Dreamcore Review (PC)

The irrational fear of being in an enclosed space is about as common as monophobia—the fear of being alone—thus making the fear of having to deal with both of them simultaneously a bitter nightmare for so, so many anxious folk. In the case of Dreamcore, a non-linear back room-type puzzler, such nightmares exist within the framework of a terrifying fever dream—a rabbit hole, of sorts, in which players embark on a downward spiral into a plethora of interwoven VHS-inspired scenarios. A psychological horror at heart, the game doesn’t feature any creepy crawlies or looming threats; on the contrary, Dreamcore utilizes the raw power of “found footage” and its ability to build suspense through its clever use of liminal imagery and unpredictable storytelling. And that, in short, is what initially attracted me to it: the idea of being able to enter the ominous corridors of Wonderland.

Upon entering the inner boroughs of the twisted yet oddly soothing world, a choice stands before you; the fork in the road becomes clear, and the path ahead begins as you make the journey into one of its many, many doorways. Initially, you don’t know where you’re going, or even what your purpose is, for that matter. No, this isn’t that sort of journey; linearity is a component that ceases to exist within these four walls. Regardless of the route you choose to pursue, each portal that looms over you makes it abundantly clear right from the get-go that there is more to unlock; there are secrets, you see, and each item of interest that you find fosters a curious connection to the world around you. The question you’re looking to answer here, of course, is which road should I take?

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

If you’re relatively familiar with the back rooms—a series of seemingly endless corridors that conjure open spaces and structureless void-like rooms—then Dreamcore won’t seem all that unusual for you. Like a fever dream unto itself, the game tasks you with the monumental goal of venturing deeper into a vast array of different doorways, all of which house a series of unorthodox puzzles, mind-boggling scenery, and an underlying sense of psychological terror. Again, there are no monsters to be found within these quarters; the journey you take isn’t necessarily about finding, or even tackling creatures, but more the case of finding yourself as you gradually shovel through a series of intriguing locations in a last-ditch attempt to remove the veil from the exit.

There isn’t so much as a pinch of breathing room for Dreamcore to tell you a story, for its inner plot mostly lies within the environment itself. In other words, it relies on its imagery and lack of context to plant seeds in your head. Who are you? What are you doing here? And why, above all, are you forever afraid to venture deeper into the bottomless depths of this fever dream when you’re incapable of dying? Questions, but with so little information to answer them, are what steer this narrative. And it works — beautifully, at that.

Into the Suburbs

Dreamcore consists of two back rooms: Dreampools, which essentially revolve around a vast and seemingly desolate collection of waterlogged corridors; and Eternal Suburbia, which is made up of a plateau of suburban plots and creepily vacant homesteads. The rooms, while not connected in any way, shape, or form, both invite you to enter a labyrinthine nexus and pluck out the mysteries that comprise their respective worlds. In the beginning of each chapter, you find yourself somewhat trapped within the inner cortex of a dreamscape—a dark and isolated corridor that houses liminal spaces, multiple pathways, and an alluring sense of uncertainty. The goal of the game, while not entirely painted in black and white, is to find an exit and pursue it. And if you think that sounds like an easily obtainable feat, then you should definitely reconsider your decision.

There isn’t a tremendous amount that you need to wrap your head around in Dreamcore. Well, at least when it comes to making sense of the controls and the general mechanics, that is. No, Dreamcore isn’t the least bit taxing on the fingers; it’s more or less the opposite, as it primarily focuses on having you use your imagination and moral compass to navigate its course. It’s a labyrinth of unconventional ideas that are teeming with twists and turns too, so naturally, it doesn’t exactly hold your hand or point you in the right direction. Moreover, as there isn’t a useful hint system to help you decipher each of the level’s parameters, you’re essentially left with the option of adopting a trial-and-error approach until you finally reach a plausible conclusion. Not that these are entirely ironclad, mind you.

A Dream Within a Dream

I’d be lying if I said that Dreamcore didn’t take me by surprise. On the one hand, I expected to get lost in its seemingly infinite existence, but on the other hand, I wasn’t expecting to feel bewildered at the mere sight of several of its rooms and architectural features. Sure enough, I spent a lot of my time mindlessly searching for the next story beat, but oftentimes it felt as if I was going around in circles, looking for something that had little to no relevance to the puzzle itself. But then, I suppose that was the point: to lose myself, and to second guess just about everything until I finally managed to reach some form of enlightenment. To that end, Dreamcore captured the essence of isolation and internal dilemmas remarkably well.

As far as the audiovisual aspects go, Dreamcore manages to encapsulate a quality aesthetic that, while still thematically grainy and somewhat abstract, harkens back to the golden age of VHS tapes. It’s due to this unique graphical design that, although homely and even a little cozy, a sense of foreboding is never all that far from being a harsh reality. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful to look at, but at the same time, it’s almost as if there’s something slightly more sinister about the way it presents itself. I guess, in ways, that sort of speaks volumes about its ability to cast doubt on its target audience; I felt safe during my travels, but it almost felt too safe, as if to suggest that something could go awry at any given moment. And that shadow of doubt hung over me for the entirety of the journey, funnily enough. Kudos.

Verdict

If, like me, you question your own judgment and ponder the consequences in the aftermath of your actions, then chances are you’ll find something to scratch your head over in this spontaneous fever dream. I myself left this world, wondering whether or not I had taken the correct path, or even if I had done enough to warrant a happy ending. However, with so little control over the situation, I couldn’t help but wonder whether I had done anything right at all. And it was because of that endless cycle of second guessing that Dreamcore was able to stay in my subconscious for several hours after “beating” it. Could I have done something a little differently? Might I have found an alternate solution for one of its many different puzzles? Honestly, I had no idea — but the fact that I still had these unsolved mysteries made me want to return.

Dreamcore, as minimalistic as it is, has the potential to make a fantastic novella that could quite possibly span countless chapters and sequels. Granted, it is a little light on the gameplay, though it does manage to counter the lack of player interaction with a surprising amount of quality level designs and questionable set pieces. What’s more, it makes a promise to the user that, if said user is willing to return in future updates, then they’ll be greeted to even more loop holes and dreamscapes. And it’s for that reason alone that I’m more than willing to give credit where it’s due. Is it a complete game? Perhaps not. However, if its future is as bright as its current incarnation is, then we’ve a lot to look forward to in the months to come.