest Journey has an engaging story, narrated nicely.”
    • “The story is absolutely amazing and I loved every minute of it :)”
    • “The story introduces so many characters and elements, then proceeds to give them either no conclusion, or some bare bones and/or vague conclusion.”
    • “The ending is underwhelming and some story context is lost if you haven't played the previous entry; the longest journey, but there's always the wiki for assistance.”
    • “The story is a jumbled mess with unresolved plot threads, and the dialogue is full of cheesy pretentious lines.”
  • gameplay223 mentions

    The gameplay of "Dreamfall: The Longest Journey" has received significant criticism for its clunky mechanics, poor combat, and frustrating stealth elements, which many players found to be a downgrade from its predecessor. While the game emphasizes story and character development, the gameplay often feels shallow and disjointed, with many puzzles being simplistic and the overall experience leaning heavily on cutscenes rather than interactive gameplay. Despite these flaws, some players appreciate the narrative and atmosphere, suggesting that the game is best enjoyed for its story rather than its mechanics.

    • “As long as it's been since this game came out, I still go back and replay it every so often because the story and the gameplay are so fantastic.”
    • “Original story and perfect story-driven gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is simple and sometimes awkward, especially the obligatory combat; however, the story makes up for these shortcomings.”
    • “The stealth mechanics are barely serviceable, the combat is awful, the controls are awkward, the puzzles are rudimentary, the story feels unfinished and somewhat disjointed... but I did enjoy some things about it.”
    • “Turns out they were 100% right, the puzzles are terrible and the gameplay is a badly assembled railroad of frustration with an unsatisfying story and outright bad voice acting all over.”
    • “The gameplay is a dull, slow-paced, repetitive, and often irrelevant experience when you just want the wonderful story to unfold a bit quicker.”
  • graphics161 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are dated, they still hold a certain charm and can be appreciated for their time. Some users highlighted that the visuals have aged but remain decent, especially when compared to the first installment, while others pointed out significant graphical glitches and limitations in character animations. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics may not be the main draw of the game, but they do not detract significantly from the overall experience, which is enriched by a strong narrative and engaging gameplay.

    • “The graphics also hold up pretty well for being nearly twenty years old.”
    • “First impressions: compared to the first entry, graphics are absolutely spectacular, with a very nice level of detail if you crank them up.”
    • “The graphics are still beautiful!”
    • “The decision to transform a classic point and click adventure into an entirely 3D game does not work (at least with this poor implementation) and it seems like the developers have made all the wrong choices aesthetically and artistically.”
    • “Graphics, sound, world and character design, everything feels cheap, plastic, and without a soul.”
    • “The graphics haven't aged well either, in contrast to the first game where the backgrounds look pretty good still with the help of an HD mod.”
  • music62 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. While some tracks are described as beautiful and immersive, others find certain pop songs distracting and out of place, particularly during emotional scenes. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some inconsistencies.

    • “I would say the soundtracks alone make this game worth it.”
    • “The soundtrack is also excellent and worth listening to - after not having played this game for quite some time, listening to the soundtrack can bring me right back to certain big moments in the game.”
    • “In addition, the music is fantastic: the composer puts subtle musical cues into the world's environment and professionally crafts those into the score, creating several memorable and beautiful themes!”
    • “Flat music with no cohesion from scene to scene.”
    • “The rest of the music is serviceable; it works but doesn't stand out.”
    • “Too many unresolved stories, too many deaths; the soundtrack keeps getting annoying while trying to fill up emotional moments.”
  • humor30 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending witty dialogue and quirky character interactions that evoke genuine laughter. While some players note a decline in humor compared to the first installment, many appreciate the clever writing and funny moments that enhance the overall experience. The characters, particularly the sidekick Crow and main protagonist April, contribute significantly to the game's charm with their relatable and humorous traits.

    • “The unique mix of humor and world-building that made the first game stand out is intact, and remains its strongest point.”
    • “It has some funny parts, tricky parts, sad parts, very interesting parts but what makes this game special is its superb ability to show a story and make it all a fun and pleasurable experience.”
    • “The dialogue was also very engaging - usually thought-provoking and even sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.”
  • atmosphere25 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive settings, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the strong character development and engaging dialogue, which contribute to a rich, cinematic feel reminiscent of classic films. Despite some gameplay flaws, the game's ability to evoke emotion and create a memorable atmosphere makes it a standout in the adventure genre.

    • “Interesting set-pieces with incredible photography share the atmosphere of Funcom's later 'The Secret World', while memorable characters and smart dialogue are brought to life by brilliant direction and impressive vocal performances for the time.”
    • “This game gives amazing, seemingly John Williams-inspired scores that suit every scene in the entire game, reminding you of Minority Report, Star Wars, or Harry Potter, which builds the atmosphere of the entire game as you walk around beautifully designed worlds.”
    • “One of the most atmospheric story-driven games ever made.”
    • “Low quality cut scenes that don't help the atmosphere.”
    • “This sequel lacks the 'epic journey' atmosphere of the first game, and while its combat system is not really well-designed, the story and its progression really make up for it.”
    • “It's initially slow and is executed slightly cheesily (given the age of the game), but it quickly hooks you in once the atmosphere of the game has settled.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Dreamfall" is highlighted as a profound journey that can evoke strong feelings, with many players expressing deep investment in the characters and story. While some found the ending unsatisfying and unresolved, the game is praised for its ability to elicit tears and heartfelt connections, making it a standout experience for those seeking emotional depth in gaming. Despite some criticisms regarding voice acting and pacing, the overall sentiment is that "Dreamfall" successfully delivers an emotionally rich narrative.

    • “Dreamfall: TLJ absolutely earns its 'story rich' tag in spades, and the connections to the characters you make throughout the game stay very heartfelt right to the very end.”
    • “The combination of those things makes this game stand out to me for being one of the few games that has made me cry.”
    • “It's a deep storyline that pulls you in and keeps you interested, with an emotional ending that's rare in video games.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for its tedious fetch quests, clumsy inventory management, and repetitive backtracking, which detract from the overall experience. Players often find the combat and stealth mechanics cumbersome, leading to a frustrating gameplay loop that feels more like a chore than an engaging adventure. While the atmosphere and story have their merits, the overwhelming sense of monotony and lack of immersive elements make the grinding feel excessively burdensome.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You might feel like you're on a Runescape quest from hell, jogging from point to point, only to experience a tedious puzzle or click through inconsequential dialogue trees.”
    • “The atmosphere is great and the story is a fine follow-up to The Longest Journey, but the experience of playing it is all around bad, from the slow movement through enormous areas to the clumsy inventory, awful combat, and tedious stealth.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The stability of the game is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as characters getting stuck and audio issues. While some players appreciate the game's graphics and performance on modern systems, the overall experience is marred by persistent technical problems that can hinder progress and enjoyment. Many reviews highlight that these issues are particularly pronounced in older versions of the game, leading to a frustrating experience for players.

    • “How it runs: runs great at modern high resolutions at high frame rates without issues.”
    • “It also runs great with the Steam Controller.”
    • “The audio and visual quality of the game noticeably drops the further we go; these range from simple bad audio recordings to game-breaking glitches during cutscenes where characters get stuck on invisible walls.”
    • “In a world where faces don't express, mouths don't move, and voices don't convey emotion... where there are more loose ends than a packet of spaghetti... where the game is so excessively tainted with monstrous glitches that I was forced to reload numerous times and skip large swathes of dialogue... here lies the broken world of Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, my unluckiest playthrough of a game yet.”
    • “Loads of graphical glitches and getting stuck in doorways and narrow corridors as well as some scratchy sound effects and voice acting.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs stably on PC and supports features like alt+tab, players report various performance glitches, particularly with voice acting that suffers from stuttering and unnatural delivery. Additionally, movement controls and camera mechanics are criticized, and some users experienced issues with character animations and environmental interactions. Despite these drawbacks, some players suggest that optimizing personal computer settings can help mitigate graphical issues.

    • “The game seems stable, well optimized, supports alt+tab.”
    • “For the love of god, if you experience graphical issues, check your computer's graphical settings, as it might force something old games can't handle and learn how to optimize your computer's settings to achieve maximum performance for every game you own.”
    • “Awful controls but good PC performance.”
    • “I have Dreamfall: The Longest Journey on Xbox, but it's no longer compatible, so I got it for the PC, not realizing how horribly optimized it is for PC.”
    • “Many of the voices during cutscenes were filled with stuttering and static, some stealth segments where my character could hide behind objects caused them to enter an animation loop that required reloading the game, sometimes I couldn't walk up staircases or through doorways without getting stuck.”
    • “The most annoying issue of all is the voice stutterings that almost slow to a crawl, happens in several places.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily due to minimal differences in dialogue and mandatory reading that restrict player choice. However, some users express excitement for the sequel, "Dreamfall Chapters," which promises more impactful choices and greater replay value.

    • “I also got super excited hearing the news of the third installment, Dreamfall Chapters, and knowing that the choices do actually affect the storyline and have tons of replayability.”
    • “It is so much more playable and although the controls can seem a little clunky and reversed (especially the combat!).”
    • “Limited replay value.”
    • “The only differences were dialogue, and even then, most of the dialogue was mandatory to read, leaving little to no replayability.”
    • “Limited replay value.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development is a central focus of the game, with well-crafted NPC interactions that provide meaningful advice and advance the main characters' arcs. The storyline is complex and engaging, allowing players to overlook minor shortcomings in character progression due to the overall quality of the narrative and character design. The imaginative world and unique character designs further enhance the immersive experience.

    • “The conversations with the white draic kin are soothing and relaxing, and she even helps advance April and Zoe's character development by giving them valuable advice.”
    • “Nevertheless, the storyline and character development are so well done that the few instances where it falls flat are easily overlooked in order to find out what happens next and enthusiastically watch the story unfold.”
    • “It relies most heavily on character development and storyline exposition through interactions with well-developed NPCs and only occasional puzzles.”
    • “In terms of story, it is really complex, cryptic, and creepy at times (character design, especially the faces contribute to that level of creepiness).”
    • “Nevertheless, the storyline and character development are so well done, that the few instances where it falls flat are easily overlooked in order to find out what happens next and enthusiastically watch the story unfold.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, as it predates the era of microtransactions, allowing for a focus on gameplay rather than profit-driven design. However, there are concerns about the marketing strategy, particularly regarding the promotion of limited playable characters.

    • “It's quite old, but that can also be a good thing - microtransactions weren't even a concept yet, and games were developed to be fun instead of being products for average consumer groups.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money to enjoy the game.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers cosmetic items for purchase without impacting gameplay, allowing players to support the developers while keeping the experience balanced.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I was initially hesitant about buying this game due to its heavy reliance on in-game purchases.”
    • “The game should only advertise two playable characters, or maybe even just one, as the rest are locked behind paywalls.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
12hMain story
15hCompletionist
7-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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