Through the Nightmares

About

Through the Nightmares is a single player platformer game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Kovnir and was released on June 19, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

The atmospheric hardcore action platformer about the Sandman wandering the world of children's nightmares. You will have to find and rescue the children from the trap of the almighty Morpheus, by overcoming of all their fears.

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100%Audience ScoreBased on 34 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

High-quality, polished precision platformer with unique and diverse mechanics that keep gameplay engaging.
Beautiful visuals and atmosphere complemented by a fitting soundtrack that enhances the fairy-tale and dreamlike mood.
Smooth and responsive controls with cleverly designed levels and rewarding challenge that satisfy fans of hardcore platformers.

Some sections are notably difficult and can cause frustration, especially with the final level's poor visibility due to color choices.
The story and ending can be confusing or underdeveloped, leaving some players unsatisfied.
Certain parts might feel less imaginative or could have embraced more dreamlike, surreal concepts to fully utilize the nightmare theme.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
39%
The gameplay is praised for its high-quality, polished platforming with unique and diverse mechanics that keep players engaged and consistently surprised. Controls are simple and intuitive, allowing for smooth immersion, while the challenge is demanding yet fair, encouraging gradual mastery without feeling overwhelming. Overall, it offers a rewarding and enjoyable experience with clever puzzles and varied, well-integrated mechanics.
- “All in all, I found Through the Nightmares to be an enjoyable and rewarding precision platformer that does a splendid job of easing you into its mechanics – it doesn’t throw you into the thick of things right away, but lets you gradually explore and master the various techniques required for survival in its unforgiving world where everything is out to get you.”
- “It also keeps things consistently surprising, always managing to reinvent itself by adding a new mechanic or two just when you start to get comfortable.”
- “The controls are simple and intuitive, allowing you to immediately immerse yourself in the gameplay without distractions.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful, polished visuals that create a captivating atmosphere, combining simple yet effective design with modern techniques and charming details. The visuals effectively complement the gameplay and are enhanced by a well-integrated soundtrack, making the overall experience lively and immersive. Some users find the graphics decent but overall the impression is very positive.
- “This game has a lot going for it - gorgeous visuals, a great atmosphere, solid music, and plenty of little touches that make it feel polished.”
- “Special praise goes to the soundtrack - it perfectly complements the pleasant and beautiful graphics and makes the world even more alive.”
- “Wonderful visuals combine low poly with modern post-processing techniques.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
37%
The game features a charming, fairy-tale atmosphere enhanced by gorgeous visuals, polished details, and fitting background music. Its magical and cozy setting, combined with a well-presented story, effectively immerses players in an engaging and mysterious world. Overall, the atmosphere is consistently praised for its beauty and ability to draw players in.
- “This game has a lot going for it - gorgeous visuals, a great atmosphere, solid music, and plenty of little touches that make it feel polished.”
- “Cool atmosphere, cute story about Sandman saving children from nightmares, fluid controls, neatly designed levels - compact, yet intricate enough to test your reflexes and puzzle-solving skills.”
- “The cozy, fairy-tale atmosphere immediately draws you in, with nice color palettes and effects.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
12%
The music in this game is widely praised for its solid, well-crafted soundtrack that perfectly complements the beautiful visuals and atmosphere. It enhances gameplay by intensifying during challenges and boss battles, keeping players engaged and motivated. Overall, the sound design is diverse and carefully designed, making the game world feel more alive and immersive.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the pleasant and beautiful graphics, making the world feel even more alive.”
- “I enjoyed the music and soundtracks during platforming challenges, especially as it intensifies during boss battles, becoming fun to listen to.”
- “The design is beautifully precise and cleverly crafted, with lovely graphics and music that keeps pushing you further.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The story is simple yet charming, centered around a sandman saving children from nightmares, and is well presented with a magical atmosphere. While generally engaging, some find the ending confusing but not detracting from the experience. Overall, the narrative adds a pleasant touch to the game's fluid gameplay and design.
- “Cool atmosphere, cute story about Sandman saving children from nightmares, fluid controls, neatly designed levels - compact, yet intricate enough to test your reflexes and puzzle-solving skills.”
- “The story is well presented and the visual style enhances the magical atmosphere.”
- “Overall, it’s a solid platformer with a simple story, no major flaws, and plenty of charm.”
- “The story is fine, until the indecipherable ending, but who cares?”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-polished and runs smoothly across a wide range of devices, including the Steam Deck, even with default settings. Users consistently report stable performance without issues.
- “This is a well polished game from an indie studio that runs great on my Steam Deck even with the default settings from the developer.”
- “Runs great on all kinds of machines and devices.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features good optimization, providing smooth controls and stable performance without lags or crashes.
- “Good optimization, there are no lags or crashes for me, and controls work very smoothly.”