Dreams of Another is the latest game created by Baiyon, a multimedia artist famously known for PixelJunk Eden. Similar to his unique previous projects, Dreams of Another is nothing short of a work of art—one that cannot simply be described or taken at face value. It is a visually mesmerizing world where geometric shapes take form, driven by an outstanding soundtrack that underscores even the most subtle moments.
This game is something that will have all creators contemplating their life, looking back on their past works, and even thinking about their future and where their creations will lead. Our time in this world is finite, and when our life comes to an end, will someone carry on in our footsteps? What of our creations? Will we ever achieve our dreams? What if we actually have, but were too blind to realize it? And what was destroyed to make any of this a reality, and what was the purpose to begin with? A tree is cut down to create a chair, but what of the chair that is abandoned in a corner, never to be sat on? What is its reason for being created, and why was that tree cut down? That chair's "life" is only there to be looked at and never used, and the true life of a tree was ruined in the process. But perhaps even this was meant to be.
Dreams of Another is a game that takes all players on a psychological journey of discovery. The player navigates not through traditional levels, but through constantly evolving, dream-like spaces, where interaction is often non-verbal and symbolic. It’s a journey that may not be for everyone, but at the very least, it will raise some questions about your own life and the things around you. It cannot be compared to other games, and it ultimately touches upon some hard-hitting subjects. This includes our modern-day struggles with the ever-changing world and the idea that our creative minds could possibly be replaced by a machine... Or could they? Honestly, after five hours for a single playthrough and a second to pick up what I missed, I'm still not sure I’ve fully grasped what I’ve witnessed... But perhaps that's how it's supposed to be.
A Soldier's Struggle:
Dreams of Another opens with players taking control of a Wandering Soldier caught in an unknown war. He carries a gun loaded with a single, unusable bullet. When his cohort comes under attack, the soldier immediately takes cover and hides instead of fighting. The other soldier eventually leads him into a warehouse to search for more ammunition while our protagonist remains huddled in the corner. Moments later, an enemy enters, searches the room, and quickly discovers our man cowering there. Even with a gun pointed at his head, he cannot fire—he lacks the resolve to take a life. The enemy mocks his failure, points out his cowardice, and fires his own shot. This single, critical moment serves as the opening catalyst for Dreams of Another, setting everything into motion.
A Clouded World:
After being shot, the soldier awakens in a clouded, dream-like realm. However, this is no longer his story. The game immediately shifts to The Man in Pajamas, who quickly stumbles upon the soldier’s discarded gun. Unlike the real-world weapon, this gun now has unlimited ammunition.
Using this gun, and other weapons found later, the Man in Pajamas can shatter the clouded areas to force them to regain their true shape. This act of destruction is what reforms and rebuilds the objects they once were, allowing the Man in Pajamas to progress through the dreamscape. As he breaks the fog, people regain their form and share their thoughts, chunks of the landscape solidify into navigable paths, and even "lifeless" objects materialize to offer their own insights. With roughly 200 of these thoughtful objects to discover throughout the adventure, each one offers a unique, thought-provoking perspective. Of course, this is only one small part of the overall experience.
General Gameplay:
The central mechanic in Dreams of Another is its unique application of destruction as a creative force. The entire environment is composed of small, flat, circular fragments. Firing the gun at these fragments forces them to coalesce and form solid, meaningful shapes.
Progression is countered by enemy-type objects that will attempt to shatter joined areas if not dealt with swiftly. You will also encounter puzzle-like boss fights that require you to shoot the "ghosts" of objects to move forward. If your own form is split apart, you must restart the current area, though the minimal length of each section keeps frustration low. While 100% completion is not mandatory, ignoring exploration means missing out on valuable dialogue and potential pick-up items. A New Game Plus feature allows for subsequent discovery, but the full richness of the narrative is best experienced by seeking out all available conversations.
In general, the game rewards players who take the time to uncover the entire world before advancing the main goal. This objective, marked by a helpful beacon, can sometimes be advanced simply by walking to a specific point, instantly pushing you into the next region. The recycled, subtly altered maps across regions often signal that these forced advances occurred precisely because complete exploration wasn't intended at that moment. Conversely, progression often hinges on talking to key characters or objects—a subtle hint that in this philosophical dreamscape, everything deserves your attention. (I learned this the hard way after being stuck for a long time, assuming a minor interaction was a glitch. The key takeaway: talk to everything.)
Upgrades and Items:
While The Man in Pajamas is the central protagonist, the Soldier continues to appear in each area to share his thoughts and provide crucial resources. Finding lost items and returning them to the Soldier nets the player additional ammo and powerful weapon upgrades.
These enhancements are vital because they significantly speed up both navigation and the core destruction mechanic. While players can slowly chip away at each individual cluster to form objects, an upgraded weapon allows you to simply "blow up" the environment for faster rebuilding. Likewise, an upgraded sprint quickly turns tedious movement into efficient navigation. Additional upgrades and abilities are unlocked via the main storyline, though these usually provide context-specific functions and do not dramatically alter the rest of the game's mechanics.
Multiple Stories Come Together:
While listening to the inner thoughts of objects makes up a large portion of the game's narrative, each area also contributes to an overarching plot following the stories of multiple characters. The Man in Pajamas' personal journey isn't initially a central focus, but his own thoughts and feelings perfectly echo the existential struggles of the people he encounters. Initially, the true meaning behind what the player is seeing is obscured. However, by the game's conclusion, all elements fall neatly into place—just as the fragmented world reforms—leaving the player with profound, self-reflective questions. Even when the dream ends, the story's influence persists, encouraging us to reflect on Baiyon's message and continue down our own path in life.
PlayStation VR2:
Dreams of Another is one of the handful of games that also supports PlayStation VR2. Similar to how the original PlayStation VR had titles such as Rez Infinite that pulled players in and amazed them with their unique visual style, Dreams of Another is able to achieve the same effect. While VR doesn't fundamentally change how the game is played, being inside this dream world offers a profoundly different experience than simply looking at it through a screen—a sensation someone who has never played a VR title cannot fully understand or appreciate. While this isn't a game to run out and buy a headset specifically for, it gives existing owners yet another outstanding title to experience in a new, immersive way.
Should you play it?
Dreams of Another is not a standard game; it is a profound work of art. It immerses the player with its unique visuals, compelling soundtrack, and its one-of-a-kind "destruction for creation" mechanic, all while compelling us to step back and examine ourselves. This game is a meditation not just on life, but on the nature of existence, the true meaning of creativity, and the ultimate pursuit of leaving a legacy. While it won't appeal to every player, those who are willing to engage in self-reflection will find a far deeper, more meaningful experience here. The game is brief, but its message is powerful enough to last a lifetime. You may not fully grasp it now, but one day, it will undoubtedly resonate.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
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