NeverAwake

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 83 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
NeverAwake Game Cover
Even if you’re an avid fan of twin-stick shooters, chances are you’ve not played anything quite like NeverAwake before.
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NeverAwake is a highly anticipated console game, offering a thrilling exploration experience. It showcases unique features, including a twisted dreamworld and innovative combat system, where players must confront their fears to survive. With stunning visuals and immersive gameplay, players can purchase and download the game from the PlayStation Store. Delve into mysteries and save your nightmares from becoming a never-ending reality.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews
story11 positive mentions
  • Incredibly polished with a unique art style and engaging soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The gameplay is fun and accessible, offering a variety of upgrades and customization options that cater to both casual and hardcore players.
  • The story is emotionally resonant, with creative boss designs and a variety of levels that keep the gameplay fresh and interesting.
  • Some levels can feel overly difficult or frustrating due to cheap shots and unclear hitboxes, which may deter some players.
  • The looping mechanic, while interesting, can lead to repetitive gameplay as players must replay earlier loops to reach later challenges.
  • The options menu lacks sufficient customization for controls, which could hinder the experience for some players.
  • story30 mentions

    The story of "Never Awake" is described as engaging and emotionally resonant, exploring heavy themes such as depression through the protagonist Rem's nightmares and diary entries. While the narrative is presented in a somewhat simplistic and repetitive manner, it captivates players with its heartfelt plot and beautiful visuals, encouraging exploration and personal interpretation. Overall, the story enhances the gameplay experience, making it a notable aspect of the game despite some criticisms regarding its presentation.

    • “The story is interesting and the art and soundtrack are beautiful!”
    • “Neverawake is a twin-stick shmup that tells the story of Rem, a girl who finds herself 'sleeping' and having nightmares about experiences in her life.”
    • “The game has a pretty decent length, a scoring system and rankings, offers extra challenges that unlock cute family photos and even a secret... the game's theme is a bit dark, Rem suffers from depression, the people around her don't seem to understand her, one girl seems too perfect in her eyes etc., so be prepared for a heavy topics story that was very well crafted.”
    • “The story elements are completely underbaked and presented in a repetitive, text-based way.”
    • “If the gameplay and story matched the colorful, child nightmare-esque visuals; this game would be an easy recommendation.”
    • “The story is mostly given through notes you read as you beat or lose in stages and it's genuinely an emotional plot which I won't spoil.”
  • gameplay30 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its unique and addictive mechanics, smooth performance, and engaging visuals, making it a fun experience overall. However, some players noted a lack of depth and replayability, with certain mechanics feeling poorly executed or uninspired. While the game offers a solid twin-stick shooter experience with a variety of levels and bosses, it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more challenging or innovative gameplay loop.

    • “The art style is great and the gameplay is unique and addicting, highly recommend!”
    • “Each level feels handcrafted to create a unique experience: twisting gameplay to introduce new things that test your might and will while also being familiar at the same time.”
    • “Bosses push you to the limit while having replayability, and what the game does masterfully is to make the gameplay seamlessly transition into the presentation and the story.”
    • “The increase in difficulty as you progress is accomplished via cheap shots and wonky new level mechanics (one level in particular requires you to move boxes into place to stop incessant laser beams from hitting you as you move with the screen. Good idea, but awful execution).”
    • “Very unique shmup that has a surprising amount of levels, but not as much mechanical depth as I was hoping for.”
    • “If the gameplay and story matched the colourful, child nightmare-esque visuals; this game would be an easy recommendation.”
  • graphics25 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and stunning art style, featuring hand-drawn animations and a gothic horror aesthetic that enhances the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the creativity and charm in the visual design, which complements the gameplay, although some note inconsistencies in enemy art styles. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Never Awake is a short game with a great story and great visuals that gave me R-Type vibes.”
    • “Hand-drawn anime graphics and animations, and worldview are totally stunning!”
    • “The graphics are truly spot on with easy to read bullets and some great patterns.”
    • “Some of the past enemies' art style seems a little out of place compared to other creatures and map backgrounds.”
    • “If the gameplay and story matched the colorful, child nightmare-esque visuals, this game would be an easy recommendation.”
    • “A shooter with a remarkable art style, but the level/enemies/bosses design is unique.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beauty, variety, and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as haunting, funky, and well-composed, often elevating the game's emotional and atmospheric impact. Overall, it is considered a standout feature that complements the game's art style and gameplay mechanics effectively.

    • “The game's OST and even the sound effects are stellar!”
    • “The music has a wonderfully surreal quality.”
    • “The game is an audiovisual tour de force, featuring a gothic style that almost makes it seem like it was designed by Tim Burton, and an awesome soundtrack that wouldn't be out of place in Plaid's discography.”
    • “The soundtrack has no reason to slap that hard.”
    • “Great presentation overall, I just wish the music was as varied as the stages themselves.”
    • “Haunting melodies plus action-packed music litter the game that can be earworms that won't get out of your head.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its variety of perks, special weapons, and challenge objectives that encourage skill testing. Players appreciate the bite-sized levels that allow for easy pick-up-and-play sessions, although some express a desire for even more replayable content. The ability to start from any loop reached in individual levels is highlighted as a potential enhancement for nearly unlimited replayability.

    • “The variety of perks and special weapons, as well as challenge objectives for each of the stages, can really test your skills and greatly contribute to this game's replayability.”
    • “I think this system gives the game a lot of replayability since you can always try to get further into a boss or stage.”
    • “Lots of replay value and bite-sized levels make this easy to pick up and put down in multiple sessions, with the main game taking me about 9 hours.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging and heartfelt story, which, while not groundbreaking, resonates with players, particularly younger audiences. The narrative unfolds gradually through gameplay, complemented by a phenomenal soundtrack and well-designed mechanics, creating a touching experience that players find genuinely moving.

    • “It is an emotional story that may captivate young audiences.”
    • “You'd unlock the story slowly throughout the gameplay and it's quite heartfelt.”
    • “The story is mostly given through notes you read as you beat or lose in stages and it's genuinely an emotional plot which I won't spoil.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere for its ethereal sound effects and superb visuals, which together create a captivating and dreamlike experience.

    • “The sound effects convey an ethereal energy that adds greatly to the game's dreamlike atmosphere.”
    • “I'd also like to add that the visuals and atmosphere are flat-out superb.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game features beautiful graphics and smooth performance, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience; however, it struggles with optimization in terms of balancing the bullet hell mechanics, which affects the overall quality of the gameplay.

  • humor1 mentions

    The game features a lighthearted tone with amusing bosses that contribute to its overall fun experience, making it an enjoyable shooter with a humorous twist.

    • “A fun little shooter with hilarious bosses.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every encounter a joy.”
    • “I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and quirky character designs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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