Dreams of Aether

About

A collection of dozens of Aether-flavored microgames! Dive into the Dreams of Aether, where everyone is trapped in a never-ending nightmare! Meet some of the strangest characters Aether has to offer!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 870 reviews

music38 positive mentions

monetization4 negative mentions

Dreams of Aether captures the chaotic energy and humor of WarioWare, providing a fun and engaging experience with a charming art style.
The game features innovative mechanics, especially in the final level where players tackle two mini-games simultaneously, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.
Despite its short length, the game offers high replayability with various challenges and achievements, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of microgame collections.

The game has significantly less content than WarioWare, with a main story that can be completed in under an hour, leaving some players wanting more.
Some mini-games can be confusing at first, requiring multiple attempts to understand the mechanics, which may frustrate players.
While the game is fun, it may feel like a promotional tool for the developer's other games, leading some to perceive it as lacking depth.

music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
27%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, described as a collection of "nonstop bangers" and "great jams" that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight its high quality, catchy tunes, and seamless integration with the gameplay, contributing to the game's charm and appeal. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “The music is full of nonstop bangers, and is pieced together *very* well.”
- “So far this is my game of the year, while it is quite short, the quality is very high, great gameplay, great soundtrack, just overall a great game.”
- “Amazing music and art design, 10/10 and hope the studio makes more cute small spin off games like this!”
- “Gameplay and music was alright but it is not long enough to justify a price tag.”
- “The music is full of nonstop bangers, and is pieced together very well.”
- “Music is a bop, but that's a given in any Aether game.”
humor
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is widely praised, with many players noting its ability to evoke genuine laughter through cute characters, funny plots, and clever references, particularly to the WarioWare series. The diverse microgames and engaging cutscenes contribute to a lighthearted experience that resonates well with fans of the genre, although some humor may be more appreciated by those familiar with the Aether franchise. Overall, the game is described as fun, innovative, and filled with delightful moments that enhance its replayability.
- “It's super cute, fun, made me laugh aloud several times over, and the microgames are wonderfully diverse.”
- “Had me bursting out laughing multiple times.”
- “What could have felt lazy instead feels rewarding to recognize and part of the humor - so many sight gags land well because they're made of old parts recontextualized for a new, sillier scenario.”
story
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The game's story is light and serves as a charming framework connecting various microgame gauntlets, with each character featuring a small narrative that enhances the overall experience. While the main story can be completed in about half an hour, it is filled with humor and relatability, appealing particularly to fans of the Aether franchise. Although the story is not the primary focus, it adds structure and enjoyment to the gameplay, reminiscent of the WarioWare series.
- “This game tells a tight, fun, and silly story in about a half-hour from start to finish (if you succeed on the first try).”
- “Dreams of Aether is a fantastic microgame collection, with the main story being 30 minutes if you don't fail any of the stages.”
- “Somehow captures the same charm and quirkiness of the WarioWare series while integrating a cute story full of Rivals characters.”
- “There is a serviceable story; it gives structure to the game and provides progression but is not the highlight.”
- “It's definitely on the short side; I completed the story and the extra modes in a little over an hour, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”
- “It's not very long; I beat it in under an hour, but like WarioWare, beating the story isn't really the point.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
52%
8%
The gameplay is a standout feature, drawing strong comparisons to the WarioWare series with its fast-paced, engaging microgames and humorous elements. While some players noted a lack of length to justify the price, many praised the unique mechanics and variety within the minigames, particularly highlighting a surprising twist in the final level. Overall, the game is described as fun, polished, and worth the investment for its quality and charm.
- “This game adds a novel gameplay twist to the microgame-collection genre.”
- “So far this is my game of the year, while it is quite short, the quality is very high, great gameplay, great soundtrack, just overall a great game.”
- “Fantastic game, it's short but there's plenty of variety in the microgames and an absolutely amazing gameplay twist at the end.”
- “The art is very pretty, but the gameplay itself feels kinda shovelware.”
- “Gameplay and music were alright, but it is not long enough to justify the price tag.”
- “A couple of really neat twists on the mechanics that aren't given enough time to shine (much like the rest of the game).”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and diverse art styles, which enhance the overall experience with vibrant visuals and playful references. While some users noted minor bugs that can cause occasional stalls, the artwork is described as beautiful and engaging, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable. Overall, the combination of polished graphics and fluid controls contributes to a delightful gaming experience.
- “Absolutely adore the artwork all throughout this short experience :)”
- “Beautiful art style, doesn't give up anything for the sake of keeping its personality.”
- “A sweet little game with gorgeous graphics and simple but quick mini-games that will test your reaction times and quick-thinking, definitely worth checking out!”
- “The art style is really cute, but it has a few bugs that stall the game from time to time.”
- “And the visuals are lacking in detail and polish.”
- “It's a collab of many art styles, but the execution feels inconsistent.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The game offers decent replayability, particularly through its final stage and endless modes, which provide a mix of challenges and competitive opportunities. While it can be completed in under 30 minutes, players find enjoyment in revisiting the mini-games, which are varied and can be made more challenging. Overall, the fun factor and humorous cutscenes contribute to its replay value.
- “It's super fun, has replayability, and the cutscenes are pretty funny!”
- “Most replayability can be found in the final stage which tests your memory, ability to multitask, and keep rhythm.”
- “Replayability is decently high, especially if you have someone to compete with on the endless modes.”
- “This game is not very hard and has a lot of replayability; they will mix up the mini-games that you've already seen through the story and make them challenging. Some of the duo scenarios could feel unfair, like having a timing one and a mashing one together, but they are 100% doable if you take the little time you are given.”
- “Most replayability can be found in the final stage, which tests your memory, ability to multitask, and keep rhythm.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a form of native advertising, with many users feeling it serves primarily to promote the developer's other titles rather than offering a standalone experience. As a result, even as a free giveaway, it is often dismissed by players who view it as an art project or extended advertisement rather than a genuine game.
- “It feels like an art project/extended advertisement made as a side hustle to other games to market the developer’s other games in the same universe.”
- “Even as a free game giveaway (or maybe especially, because it feels like this is native advertising?), I give this one a pass.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive designs and the depth added through various media, highlighting the developers' commitment to building a rich lore. The character Añi is particularly noted as a standout example of exceptional design.
- “An extra quality I loved was that with every additional piece of media made by the devs, more and more awesome character designs from a variety of games in Rivals lore are being shown off, which shows they care about the world they're crafting!”
- “Añi is peak character design 10/10”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, with some expressing that it made them cry and left them feeling profoundly positive, particularly after intense periods of focus or engagement.
- “Made me cry, no notes.”
- “I just came off a massive mindwave hyperfixation, and that game made me feel really good.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”

Buy Dreams of Aether

Dreams of Aether
$2.99
See offer on Steam

5h Median play time

4h Average play time

2-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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