Yume Nikki places you in the role of Madotsuki, a young, pig-tailed Japanese girl who stays in her apartment all day. She can play games, watch television, or hang around her balcony, but what the game is really about is sleeping. While asleep, Madotsuki has bizarre dreams, often bordering on, or outright becoming, nightmares. Her sleep is troubled, yet it is interesting, and through it you learn about Madotsuki and her world.

Elaborate Dreams

The world of Madotsuki's mind features many fantastical creatures. Some are benign or friendly, and some will even serve as ´items´ that grant her new abilities, change her appearance, or outright transform her. Others are hostile, or simply dangerous by their existence. Describing them here would spoil one of the greatest aspects of the game: learning about how things work and behave.

Dream And Reality, A Double-Sided Coin

Overall, the qualities of Yume Nikki that may appeal to prospective players are often the same ones that will turn them away from playing the game. For one player, certain scenes may amaze, while others may disgust them; the opposite may be true for the next player. Because of this, Yume Nikki isn't recommended for the easily distressed or faint of heart. It's not over-the-top, though, and can be quite a pleasure to play, provided that you can look past its oddities.