Campaign Ends: February 29th
Platform: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Platforms, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
I have never dreamed about being chased by an animated skeleton. In fact, my dreams these days tend to involve mundane things like going to a buffet or finding a new cage for my hamster, and if I were to wake up in an alternate reality based on said dreams, I would simply enjoy the vast quantities of food available. Sadly, I can’t say the same for young Theo, star of today’s game of choice: Dreamed Away, an eerie yet cute pixel RPG set in 1990s Brittany, France, and its nightmarish counterpart. Not to be missed by fans of EarthBound, Omori, and Celtic mythology, the game looks to weave a dark and emotional family story while offering up a unique timing-based battle system.
One rainy morning, our young protagonist Theo awakens to find his parents and sister nowhere in sight. Something is amiss; his familiar surroundings have taken on an unsettling atmosphere, with ghosts and spirits lurking in shadowy corners. This is, perhaps, not the best way to start the day. Explore Theo’s strange new reality, fight off dangerous spirits, and most importantly, help him find his dear sister Louise!
Dreamed Away will largely focus on the bond between Theo and Louise while delving into the nature of his creepy new surroundings. Though the game’s EarthBound influence is crystal clear (even extending as far as the dialogue window style), it’s painted with a dark European aesthetic and references to Celtic mythology. For example, you’ll encounter buildings and monuments inspired by real-world French architecture, and chance upon several Korrigans, mischievous gnomes who may or may not have your best interests at heart. It reminds me a little of Game Republic’s Folklore and horror-themed RPGMaker adventures!
Take turns attacking and dodging in a unique combat system with different timing-based minigames for each enemy. A typical encounter in Dreamed Away might involve avoiding the enemy’s fireballs (or casually tossed skulls), then hitting the sweet spot on a bar to unleash a combo attack. Equipment and special abilities will help you out, and thankfully, you’ll be able to see enemies on the map and avoid them if necessary.
Dreamed Away has already reached its base funding target, with some dreamy stretch goals on the way, including three extra endings, a new area, and a short animated intro. Overall, the game definitely feels like a work of love; be sure to check out the evocative trailer (featuring no less than four cats) and play the demo (or check out the website and Discord) before dreaming yourself away to this spooky world in early 2025!
Disclaimer: While it’s possible some of us at RPGFan may be backers of the games mentioned in these articles, this does not influence our coverage or our featured game choices. We make our selections simply based on the active campaigns we feel our readers might find interesting, and we are not given special access or perks by the developers.
tl;dr: We think these games show potential and want to share them with you.
