Dreams
Review

Dreams (2019) is a creative game where you make your own games and play other people's creations. It's easy to dive in and create something simple using the basic controls, then as your skill and imagination grow the complexity and detail of your games can evolve too. It stands out for the ever-expanding range of games on offer, from professional-looking narrative adventures to silly and straightforward antics, and the ease with which you can create experiences to can share or keep with your family.

Anyone can learn how to create their own video games, music, animations and art in Dreams. Everything is controlled with approachable menus and interactions via the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 controller. This makes it easy to dive in and create something simple, but more advanced and complex tools mean your imagination's the only limit to what you can make; quirky art, professional-looking games, original music, and detailed sculptures can all be incorporated into nuanced and unique homemade games.

What’s really clever about it is how simple it is to use, how quickly you can create something, and how you can spend a lifetime learning and developing your creative skills with it. Using just the PlayStation 4 controller you can create games as simple as noughts and crosses or as complex as the latest adventure game. PSVR is supported as well, letting you literally step into the worlds you shape. You can then share your creations with other Dreams users. More than that, though, you can also share elements or pull in things other people have shared to be part of your game.

Dreams come with a game made by the developer along with the thousands of unique experiences shared by the community of players. Browsing these creations uncovers a treasure trove of things to play, listen to or watch. Players can rate and recommend them to friends or take inspiration for their own designs.

For families with children interested in understanding what it takes to create a game Dreams is perfect. Not only does it open the door to video game development, but shows how diverse a set of skills are required to make an amazing game.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Dreams (Dreams) 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 4 days ago.