Developer: Montraluz
Publisher: Tlön Industries
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Dreamcore – Review
When you think about horror games, you might be imagining creepy monsters or sudden jump scares. This proves to be the case for a lot of titles, but a rarely appreciated facet of horror is atmosphere. By simply using environments and sounds, a more intense scare reaction can be created than when a creature jumps out at you. As evidence for this, look no further than Dreamcore, a walking simulator where you traverse endless liminal spaces. If these hallways don’t make you paranoid, we don’t know what will!
Story
Dreamcore has little in terms of a narrative, since the game is mostly focused on dropping you into a level and having you explore the liminal space presented to you. For those unaware, ‘liminal space’ is a term coined by the internet for places that are eerie, forlorn, and abandoned. A place that seems like it should be inhabited by people or things, but is empty. The most famous example is the backrooms, but any place can be a liminal space if the atmosphere is right. A lot of people say dreams often also feel like they’re happening in liminal spaces, which the title of this game refers to. By progressing, there are some hints you can find as to a greater story that explains why you’re in these places, but nothing concrete. It’s unclear if the devs are planning to add more information to future levels.
Graphics
Since this is a walking simulator where the main focus is on exploring your surroundings, it’s not surprising that a lot of effort went into the graphics. Dreamcore nails the found footage aesthetic perfectly, with a grainy texture and other visual effects to make it seem like you’re holding a camera. Everything looks realistic, but in a way that is almost uncanny, as if the proportions or colors are slightly wrong. Currently, only two levels are available, but each is wonderfully designed with a unique and memorable look. If too many visual effects make you sick, there are extensive graphic settings that will tone down the ones that could be more straining for the eyes, which is a nice addition.
Sound
Dreamcore knows perfectly that less is more. Most of the time, the game has no proper soundtrack, leaving you to wander with only the sound of your footsteps keeping you company. Obviously, this makes exploring a lot creepier. Sometimes, there is music playing in the distance, or an ominous noise might start when you enter a dark hallway. It’s all balanced to create a pleasantly tense environment without being too much. The game does not currently have any voice acting.
Gameplay
Dreamcore is a walking simulator that settles comfortably in the psychological horror genre. As mentioned, there are no chase scenes, dangerous monsters, or jump scares in this game. Despite this, as you walk around and explore, the places you walk through are so uncomfortable and strange, it’s hard not to get apprehensive. You constantly feel like something bad might happen, and almost start seeing things that aren’t there. While you’re encouraged to go at your own pace, and it’s not hard to get lost and walk around for literal hours in these levels, there is an actual end goal to each section. If you can reach specific locations, new areas will open up, keys can be found, and you can eventually end the level. Doing this can be quite hard, though. We wouldn’t even call what is present in the game puzzles because progressing relies more on spatial awareness and luck. But it’s good that there is still an ending to strive towards.
While walking is the main gimmick of the game, you can use your camera to zoom in and examine your surroundings. Sometimes, you’ll find small details in the environments that you didn’t pick up on before, almost like easter eggs. Dreamcore currently only has two levels. The first is called Dreampools and is exactly what it says on the tin, a winding set of rooms and passages that resemble a public pool, complete with slides and such. We personally found this level to be the creepiest. The other level is called Endless Suburbia and places you in green pastures with identical houses that you can enter and leave. This level seems to lean more into the absurdist looks of the liminal place, though it was still a lot of fun. Three more levels have already been announced, one coming out in the summer of 2025, one for the winter of 2025, and one for 2026. Nothing is known about what these levels will contain, but it’s nice to see there’ll be more content to explore, since we greatly enjoyed what’s already in the game.
Conclussion
Dreamcore is the type of game you don’t play if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush. Rather, it gives the same feeling as stepping into a dream. Slow, languid, and a little scary. For everybody who enjoys walking simulators or wants to play a game with a horror atmosphere that is more slow-paced and immersive, this is a perfect title to sink your teeth into.
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[…] Dreamcore is a first-person psychological horror experience that immerses players in a series of nonlinear, liminal environments. Loosely inspired by “backrooms” internet lore, each chapter presents a distinct world filled with puzzles, atmospheric design, and unique gameplay mechanics. With the release of Playrooms, the base game will increase in price from $8.99 to $11.99. However, players who purchase Dreamcore before June 17 will receive Playrooms and all future chapters at no additional cost. Two additional chapters are planned for release over the next year, and all will be included as free updates for existing owners of the game. […]