Hypnagogia 催眠術

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 894 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • story
Hypnagogia 催眠術 Game Cover
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"Hypnagogia 催眠術" is a first-person exploration game that takes players through surreal, dream-inspired environments. Collect dream crystals while interacting with various characters and uncovering the game's themes of deep dreams and liminal spaces. With hand-crafted levels based on real dream journal entries, the game offers a unique and intriguing experience.

  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 894 reviews
graphics84 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack that perfectly complements the dreamlike atmosphere.
  • Each level is unique and creatively designed, providing a variety of experiences that evoke nostalgia and emotional depth.
  • The game successfully blends whimsical and eerie elements, creating a memorable journey through surreal dream worlds.
  • The platforming mechanics can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience, with some players finding them tedious.
  • There is a lack of manual saving, which can lead to frustration if players need to take breaks during longer levels.
  • Some players felt that the story and character dialogue were not engaging enough, leading to moments of disconnection from the narrative.
  • graphics208 mentions

    The graphics of "Hypnagogia: Boundless Dreams" have been widely praised for their stunning, nostalgic PS1-era aesthetic, which effectively creates a dreamlike atmosphere. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, unique character designs, and immersive environments that evoke strong emotional responses, making the game feel like an interactive artwork. While some critiques mention occasional graphical glitches and loose controls, the overall visual experience is considered a highlight, enhancing the game's charm and exploratory nature.

    • “The graphics are even more stunning, with surreal and colorful landscapes that will transport you to otherworldly dimensions.”
    • “An absolutely stunning piece of art, from its 90's era low poly visuals to the amazing soundtrack, used to create a perfect atmosphere for every situation.”
    • “The ps1/n64 era graphics style really helps cement this game's dream-like quality, not to mention said ps1/n64 style extends to how levels are laid out and how characters are presented.”
    • “I honestly can't tell graphical glitches from artistic design here.”
    • “However, visuals alone can't sell hypnagogia and the supposed exploration and platformer elements are (in my humble opinion) completely missing from the game.”
    • “The visuals would be creative, but in my opinion the PS2 style, pixelated, polygon graphics don't do it any favors.”
  • music178 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, perfectly complementing the dreamlike visuals and enhancing player engagement. Many reviewers noted the nostalgic 90s aesthetic of the soundtrack, which evokes strong emotions and fits seamlessly with the game's various environments. However, some players mentioned that the looping nature of certain tracks could become repetitive over time, though this did not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack is fantastic; ambient sounds blend with the music, melting rhythm into environments.”
    • “The music fits the scenes really well and connects to the moment or the world you're experiencing, but somehow differently than you'd normally expect.”
    • “The visual style is perfectly PS1 and the soundtrack is fantastic, each track is memorable and catchy and perfectly suited to the area it plays in.”
    • “Music can become annoying, since it's looping endlessly - most worlds have only one track, which, great as it may be, gets stale after some time.”
    • “The only minimally interesting part outside of the artwork and the music are the easter eggs, if you can even call collecting a couple of items, platforming again, falling again, then entering a secret room with no significance an easter egg.”
    • “If I don't care about the music of a game, chances are that I won't care about the game either.”
  • story132 mentions

    The game's story revolves around dreams and nightmares, effectively capturing their essence through engaging narratives and well-developed characters. While some players found the overarching plot to be simple or lacking depth, many appreciated the unique stories and themes presented in each level, along with the emotional resonance and humor woven throughout. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a strong aspect of the game, though opinions vary on its complexity and execution.

    • “It's a story about dreams that also includes nightmares, and it really sells the feeling of them, for better or worse.”
    • “From wholesome moments to moments of deep reflection where I found myself pondering my own existence and decisions, it conveys a story so expertly crafted it's almost unfathomable to believe it belongs to an indie game.”
    • “What a beautiful game this is... from the diverse and interesting characters and dialogue, to the thought-provoking and touching story, the refreshing graphics and soundtrack... I absolutely loved this game.”
    • “The story exists, but it only exists to prop up the set pieces.”
    • “This game does not have interesting characters other than those that are somewhat cute, and it's mostly pretty childish and predictable in terms of its storyline, which mostly serves as a vehicle for the fetch/put this on that type puzzles.”
    • “Finally, I think the story was just okay - cutscenes never had much going on and often felt dragged out.”
  • atmosphere116 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, immersive quality, combining nostalgic visuals and an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique and varied environments, which evoke a range of emotions from cozy nostalgia to intense horror, making exploration feel rewarding and engaging. Despite some minor criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the game's ability to create a captivating and dreamlike atmosphere stands out as its strongest feature.

    • “The atmosphere is impeccable and the sound design is incredible.”
    • “This game changed my view on games because this incredible atmosphere and such an original idea just steals my heart.”
    • “An absolutely stunning piece of art, from its 90's era low poly visuals to the amazing soundtrack, used to create a perfect atmosphere for every situation.”
    • “The atmosphere was strong in this game, I see that, but I couldn't feel it because I was stuck feeling detached as I played it.”
    • “There was even a small bit of platforming in the spooky section that just pulled me out of the atmosphere and whatever spooks I was supposed to get just passed by me due to frustration.”
    • “I get that you want to evoke the feeling and atmosphere of the forest temple from Ocarina of Time, but is the only way you can do that is to straight lift room layout and UI elements from it? Because the only thing that's going to happen is I'm going to be thinking about that other game, and being taken out of yours. Just an odd choice.”
  • gameplay86 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily focused on exploration and interaction, featuring simple mechanics such as walking, platforming, and engaging with NPCs, which allows players to immerse themselves in diverse and atmospheric worlds. While some reviewers appreciate the charm and storytelling, others feel the gameplay lacks depth and variety, suggesting that it often takes a backseat to the narrative and artistic elements. Overall, the game is seen as accessible and enjoyable for those who prioritize atmosphere and story over complex mechanics.

    • “The characters and stories are all incredibly compelling, and the gameplay is simple but changes mechanics slightly between levels, keeping things fresh.”
    • “It's simple in gameplay for the most part, with you mainly exploring each world with some pretty chill platforming a good chunk of the time, and interacting with NPCs to progress stuff forward, but its strong point is in its sheer immersion, atmosphere, and to me, just pure charm.”
    • “Almost every new level will have a surprising twist to the gameplay, either becoming a space level with no gravity, or a deep sea level, or a desert level where you run around on a chocobo-style bird; there's a lot of cool stuff that you end up doing through a run-through.”
    • “There isn't much in the way of gameplay; you just walk around and talk to people.”
    • “I think this series has a lot of potential, and while I do understand how gameplay taking a backseat makes the game accessible and allows the player to focus on the environment, I also think the gameplay itself needs a few more advancements - it seemed like the developer wanted to take it further in some parts with the bird you can ride and similar moments, but it never really had the variety it needed to stay interesting.”
    • “While I love the art direction, gameplay, and worldbuilding, the larger picture just falls flat.”
  • emotional46 mentions

    The game elicits a wide range of emotions through its compelling environments, touching themes, and a standout soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers express feeling emotionally invested in the characters and story, highlighting moments of introspection and reflection that challenge their perceptions. While some critiques mention clichés in the narrative, the overall consensus is that the game successfully evokes profound feelings, making it a memorable and impactful experience.

    • “I got emotionally invested in this game; I loved every character, every small detail, the colors, sceneries, music, design, everything.”
    • “From wholesome moments to moments of deep reflection where I found myself pondering my own existence and decisions, it conveys a story so expertly crafted it's almost unfathomable to believe it belongs to an indie game.”
    • “I hate to sound perhaps melodramatic, however it is true when I say that no other video game has caused me to be so emotional.”
  • humor38 mentions

    The game is praised for its unique blend of humor and horror, featuring quirky characters like a funny rabbit and a golem, which contribute to its charming and eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the mix of cute and spooky elements, with many noting the humor as a highlight, despite some moments of dull writing. Overall, the game offers a thought-provoking experience filled with funny dialogue and engaging secrets, making it both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

    • “It's funny, it's weird, it's spooky, it can be legitimately scary, and one of its main characters is a bunny!”
    • “It's a funny, thought-provoking, shiver-inducing game capable of conveying emotions beyond words.”
    • “The PS1 visuals are lovely, the characters are interesting and often humorous, and I really adored the music/sound design (especially in the horror levels).”
  • character development10 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character development for its unique and visually appealing designs, which enhance the overall experience of the game. The depth of some NPC dialogues prompts players to reflect on existential themes, adding a layer of thoughtfulness to the character interactions. Overall, the combination of engaging character design and immersive aesthetics contributes significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The music and visuals are fantastic and the character designs are delightful; I have a folder full of screenshots I keep adding to as I play.”
    • “The soundtrack is wonderful, the character design is so interesting and unusual; the lines of some NPCs made me stop and think about existence itself a few times.”
    • “I am enjoying the character designs and the platforming.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “The character arcs are predictable and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
    • “There is little to no meaningful choice in character development, which diminishes the overall experience.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game has mixed opinions on replayability; while some players find it offers significant replay value, others feel that once all content is completed, there is little incentive to play again.

    • “This is a seriously amazing game with loads of replayability.”
    • “I can't say replayability is high, as once you've done everything... you've done everything.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly criticizing the first-person platforming mechanics as unenjoyable.

    • “I like the look and feel of the game, but the first-person platforming is tedious and awful.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users have noted that the game's stability is questionable, with graphical glitches often blending in with the intended artistic design, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.

    • “I honestly can't tell graphical glitches from artistic design here.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, featuring smooth performance without issues, a distinct PS1-era graphic style, and seamless pacing that enhances the storytelling and discovery of secrets.

    • “It is an interactive dream diary experience/horror game; everything is super well put together in regard to: performance (it runs without issue), graphics (distinct PS1 era style), and the pacing (story and even secrets fit together seamlessly).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
1hMain story
1hCompletionist
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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