Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,754 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • graphics
Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside Game Cover
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In "Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside," players help Pajama Sam, also known as Sam Lawrence, overcome his fear of the dark. The game features a variety of puzzles and mini-games as Sam explores his house and the "Dark Outside" to find a supposedly magical shrinking machine. Along the way, Sam meets a cast of quirky characters and learns about bravery and friendship. Overall, it's a charming and engaging adventure that's suitable for players of all ages.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Wii
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,754 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game is a nostalgic classic that many players fondly remember from their childhood, providing a fun and engaging experience for both kids and adults.
  • Pajama Sam features charming characters, humorous dialogue, and a whimsical art style that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The game offers replayability with randomized puzzles and hidden collectibles, making each playthrough unique and enjoyable.
  • The game is relatively short, typically taking only 60 to 90 minutes to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some players have reported technical issues, such as glitches and difficulty with saving progress, which can detract from the experience.
  • While aimed at children, the simplicity of the puzzles may not provide enough challenge for older players, potentially limiting its appeal.
  • story168 mentions

    The story of "Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside" is a charming and whimsical tale centered around a young boy named Sam who confronts his fear of the dark by embarking on a quest to capture the entity of darkness itself. While the plot is simple and aimed at children, it is enriched with humor, engaging characters, and interactive elements that make it enjoyable for players of all ages. The game effectively combines storytelling with gameplay, offering valuable lessons and replayability through its varied puzzles and scenarios.

    • “In the hallowed halls of this interactive creation, we are introduced to a young protagonist named Samuel, who, in the velvety embrace of his pajamas, embarks upon a quest both whimsical and profound.”
    • “The story is a sprawling epic about a small child overcoming his fears and becoming the hero he was always destined to be.”
    • “Naturally, I can't talk about this game without bringing up its incredible story: the amount of effort Humongous Entertainment put into this story, starring a happy-go-lucky child confronting his deepest fears, should be enough to earn the company a Nobel Prize in literature.”
    • “The story in itself is extremely simplistic, almost a run-of-the-mill point and click, but the game carries a ton of padding.”
    • “Story: one of the most well-known aspects of Pajama Sam is its story; it is simply unorthodox, as it does the process of not feeding all of the story to the viewer; it drip-feeds it, giving the viewer only half the story, or sometimes giving scenes without any context.”
    • “The plot is simple: a boy named Sam is afraid of sleeping in his own room with the lights out, but instead of fearing it, he decides to overcome his fear by 'defeating' darkness as 'Pajama Sam'.”
  • humor120 mentions

    The humor in "Pajama Sam" is widely praised for its cleverness and appeal to both children and adults, featuring witty dialogue, puns, and interactive animations that keep players engaged. Many reviewers noted that the humor holds up over time, with jokes that resonate more with adult players who may have missed them as kids. Overall, the game is celebrated for its charming characters and imaginative world, making it a delightful experience for players of all ages.

    • “And it has plenty of great humor aimed at adults, which helps make it more fun for a parent or older sibling to play with the kid.”
    • “The humor holds up as an adult and the puzzles are simple but entertaining.”
    • “Pajama Sam finds that increasingly rare line where children's entertainment is balanced with subtle wit and humor that appeals to adults.”
  • graphics88 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, colorful, and whimsical art style that evokes nostalgia for 90s animation, reminiscent of classic children's cartoons. Reviewers highlight the charming hand-drawn animations and immersive environments, noting that despite being dated, the visuals still hold up well and contribute significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the graphics are described as magical and engaging, enhancing the gameplay experience for both children and adults alike.

    • “The art style is whimsical and filled with personality, feeling like a late 90's kids cartoon like Recess or Rocko's Modern Life, or Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.”
    • “It has gorgeous visuals, smooth cartoonish animations, awesome sense of humor, crazy sound design, and a magical, surreal world that everything inside it seems to be alive.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and charming, and the hand-drawn animation is great.”
    • “Even though the game graphics are way out of date and you can see the pixels, it still has an odd charm.”
    • “Its a lot different graphics than today's games (obviously) but even if it's a kids game I'll still play it and bring back the memories of my childhood.”
    • “I was something like 4 or 5 years old when I first played this game, and let me tell you: the labyrinthine mine track, twisted thorny vines, and overall dark, surreal wonderlandish aesthetic was way creepier and more unsettling than just about else we had in the house back then.”
  • music70 mentions

    The music in the game, composed by Jeremy Soule, is widely praised for its catchy and nostalgic quality, effectively enhancing the whimsical and immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the cheerful and zany tunes that complement the colorful characters and engaging gameplay, with standout moments like the "musical kitchen" and memorable opening numbers. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant highlight, contributing to the game's charm and replayability.

    • “The soundtrack has some earworm bangers that bring the otherworldly feel of the land of darkness while keeping a steady groove that feels comforting, showcasing how much promise Soule had as games like this and Spy Fox would highlight his capabilities.”
    • “The music complements this perfectly, with upbeat tunes keeping the mood light while mixing in the occasional chime to add an unearthly air.”
    • “The great voice acting and soundtrack really bring the visually detailed environment of lava mines, underground geysers, and treehouse lairs to life.”
    • “Yeah, the guy that did the music for The Elder Scrolls, Neverwinter Nights, and Guild Wars - did the music for a kids' game.”
    • “There is a major glitch when I try to reach for the paddles on the wall of the music room.”
    • “For example, in a musical room, the paddles do not appear on the wall; however, when I try to get them, I can see them on the wall, but desperately clicking on them didn't help.”
  • replayability52 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to randomized puzzles and changing item locations, which create a unique experience with each playthrough. Players appreciate the variety in objectives and the ability to collect items differently each time, making it enjoyable for all ages. Despite its short length, the game encourages repeated playthroughs, enhancing its overall appeal.

    • “The game is tougher and the jokes funnier than I remember, and I just realized that the puzzles could differ in each playthrough, giving a bit of replayability value!”
    • “Where and how Sam retrieves his missing possessions changes each time you play the game, which adds great replay value.”
    • “Each game is different than before, adding replayability, and all experiences will be so fun that you'll want to come back again and again.”
    • “This is an odd choice because the game is not particularly replayable and there is no choice in which puzzles you get -- you might play again and have the exact same distribution of content and items -- but it is an interesting novelty all the same.”
    • “The game itself is pretty short but has quite a bit of replayability since enigmas slightly change from playthrough to playthrough.”
    • “The fact that these are playable years later, omg... memories have been unlocked!!”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay of "Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It's Dark Outside" is characterized by its simple, inventory-based point-and-click mechanics that are accessible yet intellectually engaging for players of all ages. The interwoven plot and gameplay, combined with a charming art style and humor, create an enjoyable experience that remains relevant and fun even years after its release. Overall, the game is praised for its ease of use, engaging story, and strong character development, making it a must-play for both nostalgic fans and new players alike.

    • “The game's mechanics, while ostensibly designed for youthful minds, do present challenges that call upon the intellect and cunning of players of all ages.”
    • “An art style that still holds up fantastically, the gameplay is simple and easy to understand, with many moments that showcase its humor even during the dark moments, making this game enjoyable even after all these years as it's basically one of its kind.”
    • “The gameplay is easy in the sense that the interface doesn't get in the way.”
    • “Love the voice acting, the storyline is cute, and the gameplay is fast; an adult should be able to beat the entire game in an hour.”
    • “The story line is cute, the graphics and game mechanics hold up well enough, and if you are old enough to have originally, it's an enjoyable way to pass an hour.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome and heartfelt storytelling, which resonates with players of all ages. Users appreciate the charming characters and lessons about overcoming fear, while also noting poignant moments that evoke feelings of nostalgia and connection, such as the touching musical number performed by a sock. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to create a fun, engaging experience that leaves a lasting emotional impact.

    • “Exactly as you remember it; a charming, heartfelt, funny adventure game with the greatest superhero of our time.”
    • “Some of Beethoven's music is featured later in the series, which, coupled with the emotional impact of the scene, produces one of the most excellent scenes in video game history.”
    • “The conclusion to the great Pajama Sam series isn't available on Mac, which is disappointing. The opening musical number, sung by one of Sam's socks, is an emotional piece representing the feelings a lonely person has when there is an empty space in their heart that needs to be filled.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its easy-going, quirky charm, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. The design, sound effects, and ambient music contribute to a lively and engaging environment, appealing even to older players despite its target audience being younger children. Overall, the game successfully creates a delightful and immersive experience.

    • “This is an easy-going game with a great atmosphere for a point-and-click adventure game.”
    • “Definitely just as fun and quirky as you would expect from a Pajama Sam game; recommended to players of all ages. Even if it may be a little easier for older players, it's still a wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “The sound effects and music are very ambient and create a lively atmosphere.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is praised, with users reporting no performance issues. However, the faster loading of voice dialogue in cutscenes can lead to characters sounding rushed, which may detract from the engagement of the voice acting, a crucial element for children's adventure games.

    • “I have had no issues with performance either.”
    • “A key element for any children’s adventure game is voice acting – if the performances aren’t engaging, it’s likely that interest will be lost quickly.”
    • “I've run my original copy in the Scumm engine before and reached the same performance differences here: voice dialogue loads faster than normal, so characters talking in cutscenes sound like they don't take a break to breathe and just go into the next sentence.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it tedious towards the end due to repetitive backtracking and easy puzzles, others struggle with battles that require extensive grinding for skills and gear upgrades, only to find later encounters disproportionately easy. This inconsistency can lead to frustration, as the effort put into grinding may feel wasted. Overall, the game remains enjoyable for its creativity and charm, despite these grinding issues.

    • “The lack of hints in the game makes some battles seem impassable; I've spent ages grinding up my skills for one fight and upgrading my gear to its max to no avail.”
    • “On the contrary, some later-game battles seem too easy, where it feels as though all of the time you dumped into grinding is worthless.”
    • “Towards the end of the game, when you've seen most of the screens, it just becomes a matter of going back and forth between various locations and finishing the remaining puzzles. The game can become a bit tedious.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent glitches that render it unplayable for many users. Additionally, players have reported difficulties obtaining refunds from Steam due to these problems.

    • “The game is rendered unplayable by the glitches.”
    • “Game glitches and Steam won't give me a refund.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game features a monetization model free from microtransactions, loot boxes, and battle passes, which has been positively received by users.

  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highly praised, with reviewers describing it as "god-like," indicating that it significantly enhances the overall narrative and gameplay experience.

    • “The story is perfect, the gameplay is fun, and the character development is god-like.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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