Skip to main content

One Dreamer

90%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, monetization
90% User Score Based on 271 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux
Buy Nowfrom €13.29
Buy NowGet on Steam€13.29Buy NowGet on itch.io Store

About

"One Dreamer" is a single-player indie game that follows a disillusioned game developer, JR, seeking to create a groundbreaking and meaningful experience. Using unique "Dreamer" abilities, players navigate a surreal game world, combining various coding mechanics with action-adventure elements. The narrative-driven gameplay delves into JR's struggle to find purpose and success while pursuing his dream project.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
One Dreamer screenshot
+6

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 271 reviews
story91 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful and charming visual design, complemented by an excellent soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
  • The story is deeply engaging and emotional, resonating with players and providing a heartfelt narrative about the struggles of indie game development.
  • The coding puzzles are fun and accessible, making it a great introduction to programming concepts for beginners while still being enjoyable for experienced players.
  • The gameplay can feel tedious at times, particularly with excessive backtracking and navigation issues, such as clunky movement and confusing environments.
  • Some players found the story to be overly dramatic or clichéd, with certain plot points feeling unrealistic or unrelatable.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content or a deeper exploration of its themes.
  • story
    178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth, engaging narrative, and relatable themes, particularly around the struggles of pursuing dreams in the indie game scene. Many players found it touching and beautifully crafted, enhanced by stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack, although some noted issues with clarity and pacing. Overall, it stands out as a heartfelt experience that resonates with both gamers and aspiring developers alike.

    • “The story is heart-wrenching and captivating.”
    • “The story touches you deeply within your soul, and the emotions the devs are trying to convey perfectly resonate through the screen.”
    • “It's a terrific and heartfelt story that gives an amazing message.”
    • “The story could be clearer - sometimes I wasn't sure who is who or where I am in the timeline.”
    • “The plot can be confusing and even now, I am left wondering what part of the story meant... but no matter, it's enjoyable and definitely worth the money - I got mine on a discount and it was well worth it.”
    • “But the story and theme of this game legitimately infuriate me.”
  • gameplay
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a unique coding mechanic that allows players to solve puzzles and manipulate the game world, though opinions vary on its depth and execution. While some find the puzzles engaging and the mechanics innovative, others feel they are simplistic or gimmicky, with a few noting that the gameplay can feel secondary to the story. Overall, the game offers a blend of adventure and coding challenges that some players find enjoyable, while others wish for more complexity and variety.

    • “The gameplay is amazing, with awesome coding puzzles that gradually become harder throughout the story.”
    • “The central 'coding' gameplay mechanic that the entire game is built around is very interesting and unique.”
    • “There is so much heart and soul put into this game, and the gameplay is very unique and fun.”
    • “The gameplay itself is passable; the puzzles feel a bit infantile and more of a chore.”
    • “In gameplay terms, it basically means a lot of running back and forth to copy-paste a variable reference.”
    • “The gameplay is very secondary to the plot: walking about listening to dialogue and some ultra-lightweight computer puzzles.”
  • graphics
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and creativity, particularly praising the pixel art style that enhances immersion and complements the emotional narrative. Many reviewers noted the stunning visuals and effective use of lighting, although some mentioned challenges in depth perception due to the heavy reliance on pixel graphics. Overall, the combination of captivating artwork and a moving soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The graphics and VFX & VA are both amazing and are critical for the immersion.”
    • “The art style is beautiful and creative, and the soundtrack takes the story to new heights.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely beautiful and remind me of similar games.”
    • “There's only one problem which I want to say to the devs: it is hard for players to distinguish between flat, stacked graphics, especially in pixel games.”
    • “The visuals are barely adequate and only look okay thanks to some nice lighting.”
    • “The 2D pixel art style, at least in the house, completely obscures depth.”
  • emotional
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing that it features a deeply moving and heartfelt story that evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears. The combination of stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and relatable themes resonates particularly with those in the game development community, making it a poignant experience. However, some critiques mention that the emotional impact can feel exaggerated or forced at times, suggesting a mixed reception regarding its depth and authenticity.

    • “I can't tell you how many times I cried playing this; it's truly so beautiful.”
    • “The story is really moving and it honestly made me emotional in all the right moments.”
    • “This game has it all, a touching, rich backstory, beautiful art, and fun mechanics that make all the chemicals in your brain feel just right.”
  • music
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and sound design as standout features. Players appreciate how the music complements the captivating story and stunning visuals, creating a breathtaking atmosphere that elevates gameplay. However, a few critiques mention that some tracks can feel repetitive, but overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength of the game.

    • “Bathe in the blooming sunset while you listen to random people chatting, splash sounds from the water stream, paired with amazing soundtracks; every moment in this game is well crafted, and it is a big factor in making you enjoy the sometimes difficult programming puzzles you have to solve.”
    • “The soundtrack and the art created the most breathtaking atmosphere I've ever experienced in a game.”
    • “Everything from the music, to the art, to the storytelling, is blowing me away.”
    • “So when there's intense, tragic, or inspirational music behind a bright white shock scene, trying to make me sad about a stranger dying, I'm just kinda irritated.”
    • “To keep it short: One Dreamer features a pretty depressing story, meticulously emotional soundtrack, consistently astonishing sprite work, a lot of walking, and clever although occasionally redundant fill-in-the-code puzzles.”
    • “The visuals are well done, the music is emotional and it's very thought provoking.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the later stages where repetitive tasks and bug fixing become monotonous. While some appreciate the challenge and the eventual payoff, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, likening it to work rather than enjoyable gameplay. Overall, the grinding is seen as a necessary but frustrating element that can overshadow the game's strengths.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The last part of the game with bug fixing was tedious.”
    • “As a software dev, the game felt a lot like being at work, which makes it in some ways accurate and in other ways a bit tedious.”
    • “It started out alright but then I realized it's really just replacing values of some variables which also gets quite tedious later on.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its breathtaking art and soundtrack, creating a deeply immersive experience that evokes strong emotions, from a sense of hope to a melancholic ambiance. Reviewers highlight the effective level design and the ability to convey the protagonist's feelings, making it a standout in atmospheric puzzle gaming.

    • “The soundtrack and the art created the most breathtaking atmosphere I've ever experienced in a game.”
    • “A game that can really manage to give you the perfect night atmosphere where you can feel the main protagonist's feelings.”
    • “The atmosphere, story, and soundtracks are just perfect.”
    • “The game is about inspiring hope, but the atmosphere falls flat.”
    • “Even for its atmosphere, it would be a wonder if it delivered more.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is highly praised for its clever integration of mind-bending puzzles with hilarious memes and cat videos, creating a delightful and engaging experience. Players appreciate the funny moments and references that add depth to the gameplay, making it both heartwarming and entertaining. Overall, the humor significantly enhances the enjoyment of the game.

    • “One thing I love about this game is how it combines mind-bending puzzles with hilarious memes and cat videos.”
    • “When you play this -- and you should, because it's very good -- you can spend a few moments laughing at me for not reading store page descriptions.”
    • “There are also some funny moments and references that I hope others will get to experience.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight a stark contrast between the immersive environments of the game and the monetization strategies employed, which are perceived as superficial and focused on profit rather than player experience. The monetization approach is criticized for feeling more like an advertisement than a genuine part of the game.

    • “The beautiful, poignant environments we explore while working on our passion project are a sharp contrast to the stark environment we code petty cash grabs in.”
    • “This feels like an advertisement for Facebook's Meta.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development aspect highlights that the designer created all character designs and backgrounds without compensation, indicating a lack of recognition for their contributions.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report high replayability, with some clocking in as much as 166 hours, and appreciate the developer's positive engagement with the community.

    • “166 hours of replayability, and the developer is a nice person to interact with.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally well-received, with players noting that it runs smoothly on capable PCs without any significant FPS drops, except when using low-quality settings.

    • “Optimizations: Since this is a 2D pixel art game and I am using a strong enough PC, I did not detect any FPS drops while playing this game, aside from the aforementioned low quality setting.”
    • “The game's optimization is impressive; it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
    • “I appreciate the optimization efforts in this game, as it allows for a seamless experience without any noticeable lag or performance issues.”
    • “Optimizations: Since this is a 2D pixel art game and I am using a strong enough PC, I did not detect any FPS drops from playing this game aside from the aforementioned low quality setting.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly noted for its smooth performance on the Steam Deck.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay experience.”

Buy One Dreamer

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
6h Main story
11h Completionist
4-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like One Dreamer

The First Tree Image
77%2kreviews

The First Tree

2017Simulation
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+12
Seen Image
91%6.7kreviews

Seen

2019Action Adventure
PCPCWindowsWindows
LOST EMBER Image
80%2.6kreviews

LOST EMBER

2019Action Adventure
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+7
Last Day of June Image
77%1.6kreviews

Last Day of June

2017Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+3
Before Your Eyes Image
90%10.1kreviews

Before Your Eyes

2021Action
iPhoneiPhoneMac OSMac OSPCPC+9
Life Is Strange Episode 1 Image
95%73.1kreviews

Life Is Strange Episode 1

2015Arcade Action Adventure
Mac OSMac OSPCPCPhonePhone+4
To the Moon Image
90%25.4kreviews

To the Moon

2012Casual Role Playing
iPhoneiPhoneMac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch+12
GRIS Image
90%21kreviews

GRIS

2022Casual Platformer
iPhoneiPhoneMac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch+16
DISTRAINT 2 Image
This game contains adult content
94%831reviews

DISTRAINT 2

2018Casual Puzzle
iPhoneiPhoneNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+11
Syberia: The World Before Image
84%1.3kreviews

Syberia: The World Before

2022Action Adventure
PCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5+5