The Dream Within

About

The Dream Within is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Roaming of Little Hammer and was released on January 13, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

This is a pixel open world survival craft ARPG. It is not a casual style farming simulator. It needs more actions in combat. The game has a linear progress with free world exploration. It needs 30-40 hours to finish the full game. Building Base Farming and Crafting Hunting Fighting NightmareNightmares comes at regular intervals, dark monsters will attack the base, its challenging …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 15 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging survival crafting experience with charming graphics and a solid gameplay loop.
The developer is highly responsive and actively addresses player feedback, quickly fixing bugs and improving the game.
The unique food leveling system and balanced progression keep the gameplay interesting and rewarding.

Combat mechanics feel clunky and underwhelming, with limited attack options and a lack of polish compared to similar games.
Some game mechanics and inventory management can be confusing, leading to a frustrating experience for new players.
The UI can be intrusive at times, blocking important gameplay elements and making navigation difficult.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The gameplay features a solid loop of harvesting, crafting, and upgrading, complemented by responsive mechanics that enhance the experience. While combat can feel janky and lacks clear signposting, the excitement of enemy encounters adds to the overall fun. Many players find the gameplay better than initially perceived from promotional materials.
- “The gameplay loop of 'harvest -> craft -> upgrade -> repeat' is solid.”
- “I also discovered a few game mechanics that I wasn't aware of, like increasing stats via food.”
- “However, note that the combat is somewhat janky with poorly/un-signposted mechanics.”
- “I was apprehensive about purchasing the game, thinking the gameplay was janky, but after seeing some YouTube videos of gameplay, I found that the game plays much better than what is displayed on Steam.”
- “Enemies will mob up and flank you, which makes for exciting gameplay.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics feature charming pixel-art aesthetics that create an enjoyable and cohesive visual experience, appealing to fans of retro styles. Overall, the graphics are well-received, with many users appreciating the fixed world and its exploration potential.
- “The fixed world is fun to explore, and the pixel-art aesthetics look nice; all of the assets work well together.”
- “Graphics is, of course, a matter of taste, but I like what I see.”
- “Charming graphics.”
- “Graphics is, of course, a matter of taste, but I don't like what I see.”
- “Graphics: retro.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be light to medium, allowing for a balance between engaging activities like building, farming, and crafting without becoming overly tedious. While farming is somewhat limited, this design choice is appreciated as it prevents excessive grinding, though players can choose to engage in more if they desire. Overall, the grinding feels manageable and enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
- “It's not too grindy, but you can make it as grindy as you like.”
- “The grinding aspect is balanced, allowing for both casual and dedicated players to enjoy.”
- “I appreciate how the game rewards grinding without making it feel like a chore.”
- “It's not too grindy, but you can make it so if you like it.”
- “Light to medium grinding but nothing ridiculous.”
- “You have your base area where you are safe (other than when in nightmare), where you can do your 'chores' like building, farming, crafting, fishing, etc.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fitting and magical quality, enhancing the fantasy adventure experience. Reviewers appreciate the overall great composition, which aligns well with the game's theme.
- “The music is great.”
- “The music fits perfectly with the game's atmosphere.”
- “So far, the music is good and has a magical sound, just like you'd expect from a fantasy adventure game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game is well-optimized, running smoothly without noticeable performance issues or visual glitches during gameplay.
- “The game runs smoothly and doesn't look janky while actually playing it.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for a seamless experience even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate without sacrificing visual quality.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is generally considered decent, providing a satisfactory narrative experience without standing out as exceptional.
- “The story is decent but lacks depth and fails to engage the player emotionally.”
- “While the premise is interesting, the execution of the story feels rushed and underdeveloped.”
- “The narrative is predictable and doesn't offer any surprising twists or character development.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning art and immersive environments, creating a unique blend of relaxation and tension. Players find the crafting and base-building elements satisfying, further enhancing the overall experience.
- “The art is lovely, with stunning atmospheric environments, and the crafting/base building is pretty satisfying.”
- “This game is amazing... great atmosphere; it's both relaxing and tense at the same time...”