Neverending Nightmares

About

"Neverending Nightmares" is a psychological horror game inspired by the developer's personal battle with mental illness. Players navigate through nightmare worlds, each with its own horrifying apparitions and inner demons, as they try to escape and wake up. The game features black and white artwork, branching narrative with 3 endings, and a haunting soundtrack. The dynamic lighting system adds to the eeriness of the ever-present darkness.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 815 reviews

graphics135 positive mentions

gameplay33 negative mentions

The unique hand-drawn art style creates a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
The sound design and music effectively build tension and contribute to the unsettling mood of the game.
The game explores themes of mental illness, particularly depression and OCD, providing a thought-provoking narrative.

The gameplay is repetitive, primarily consisting of walking through similar corridors with minimal interaction.
The character's slow movement and limited stamina can be frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
The story lacks depth and coherence, leaving players feeling unsatisfied with the endings.

graphics
277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
3%
The graphics of "Neverending Nightmares" are widely praised for their unique hand-drawn art style, reminiscent of Edward Gorey, which effectively creates a haunting and oppressive atmosphere. Players appreciate the eerie visuals and sound design that enhance the game's emotional impact, although some note that the repetitive environments can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the art style is considered the standout feature, captivating players despite the game's shortcomings in gameplay and narrative depth.
- “The art style and sound design are incredible.”
- “The art style is fantastic, and really suits the feel of the game, great atmosphere, and genuinely creepy.”
- “Neverending nightmares does a fine job of capturing the shifting scenery and helpless dread of nightmares, and it does so with only a handful of actual monsters -- the real horror comes from the gorgeous, Edward Gorey-esque artwork and the rich audio, which work together to mount a terrifying tension.”
- “The visuals are pretty and you don't often see anything like this in games.”
- “For a game with such a basic art style, the repetitive hallways quickly become a chore when the lack of context for anything really starts to show.”
- “Worst of all, there are no new ideas here besides the art style.”
story
273 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The story of "Neverending Nightmares" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing themes and psychological depth, while others criticize it for being vague, repetitive, and lacking substantial narrative development. Many reviews highlight the game's artistic style and atmosphere, but note that the storytelling often feels fragmented and underwhelming, leaving players wanting more depth and coherence. Overall, while the game offers multiple endings and some engaging moments, it struggles to deliver a compelling and satisfying narrative experience.
- “The art style and story really brought me in until I couldn't leave.”
- “The plot has several twists and unexpected turns that keep you on your toes as far as expectations go, so don't expect it to be bland.”
- “Neverending nightmares is an atmospheric horror in the artistic style of Edward Gorey and the storytelling of Edgar Allan Poe that delves into psychological terror with mood, eerie music and sounds, disturbing images, and a storyline that takes you into the depths of madness.”
- “The story itself isn't engaging, even with the alternate endings.”
- “The plot twists are fairly predictable and bland.”
- “The story is told in fragmented pieces with the use of symbolism in the nightmares, so you'll need to dig deep into the game if you're interested in the lore.”
atmosphere
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
44%
4%
The atmosphere in "Neverending Nightmares" is widely praised for its oppressive and eerie qualities, enhanced by a unique art style and haunting sound design that effectively evoke a sense of dread and psychological horror. However, many players note that the repetitive gameplay and slow pacing can detract from the immersive experience, leading to moments of boredom despite the game's strong atmospheric elements. Overall, while the game excels in creating a chilling ambiance, its execution may leave some players feeling frustrated with the lack of variety and engagement.
- “This game is designed to and spectacularly delivers an oppressive atmosphere that builds a perpetual sense of dread through the unique art style, the slow pacing, lighting, and especially the soundtrack.”
- “The nightmarish creatures lurking in the shadows are the stuff of Freudian nightmares, and the atmospheric soundtrack is a symphony of unease.”
- “Neverending nightmares is an atmospheric horror in the artistic style of Edward Gorey and the storytelling of Edgar Allan Poe that delves into psychological terror with mood, eerie music and sounds, disturbing images, and a storyline that takes you into the depths of madness.”
- “The game then changes locale and suddenly swaps out atmosphere for tedious, repetitive scenarios where all you do is elude zombie-type creatures, while you rely mostly on trial-and-error and the frustratingly slow pace of your character, who is exhausted after 5 seconds of sprinting.”
- “This game and all its endings could easily be compressed into a 30-45 min experience tops, but instead there is so much repetition in the scenery, atmosphere, and encountered monstrous manifestations that it gets dull pretty quickly and makes getting the other endings feel like a chore.”
- “It is so annoying needing to go through the same room over and over again where basically nothing changes, which really takes you off the atmosphere the game tries to create.”
gameplay
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly simplistic and repetitive, primarily consisting of walking through corridors and avoiding enemies without any combat mechanics. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the unique art style, others criticize the lack of engaging mechanics and depth, leading to a tedious experience that feels more like a walking simulator than a traditional game. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant drawback, with many recommending it only for those who prioritize atmosphere over interactive gameplay.
- “The gameplay will confuse, surprise, and engage you, despite having very little to interact with.”
- “This game was captivating, gameplay was a 10/10 and the art style was unique!”
- “The music, atmosphere, the art style, voice acting, and overall gameplay are pretty awesome; I found it to be very fun.”
- “While it is interesting having stamina be related to your asthma, it's more of a gimmick than anything and hinders the gameplay.”
- “No plot, no gameplay, no horror, no tension, questionable visuals, repetitious corridors, and just the most boring walking simulator.”
- “The gameplay is nearly non-existent except for avoiding some very easy to avoid enemies and walking from empty room to empty room, which becomes exasperating as you learn that all of the rooms are basically copied and pasted over and over again.”
music
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The music in "Neverending Nightmares" is widely praised for its ability to create an eerie and oppressive atmosphere, enhancing the game's horror elements through haunting soundscapes and effective sound design. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's role in building tension and immersing players in the nightmarish experience, although some note that it can become repetitive during extended gameplay. Overall, the combination of unique art style and chilling music contributes significantly to the game's unsettling ambiance.
- “The music really immerses you into the mood of the moment, and not only is there awesome music, but you can also hear distant cries that make it feel as if the walls and ceilings are screaming in sorrow and discontent.”
- “The music and ambience of this game is top notch!”
- “The music enhances the atmosphere of the game, making for a better horror experience.”
- “I get it's supposed to be somewhat ambiguous in terms of whether the protagonist is out of the nightmare or not, but seeing as the OST that plays in that part is called 'Still Dreaming', it really takes away from what it was trying to achieve and leaves it feeling very underwhelming, especially if that's the first ending you do.”
- “Sound design was acceptable but the soundtrack was bland and generic.”
- “Alas, the game spirals into its own repetitiveness; I can understand the setting and context, but it soon ceased to be pacing and became just plain boring.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many describing the gameplay as slow-moving and lacking interactivity. While some appreciate the atmosphere and art style, the linearity and limited enemy encounters contribute to a sense of boredom, particularly during longer play sessions. Many reviewers suggest that the game is best suited for those who enjoy grinding for completion, but caution that it may feel like a slog for others.
- “I feel bad saying this, but the story and the gameplay is just straight up boring and tedious after the first 15 minutes.”
- “Unfortunely, my overall experience was negatively impacted by a very low level of interactivity, tedious repetition (so much walking through similar and often useless rooms) and disappointing endings.”
- “The problem is that it's incredibly tedious and feels pointless after a while.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
79%
11%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it features multiple endings and branching pathways that can entice players to revisit, many reviewers note that its short length and linear design significantly limit long-term engagement. Some players appreciate the opportunity to explore different outcomes, but others feel that once all endings are achieved, there is little incentive to replay. Consequently, the game may appeal to those interested in uncovering all story variations, but it lacks substantial replay value for others.
- “The game features three different endings, which gives a small replayability factor to it.”
- “Multiple endings and story paths allow for replayability, and the story map easily lets you hop to the part you want to play.”
- “The game has three different endings too, so it has replay value along with achievements.”
- “While the game might have had some replay value at first, the asylum section absolutely butchers it.”
- “The game offers very little as far as replayability, so if you like your amnesia custom stories, you might want to look elsewhere.”
- “Finally, it's got very little replayability as once you've gotten all the endings there's little reason to return except after a long absence after you've forgotten the pitfalls.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, evoking feelings of despair and tension akin to classic horror titles. Players report a profound connection to the themes of depression and mental struggle, with some expressing that the experience was both heartbreaking and beautiful. The game's ability to create a haunting atmosphere, combined with its thoughtful approach to mental health, resonates strongly with those who have faced similar challenges.
- “It's a concept that I think should be explored more in other horror games as it really made me feel like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare.”
- “As you progress through, you feel like you're going down on this journey of depression and suicidal thoughts with the creator of the game, and I can tell you that it affected me on an emotional level.”
- “At the end of the game, I was happy to see that they had a website for people who needed help with mental conditions; having friends and being one of those people made me feel like they cared for people who go through those experiences.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy and overused tropes, with some players finding the excessive creepiness and gore amusing rather than frightening. While certain elements, like the running mechanic and the portrayal of horror clichés, elicited laughter, others felt the humor stemmed from a lack of originality and creativity in the horror elements. Overall, the humor is seen as hit-or-miss, appealing to some while leaving others unimpressed.
- “The creepiness and gore was over the top and funny; I loved it.”
- “Yes, porcelain dolls are creepy, but they are so heavily overused that it just becomes funny.”
- “The running mechanic was also funny because that freakin' kid cannot even run half the length of the screen without wheezing for his life, lol.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with minimal issues, noting only a few minor glitches related to lighting and shading that do not significantly impact gameplay. Most players find these glitches manageable and do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The game runs smoothly without any glitches.”
- “I haven't encountered any stability issues during my playthrough.”
- “The performance is rock solid, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
- “Though it suffers from a few minor glitches with the lighting, it never really got in the way of gameplay and the branch-off levels add to the otherwise short game.”
- “The art is top notch except for a few little glitches (why does a light go on when you turn down a perpendicular hallway? or why does the shading glitch out when you go through a door? - I look past most of this, but just for noting).”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Overall, users report a lack of control or performance issues, indicating that the game is well-optimized. However, some mention it as unoptimized, suggesting that there may be inconsistencies in performance for certain players.
- “I didn't have any control or performance issues.”
- “The game feels unoptimized, leading to frustrating performance issues.”
- “There are significant optimization problems that hinder the overall experience.”
- “The lack of optimization results in frequent lag and stuttering during gameplay.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development received mixed feedback, with some users finding the character design to be somewhat goofy and less sophisticated compared to the game's overall artistic complexity.
- “I wasn't a massive fan of the character design; it looked a little goofy to me compared to the complexity of some of the rest of the artwork in the game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users feel that the game's monetization is not justified, with one reviewer suggesting that a price of $0.99 would have been more appropriate given their lack of engagement and disappointment in the gameplay experience.
- “I bought this game because it was advertised as the scariest game ever, but I almost fell asleep playing it. $0.99 would have been a great price to pay.”
- “The monetization model is frustrating; it feels like the game is designed to push you into spending more money rather than enjoying the experience.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to fully enjoy the game without spending extra.”