Yume Nikki, by Kikyama (horror? game, 2004)

[lb_lee]

"Gameplay:
- Go to sleep in the bed and open the door to enter the dream world.
- Explore the dream world and collect effects.
- The dream world is very large, so use landmarks to navigate: walk straight in one direction until you come across something to use as a landmark, then change direction and walk straight until you find another landmark, and so on.
- If you get lost or stuck, press 9 to wake up.
- You can save your game at the desk when you're awake." (from the Readme)

Blurb: A young woman who cannot leave her room explores the strange world of her dreams instead.

Why is it worth your time?: This game has a devoted niche following for its surreal, open-ended sense of mystery. It just drops you into an environment with lacking instructions and leaves you to figure it out. There are all sorts of strange little easter eggs, including dream creatures you can't interact with or even see under most circumstances. This is a game that's easy to get lost in, in all senses of the word; I had to play it with the Wiki open. It's something to be experienced, rather than beaten. Also, it's free!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, dreamfolk, enmity (but only if you choose it), visions

Content Warnings: contain spoilers; see comments

Access Notes: There are surely a bajillion Let's Plays of this game, but we haven't seen any of them and can make no recommendations. Being an RPGmaker game, both the old fan-translated version and the new Steam version are Windows-only, far as I know. (We played the fan-translated one.)

Misc Notes: This game may have helped inspire Lisa: the First! There is also a manga and a TON of fanmade games, none of which I have touched. Seriously, if you want a fandom to dive into, Yume Nikki will keep you busy forever.

Comments

Content Warnings

[lb_lee]

"Beating" this game ends in your character committing suicide in the waking world. It is upsetting! There is also disturbing, surreal imagery in the dream world (disembodied body parts, spooky monsters, repeated imagery of car accidents), but all of it is completely harmless. Even the most aggressive beings do nothing but shove you somewhere inconvenient, forcing you to wake up. You can choose to murder your way through this game once you get your hands on the Knife, but it's not necessary; Sneak played through just fine without hurting anyone, choosing instead to use the Spotlight to avoid the few aggressive beings and making others dance with delight by using the Cat to meow at them. (Seriously, meow at everyone you encounter.)