While Xbox Game Pass is a huge value for all sorts of gamers, it can get a little confusing as to which games are worth trying, and which are something that just doesn’t suit the player in question. Forthose that are fans of Roguelikes, they now have another game that they can look forward to trying as part of their Game Pass membership.Dreamscaperis yet another Roguelike that makes combat into an interesting challenge as players dream until they eventually die.
Dreamscaperis developed by Afterburner Studios, whose founding members have previously worked onGears of WarandNBA2K. These members like to proclaim themselves as “three ex-AAA game devs gone rogue.” The game is published by Freedom Games, known for publishing otherindie gamessuch asThe Lonely OutpostandDark Deity.
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What is Dreamscaper?
Garnering inspiration from the concept of lucid dreams, dreams where the person sleeping is aware that they’re asleep and therefore can control their actions in said dream,Dreamscaperputs players in control of Cassidywhile she’s both awake and asleep. Gamers can experience “endlessly replayable” dungeons while asleep until they die, and in the place of losing progress, dying merely wakes Cassidy up. Once awake, players experience Cassidy’s day-to-day daily life, talking to the people around her and giving them gifts to increase her bonds with them.
However, increasing the friendship Cassidy has with the NPCs serves a purpose, as making friends helps unlock new abilities, skills, and more as players go about their day. This is how fans can strengthen their abilities in Cassidy’s dreams, helping them get stronger and potentially helping them get across the obstacles that killed them during their last run. However, that’s if they manage to fall into the same dream as before. While discoveringtheLife is Strange-like storyofDreamscaper, fans will need to piece together the symbolism of Cassidy’s dreams to see the big picture of the overall story.
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Dreamscaper’s Reception
The game has been praised by critics for being carefully made to be intense in both its combat and emotional impact. Reviews roughly place the game at an 85/100 rating or 4/5 stars generally, with the game sitting at a rough 80 on Metacritic. The combat is seen as simple yet challenging to master, and clearing dungeons is always rewarding in the overall scope of how the game plays. However, those unfamiliar with Roguelikes may find themselves dealing with a strict learning curve upon starting.Knowing what to do upon startingDreamscapermay make all the difference for those new to the genre.
With fans,Dreamscaperalso seems to be rather well-received, with most audience reviews giving the game 5 stars and areview rating of “mostly positive” on Steam. Many recommend those dealing with mental health issues such as depression should give this game a try, as Afterburner Studios carefully tells the story of Cassidy’s own mental struggles with her deep depression and trauma in a delicate yet inspired way. Through combining the friendships she makes in the Waking World with her fights against her struggles in the Dreamscape, Cassidy learns she can heal, which is a very uplifting message for those struggling.
However, even with the positive reviews the lucid dreaming-themed game has received, there’s an argument to be made that the genre isn’t for everyone. Some negative reviews from players say thatthe combat of the Roguelikejust “didn’t feel right” to them, with others pointing out that while the dungeons being different each time the player sleeps is an interesting mechanic, it leads to the story elements in both dreaming and waking worlds to feel disjointed since most plot elements don’t regularly add up.
Dreamscaperis available now on PC and Switch, with it reaching Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on February 3.
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