Just A Dream

Just a Dream is a fast paced top down action game. You enter a world filled with your worst nightmares and must escape. As you fight across your dream from level to level, you encounter the very things that you dread every night. Pick up unique weapons and use magical abilities that allow you to traverse the lands of nightmares and monsters to conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Despair themselves. Your ad…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

music3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game is free to play, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Some players find the gameplay unexpectedly fun and addictive, providing a decent challenge.
The developers are responsive to player feedback and issues, which is appreciated by the community.

The graphics are poorly executed, resembling low-quality MS-Paint assets and lacking polish.
Gameplay can feel generic and repetitive, with some players experiencing frustrating mechanics like limited ammunition without warning.
The game suffers from bugs and control issues, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

graphics
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag; while some users appreciate the stunning pixel art and overall aesthetic, others criticize the use of outdated retro graphics and locked resolution, which detracts from the experience. The contrast between high-quality pixel art in some games and the poor execution in others highlights the challenges of asset creation in indie development.
- “Gameplay, music, and graphics are stunning.”
- “Play top down pixel graphics games now; I played this one.”
- “The developers provide a good and deep justification for many asset flips on Steam, but if you try doing video game art yourself without any skill, you end up with completely terrible graphics like the hand-drawn... whatever... that is depicted in 'Just a Dream'.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “Resolution is locked; there's no way to even try to improve the terrible graphics, but at least you can rebind the controls.”
gameplay
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some users finding it generic and lacking depth, while others praise it for its stunning execution, smooth mechanics, and innovative design that offers a fun challenge. Overall, opinions vary significantly, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses in the gameplay experience.
- “Gameplay, music, and graphics are stunning.”
- “Smooth gameplay and fun challenge.”
- “Ok story, but gameplay too generic...”
- “it’s just gameplay”
- “Gameplay is revolutionary and whoever programmed it should be very proud.”
story
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The story is considered average and lacks depth, with some users feeling that it is overshadowed by generic gameplay elements. Overall, it does not stand out significantly in the gaming experience.
- “The story is okay, but the gameplay is too generic.”
- “What story?”
- “The story is lacking.”
music
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the music in the game is praised for its stunning quality, enhancing the gameplay and graphics. However, the title screen music has received negative feedback, being described as annoying and of poor quality.
- “The gameplay, music, and graphics are stunning.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
- “Each track enhances the emotional experience of the game.”
- “However, the title screen music is very annoying and just complete utter trash.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is completely free, which contrasts with the common criticism of Gamemaker Studio being used for low-effort cash grabs.
- “Very often, game maker studios are used to create shovelware and lazy cash grabs, although in this case, the game is completely free.”
grinding
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-400 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game suffers from significant bugs, impacting overall stability and gameplay experience.
- “Just for the people thinking this is just a dream... well, it isn't; it's a buggy dream.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the overall experience.”