Best Games on Dreams (2023)

To celebrate Dreams‘ third anniversary on the PlayStation network, we thought we'd make a pitstop over on its latest archive, curious to know whether its latest sandbox worlds were just as alive and kicking in 2023 as they were in 2020. Turns out, they were, and not just that, but aurally, mechanically, and visually, the platform itself was leaps and bounds ahead of its former self.

The point is, if you are still mopping up the best of Dreams and dipping into its bottomless nexus of independent games, then you'll know just as well that there are more than enough experiences to absorb. Curious to know which ones are the most popular in 2023, though? If so, be sure to read on, as we'll be chalking up the best of the best according to regulars.

5. Art's Dream

Art's Dream is a whimsical movie-length creation that allows players to experience all that there is to see and do in the realm of Dreams. Curated by a reputable community member, the relatively short but jam-packed adventure comes preloaded with thousands of colors, characters, and designs—all built using an untapped nexus of assets from within the suite itself. In short, it's a visual and technical masterpiece, and it showcases just about everything that's good about Dreams and its endless palette of creative wonders.

In Art's Dream, you play as, well, Art, an aspiring musician who slips into a twisted dream world that's chock-full of vivid creations and demonic apparitions. It's your goal to guide Art through the various layers of the absurd dream and reunite with his former band members. Simple enough, right? Eh, not really. Yet, if it's a romp through one of Dreams' most unruly creations you're looking for, then you've certainly located the right spot.

4. Art Therapy

If smashing marble with a hammer and tearing strips of paint directly from a priceless work of art sounds like your idea of a good time, then boy, Art Therapy is the only game you'll need to play to blow off some steam. With a total of seven years of play time logged since being built, this addictive little number stacks up as one of the most popular game on Dreams, and you know, fair enough. 

Plot-wise, there isn't a whole lot to go on. That said, the entertainment value herein is the mindless vandalism that you can cause by simply entering a prestigious museum and destroying its exhibits. Your goal, in essence, is to rack up as much damage as possible; the more you break, the higher your score. Simple.

3. Southpaw Cooking

Because mastering the culinary arts with two hands is so incredibly simple, why not opt for just the left hand and make things way more complicated than they need to be? Thanks to Southpaw Cooking, you can revert back to the basics as an amateur chef with nothing but a book full of hearty meals and only half the limbs to see each and every one of them cooked to absolute perfection.

Of course, if you're really striving to be the best of the best, then you will need to learn how to transform an otherwise inept and slinky wrist into a mechanical utensil that's more than capable of slicing, dicing, and serving up quality meals that are, well, chef's kiss. It's much easier said than done, mind you, as you'll soon come to realize as you swap out your sturdy oven mitts for a rubber hand with trust issues.

2. Ruckus: Just Another Natural Disaster

Chances are, you've already played your fair share of city-building games on console or PC, which means you're also probably itching to reverse the roles and fill the boots of something a little more, say, destructive. And if we're on the money there, then you'll definitely want to consider picking up Ruckus: Just Another Natural Disaster, a game that quite simply lets you take on the role of a great monster and destroy a bustling metropolis, piece by piece.

As it stands, Ruckus has tallied up a little over ten years of total play time, which alone makes it one of the most sought after games on the Dreams platform. Makes sense, to be fair, as not a whole lot of games give you the freedom to stomp around and rack up points by bringing complete and total anarchy to an otherwise serine cityscape. It's great fun, and certainly worth dumping a few hours into if you've grown a little weary of playing the governor.

1. Player Piano Player

If playing a sold out show to a bunch of rowdy cowboys during a saloon shootout is your cup of tea, then Player Piano Player is sure to get your gears in motion. And what's more, if you're one for rhythm-based games that adhere to a similar ruleset as games like Guitar Hero, then you're in for a real treat. The only issue is, well, it isn't the easiest game to get accustomed to, as you'll come to learn as your fans sit idly by with itchy trigger fingers and an ear for on-the-money music.

Of course, this is far more than your bog-standard note-slapping arcade game; in fact, it's actually a mixture between being a rhythm game and a Western shooter. Besides having to jam out all the right notes and keep a saloon from causing a mass rebellion, you'll also have to dodge bullets and other fiery projectiles all the while racking up enough points to get your name stapled on the leaderboard. In Player Piano Player, every key played comes loaded with a consequence, and they aren't always great, either.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any games on Dreams you'd recommend picking up? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.