Going Nowhere: The Dream

About

Going Nowhere: The Dream is a single player action game. It was developed by Nowhere Town and was released on November 22, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Loren's on a journey through an urban dreamscape, in search for a way to reuinite with her long lost friend, Violet. Explore a story in the fray of space and time, where a heightened sense of adventure will lead to many curiosities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews

story6 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features engaging parkour mechanics and a beautiful, dreamlike world that encourages exploration.
The story is intriguing with multiple endings, and the characters are likable, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
There are plenty of hidden secrets and easter eggs that reward curiosity, making the game enjoyable beyond the main storyline.

The game is relatively short, with the main story lasting around 40 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the wall jump and item carrying, are poorly implemented and can lead to frustration.
The graphics and art style, while unique, may come off as lazy or unpolished, detracting from the overall visual experience.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
62%
15%
The game's story is generally viewed as short and somewhat predictable, lasting around 40 minutes, but it features engaging characters and impactful plot twists that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the narrative to be hamfisted or out of place, others appreciated its emotional depth and the exploration elements that allow for hidden secrets and alternate endings. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, encouraging players to immerse themselves in the world rather than rush through the main plot.
- “The characters are likable enough, so the plot twist is more impactful.”
- “Fun parkour-style game with a nice story, interesting visuals, and hidden secrets.”
- “The story for the game was rather predictable, but the actual writing itself was well done, and made me feel a little sad at the main ending, which is quite good for a game that took less than an hour.”
- “The mediocre main story is only around 40 minutes long, so the bulk of the game involves hunting down the various secrets and alternate endings.”
- “The story is nothing special, nor could it have been with what little dialogue there was in such a short time.”
- “For some reason, making the game story delivery as craphouse as an old dead 1990's 2D pixel RPG seemed like the developers' choice for a 'great idea'.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay is generally accessible and enjoyable, featuring parkour mechanics reminiscent of a 2D Mirror's Edge, though some players found certain mechanics, like the wall jump, poorly implemented. While the game encourages community collaboration to uncover secrets, it offers a mix of exploration and puzzle-solving that enhances the experience despite its brevity. Overall, the gameplay is complemented by a strong atmosphere and art style, making it a fair value for its price.
- “Its gameplay is very easy to handle, so you won't feel overwhelmed by the big amount of jumping and running.”
- “Loved the game, great music, atmosphere, gameplay, art style, it's all just really enjoyable.”
- “Sure, it's not the longest thing ever, but I don't think it needs to be. The world is far more open than the look of its narrative-focused linear gameplay may seem; it's as enjoyable as a scavenger hunt/puzzle exploration game as it is a platformer.”
- “The wall jump mechanic is only granted after completing a secret level, which is only accessible after completing the game.”
- “It is also the worst implementation of such a mechanic that I have ever encountered.”
- “Overall, while the gameplay isn't the best, the story makes up for it, and although it is less than an hour long, if it was any longer it would degrade from the experience.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the visuals as lazy and lacking effort, particularly in exterior designs. However, others appreciate the unique art style, likening it to a blend of Minecraft and Mirror's Edge, and find the overall aesthetic enjoyable despite some optimization issues. Overall, while the graphics may not be universally praised, they contribute to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “Fun parkour-style game with a nice story, interesting visuals and hidden secrets.”
- “It's like a 2D Mirror's Edge and it was pretty good, although it could have used a bit of the climbing or wall running mechanics; it was a pretty decent game with interesting NPC graphics.”
- “Loved the game, great music, atmosphere, gameplay, art style; it's all just really enjoyable.”
- “I don't have a problem with Minecraft-like visuals, but here they seem very lazy, especially in the exteriors.”
- “"Art" is not an excuse for failing to bother to put any effort into the graphics for a game.”
- “The game might have been okay if the developer had put some effort into all aspects of the game... the levels themselves are fairly rich and interesting, but the shoddy delivery on graphics ruins any enjoyment.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, contributing positively to the atmosphere and overall enjoyment, though some users note that it can be unremarkable and occasionally fades into the background.
- “Other than that, it's a nice, if a bit short, parkour game with good music.”
- “Loved the game, great music, atmosphere, gameplay, art style, it's all just really enjoyable.”
- “The music is nothing special and often seems to disappear.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the physics mechanics that complicate object placement. Despite these challenges, the overall execution of the concept is praised, highlighting the developer's bold approach.
- “This can be tedious enough on its own, but these objects are also subject to physics, so placing them on top of each other and jumping on them without shifting them around can be a chore.”
- “There are a couple of tedious elements, but the concept is still largely well executed, and I have to applaud the developer's audacity.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that it encourages exploration of quirky secrets and locations, which can extend gameplay by an additional 4 to 12 hours.
- “You can easily spend another 4 to 12 hours 'going off the rails' to find some hilarious secrets and places to explore.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing and unexpected jokes that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, making every encounter a chance for a good laugh.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players have noted that optimization issues can be mitigated by lowering the graphics settings before starting the game, as this adjustment has minimal impact on visual quality.
- “The game runs smoothly after adjusting the settings, making for a much more enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have prioritized optimization, allowing for better performance on lower-end systems.”
- “If you run into optimization issues, try setting graphics to low before the start; it makes very little difference on the aesthetics.”
- “The game struggles with optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite having a powerful PC, I still experience significant lag due to poor optimization.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game's stability is generally solid, with few glitches encountered, even when attempting to exploit the mechanics by jumping to distant locations.
- “I am the kind of person who likes to find glitches in games, so I decided to jump to a distant location.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's emotional impact is heightened by well-crafted writing, which evokes sadness at the main ending, despite the predictability of the story. This effectiveness is notable given the game's short duration of less than an hour.
- “The story for the game was rather predictable, but the actual writing itself was well done and made me feel a little sad at the main ending, which is quite impressive for a game that took less than an hour.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the excellent music, engaging gameplay, and appealing art style, all contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “Loved the game; the music, atmosphere, gameplay, and art style are all just really enjoyable.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
- “The game's world is beautifully crafted, with a haunting atmosphere that draws you in.”