Daydream: Prologue is a free-to-play demo of Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow, a puzzle and platformer game from developer Frozen line and publisher Ravenage Games. Here, you’ll play as a fearful little boy named Griffin who is forced to face his traumatic memories and heal from the past with his teddy bear, Birly. 

It contains horror elements, with the dim lighting in the early game evoking fear and helplessness. However, Daydream: Prologue is not always about eerie places as the pair will get to explore more enchanting locations while unearthing the secrets of the mysterious world they’re in.

A visual treat

If you’re a fan of Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares II, you’ll surely enjoy Daydream: Prologue. The demo begins with Griffin sitting on a checkered floor in a dimly lit room and reuniting with Birly after a mechanical hand dripping with blood bursts through the door. As the duo runs away from the hand, you’ll be presented with a couple of control prompts.

These prompts include:

• Running.
• Jumping.
• Grabbing objects.
• Picking up and throwing Birly on a higher platform.
   

With Birly by your side, you can overcome whatever the game throws at you—from mind-boggling puzzles to deadly traps. While it touches on horror, you’ll also find yourself traversing a breathtakingly beautiful world so don’t be surprised if you end up in a floating castle or a fairytale forest. 

As the game is not text-heavy, it instead relies on visuals and lighting not only to deliver an unforgettable narrative experience but also to evoke a certain mood and understand what the characters are going through in their journey of light and darkness. Although the beginning of the game can scare off players, they should give it a chance as it gets better from there.

A juxtaposition of horror and cuteness

Overall, Daydream: Prologue is a wonderful choice for players who enjoy cute platforming games. Lighting is used to drive the game’s narrative and convey Griffin and Birly’s feelings and experiences without the need for text, which is refreshing. The game is a bit creepy, but don’t let its horror elements stop you from exploring the world and investing in Griffin and Birly’s journey to healing.