Experience the Surreal Nightmare of Sleep Awake
In recent times, I’ve come across many gamers expressing their boredom or frustration when friends share their dreams. Personally, I find dreams captivating and enjoy hearing the bizarre narratives that unfold in my friends’ minds while they sleep. However, I get the sentiment; dreams often feel like a “you had to be there” experience, and no storytelling can truly capture the essence of the dream itself. This is where the psychological thriller, Sleep Awake, from developer Eyes Out, steps in, allowing players to dive into the dreamlike experience firsthand.
Set in a dystopian version of Earth where only one city, The Crush, remains, the world has succumbed to a phenomenon known as The Hush, causing people to vanish in their sleep. The city is a crumbling refuge for the terrified and exhausted, with its inhabitants resorting to various methods to avoid slumber. Some take drastic measures like self-harm or electrocution, while others rely on medications. The protagonist, Katja, opts for home remedies made from rare plants.
Katja, appearing to be in her late teens or early twenties, is struggling. Her mother is missing, and her father, who works at the local Somnological Institute, has vanished following a catastrophic flood known as The Swell. Tragically, her six-year-old brother, Bo, was taken by The Hush despite Katja’s attempts to keep him awake. Now, she lives alone in their family apartment, trying to stay awake and only venturing out to deliver sleep-prevention tinctures to her grandmother, Amma, whose mind is deteriorating, leaving her in a “waking sleep.” Players begin by helping Katja maintain her apartment, prepare an anti-sleep infusion for Amma, and keep Katja from dozing off.
Anyone who’s gone days without sleep knows how quickly things can spiral. The initial days leave you groggy and irritable, with twitchy eyes and difficulty focusing on tasks. Prolonged wakefulness turns you into a zombie, and eventually, hallucinations kick in. You might hear your name called or catch a glimpse of movement in your peripheral vision, even when you’re alone. This is Katja’s reality, as she endures microsleeps and vivid hallucinations after being awake for an extended period.
Visually, Sleep Awake is a mesmerizing fever dream. Each time Katja fights off sleep, her vision warps with hallucinogenic effects, blurring the line between reality and imagination. The cutscenes feature trippy FMV sequences that are both disturbing and beautiful. The game’s surreal visuals are paired with an eclectic soundtrack by Robin Finck, which is catchy yet bizarre, echoing his Nine Inch Nails roots without feeling derivative.
Gameplay-wise, Sleep Awake leans towards a walking simulator, but its compelling narrative keeps it engaging, with occasional stealth segments to maintain tension. However, these stealth sections can be frustrating, as players navigate narrow, dark paths without flashlights, making it challenging to sneak past unseen enemies. In one instance, I was spotted and dropped through a hole to hide, only to be immediately attacked by another enemy who seemed to know my exact location. Katja can’t fight back, and running often leads to trouble. The real frustration comes from the drawn-out cutscenes that play after each death, preventing quick access to the main menu. While the first few deaths are interesting, by the fifth or sixth, I just wanted to jump back into the action.
Despite the stealth challenges, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game. It leans more towards intrigue than outright horror, and the storytelling kept me engaged throughout. The world feels dreamlike, with Katja crafting anti-sleep infusions from plants that undergo a bizarre ritual, changing color and floating. Those taken by The Hush leave behind strange puddles, and when Katja sings to them, they momentarily take shape, allowing the victim’s screams to echo before flattening again.
The peculiar rules governing Sleep Awake’s world lend it a distinctly dreamlike quality, yet the game doesn’t shy away from providing clarity. I was initially concerned it would end on a vague note, but I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful conclusions drawn in its final moments. While some elements remain open to interpretation, the game offers concrete answers to many questions players will have.
With captivating visuals, a stunning soundtrack, and a uniquely bizarre plot grounded in reality, Sleep Awake delivers a thought-provoking and satisfying experience. Even if you typically find others’ dream tales dull, this game is definitely worth exploring.
Sleep Awake is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.
