Dreamscaper

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,508 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Dreamscaper Game Cover
Dreamscaper is a stiff challenge, for sure, but it’s also a beautiful, moving adventure that takes a very familiar genre and does something very different with it.
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"Dreamscaper" is a single-player shooter game with an intriguing story and unique atmosphere, where you navigate through Cassidy's dreams and waking life. The game features action-packed roguelike gameplay with deep combat systems, unique items, and challenging bosses. With its awesome mechanics, ingenious visuals, great music, and high replayability, "Dreamscaper" offers a highly emotional and often very funny experience, although it involves lots of grinding.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,508 reviews
gameplay375 positive mentions
grinding108 negative mentions
  • Beautiful visuals and art style that create a captivating atmosphere.
  • Engaging combat mechanics with a wide variety of weapons and abilities, allowing for diverse playstyles.
  • Thoughtful narrative that explores themes of mental health and personal growth, making the character's journey relatable.
  • Repetitive gameplay can lead to a sense of monotony, especially in later levels.
  • Some combat mechanics, like the 'perfect attack' timing, can feel overly punishing and difficult to master.
  • The waking world interactions can feel tedious and lack depth, making it less engaging compared to the dream world.
  • gameplay843 mentions

    The gameplay of Dreamscaper is a blend of engaging roguelike mechanics and a unique narrative structure that alternates between dream battles and waking-world interactions. While many players appreciate the fluid combat, diverse weaponry, and satisfying progression, some find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally clunky, with certain mechanics lacking clarity. Overall, the game offers a solid experience that balances challenging combat with a compelling story, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its pacing and complexity.

    • “The gameplay is smooth and addicting.”
    • “The gameplay loop is fun and continues to be new and exciting after 16 hours of game time.”
    • “Dreamscaper is an artistic gem with very satisfying gameplay.”
    • “My experience with the game was carried entirely by the gameplay, and that eventually became too repetitive for me to continue.”
    • “The concept of the gameplay being split between waking-world interactions and dream battles is an interesting one, but functionally it feels like two different games - neither of which were compelling enough to make me want to play more.”
    • “Dreamscaper is a game that I can play for a round and then put away again for a longer period of time because the gameplay is so dull.”
  • story832 mentions

    The story in Dreamscaper is a poignant exploration of mental health, particularly focusing on themes of depression and personal growth through the protagonist Cassidy's journey. While some players find the narrative engaging and relatable, others feel it can be disjointed or slow-paced, with a lack of voice acting detracting from the experience. Overall, the storytelling is often praised for its emotional depth and integration with gameplay, though opinions vary on its execution and impact.

    • “The gameplay is more janky than Hades, but the story is touching and inspired me to grind through the game to get to the end.”
    • “I loved the story, I loved how it interacted with the friends you make, I loved the different weapons and build options, and just *chef's kiss* I really enjoyed it.”
    • “The story follows Cassidy, a girl that recently moved from a small town into the big city and focuses mainly on how she deals with her anxiety and depression, trying to connect to the new people around her.”
    • “I did not care at all about the daytime story.”
    • “You are painfully weak at the beginning, and the early story is well boring.”
    • “The story isn't great, I mean there is a lot, but nothing engaging and I got bored.”
  • graphics532 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which combines beautiful environments with a dreamy aesthetic. While many players appreciate the visuals and the cohesive atmosphere they create, some critiques mention issues with character designs, particularly the faceless figures, and occasional visual clutter that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience, despite some minor shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are really gorgeous and the upgrade system is fun.”
    • “The visuals of this game are breathtaking and the abilities are varied and fun.”
    • “Dreamscaper is an action roguelike with a beautiful art style, relatable story, and masterful gameplay.”
    • “The soft 'haze' to the graphics and background is pretty, and it adds to the 'dream-like' quality of the game, but it makes picking out small details even harder.”
    • “You will die plenty of times, not because the enemies are difficult, but because you can't see anything; sometimes you are trying to dodge, then you can't dodge, because you realize there is a barrier/tree/box, but the graphic is 'fade away' because you are near it.”
    • “The visuals are simple and lack polish at points, especially in regards to character designs and modeling, but overall do not retract from the enjoyment of the game.”
  • music503 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful, atmospheric quality that enhances the overall experience, with many players describing it as soothing and fitting for the game's themes. While some found the soundtrack to be repetitive or overly somber, the majority praised its ability to create an immersive ambiance that complements the visuals and gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and engagement.

    • “The soundtrack is perfect for the premise of the game.”
    • “The music is gorgeous and fitting for the game's melancholic atmosphere, and I'll probably be enjoying the OST for some time.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, the emotional story it tells that is very human is too compelling.”
    • “Actually I can't bring myself to write a whole review... the music is slow, soppy, and annoyingly repetitive. The waking life side feels like an autism simulator (trying to make friends by having meaningless conversations and constantly giving them gifts to show you listen to them... this is not real life). It should have been her working a job and the people, good and bad, becoming friends and foes in her dreams. Dealing with family, friends, etc. The lack of faces in the real world makes me not care for anyone. The music is so annoyingly repetitive and there's so much grinding!”
    • “Had to turn the music off, so depressing. This is a top-down shooter, not a romance visual novel... the depressed-looking character in the bedroom, having to interact every time you die, also puts you off.”
    • “The music gets super repetitive though.”
  • emotional120 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and character development, which resonate deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings of connection and empathy. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to tackle complex emotional themes, such as grief and personal growth, through engaging narratives and meaningful interactions, making it a standout in the roguelite genre. While some technical issues were noted, the overall emotional journey and artistic presentation left a lasting impact, with players expressing a desire for further exploration of the game's themes.

    • “Dreamscaper is an emotional journey about incremental progress masquerading as a hack-and-slash roguelite.”
    • “As someone who's made two very big moves in their life, connecting with Cassidy's story was surprising, emotional, heartbreaking, and moving.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, the emotional story it tells that is very human is too compelling.”
  • grinding110 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the later stages where progression feels artificially inflated. While some appreciate the challenge and variety that comes with grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant hurdle that can overshadow the game's initial merits and narrative appeal.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It is incredibly grindy and not what I want to do in-between dungeon runs.”
    • “It's by far too grindy for how boring and same-y the individual runs are, and quite fast the novelty of the design, concept, and story drains out and doesn't carry the bland combat and slow progression anymore.”
    • “The problem is that the grinding makes it a 50+ hour slog.”
  • atmosphere108 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art style, soothing and melancholic music, and a unique blend of dreamlike elements that enhance the storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a calming yet engaging environment, often contrasting soothing moments with action-packed gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive, nostalgic, and emotionally resonant, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “What a unique take on the roguelite genre... it's got your roguelike randomness mixed in with mental health help and a calming atmosphere mixed in with fun boss fights and really great feeling combat mechanics.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, the emotional story it tells that is very human is too compelling.”
    • “Every aspect of this game is connected to dreams and Cassidy fighting her inner struggles which creates just a beautiful atmosphere that is easy to get lost in while playing!”
    • “Nothing to add to the atmosphere, really.”
    • “Depressing music and atmosphere.”
    • “Everything but the atmosphere.”
  • replayability42 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering diverse gameplay options, engaging combat, and a wealth of unlockable content. While some players noted that it may not have as much replay value as other roguelikes like Hades, the variety of abilities, weapons, and character interactions contribute to a rewarding experience. However, a few reviews mentioned rough edges and a lack of polish that could affect long-term replayability.

    • “It offers lots of replayability, build options, and meta progression.”
    • “Beautiful aesthetic, rewarding gameplay, tons of replayability, and just an overall really fun experience.”
    • “The variety of play styles afforded by equipment combinations makes for good replay value while the way the stat progression of drops are structured sort of forces me to want to get better at using even my least favorite weapons when I know that I need a DPS upgrade.”
    • “For me, it had less replayability than Hades.”
    • “Rough around the edges, lacking replayability and polish.”
    • “Not as much replay value as most roguelikes, but still definitely worth the money!”
  • humor32 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dry, snarky wit and pop-culture references, reminiscent of Pixar's "Inside Out." Players appreciate the absurdity of unconventional weapons and the comedic timing in character interactions, with many finding the item descriptions and memes particularly amusing. While the humor may not appeal to fans of more intense titles like "Hades," it offers a lighthearted and charming experience that complements the game's emotional depth.

    • “I mean - I could talk about the tight gameplay loop, the absolute perfect difficulty/intensity scaling, the 'hidden' ending, it was all fantastic, the memes were hilarious - the wizard hat quote, are you serious? LMAO!”
    • “If Hades is like some anime that everyone talked about at school, Dreamscaper is more like Pixar, specifically Inside Out (if Pixar had a really dry, snarky sense of humor).”
    • “The character writing has made me laugh out loud or cringe in dismay.”
  • character development23 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a significant and enjoyable aspect, with players appreciating the progression through building friendships and enhancing abilities between runs. The narrative intertwines personal growth with gameplay mechanics, allowing for a deeper connection to the characters, despite some critiques regarding the simplicity of the visuals. Overall, the character development is praised for its depth and integration into the game's story and mechanics, making it a compelling feature for players.

    • “It's a great game that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a story-based action game that has character development tied into gaining better abilities and weapons.”
    • “Dreamscaper is beautiful, deep, and haunting, deftly combining elements of real-life pain and poignant character development with fast-paced combat in a surreal alternate world.”
    • “Persistent character development comes between runs in the form of the main character's budding friendships in a city to where she has recently moved.”
    • “Basically you meet friends in the daytime to enhance your abilities, unlock gear and power-ups, etc. There is story and character development as your main character makes friends during the day.”
    • “I love the roguelike elements and how they're broken up by character development.”
  • stability12 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting it as bug-free and running smoothly, even in its early access state. However, some minor glitches, particularly related to resource loading, have been noted, but they do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience.

    • “Runs great, no bugs encountered.”
    • “Even in its early access state, there is a ton of stuff to do and it runs great.”
    • “Bug free.”
    • “Enjoyable, beautiful, crashy and buggy for now...”
    • “It's essentially Hades with a therapy aesthetic, and aside from some minor glitches with resource loading around the second boss fight, the gameplay is smooth and satisfying.”
    • “Despite being a new early access title, the game is nearly devoid of any bugs or glitches to my knowledge.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its polished performance, with some reviewers noting it as one of the most refined early access titles they've encountered. However, there are criticisms regarding the graphics and environmental clutter, which some feel detracts from the experience and lacks interactivity. Despite occasional performance issues and repetitive treasure designs, the overall presentation remains a highlight.

    • “Presentation and performance are standouts.”
    • “In each run, you gather resources which you can spend in the real world to make yourself stronger and improve your performance.”
    • “Personally, I hate the environment. With all the clutter, you would think that some of it may be interactable, but it appears that there's meaning to it only from time to time when there's some memory connected to it. The destructibles that you made to stand out just make it look bizarre and lazy, while the graphics are not optimized.”
    • “I think if there was any genuine criticism I have, other than those rare performance issues I had, the treasures you pick up in dungeons can look similar sometimes. They're all glowing orb-looking things, but you're going to grab everything anyway, so it's not a huge deal.”
    • “Performance-wise, it wouldn't surprise me if someone told me this was the most polished early access title they've ever played; it's that good.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

Buy Dreamscaper

Play time

22hMedian play time
39hAverage play time
14-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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