Summary
A newindiehorror game coming to PC calledDream Cagetakes the genre in a new direction with a focus on sleep paralysis, putting players in the shoes of someone suffering from the condition. Reportedly made with input from real-life people who have experienced the sleep paralysis phenomenon,Dream Cageis currently set to be released in the first quarter of 2025, with no specific launch date announced.
The horror genre is no stranger to new concepts, especially in the indie scene, as developers consistently try to push things in different directions and tackle themes and ideas that may not work in other genres. With games likethe highly acclaimed indie titleMouthwashingmaking waves online for its visual style and narrative approach, there is seemingly plenty of room for other concepts to achieve new things within the genre.
Dream Cageseems to be no exception, as its recent reveal trailer shows off its premise, which puts the player in the shoes of a man with sleep paralysis as he seeks to fight off the supernatural entities that are after him. Throughout the game, players will encounter multiple different beings across five different days in a structure somewhat akin tothe iconicFive Nights at Freddy’sserieswhile they work to uncover the mystery of their condition.
Dream Cage Adapts a Mental Phenomenon Into a Narrative Horror Game
The game reportedly has over 25 supernatural anomalies for players to encounter, each of which offers clues toward the origins of the protagonist’s condition and the beings he encounters, along with three separate endings. Exploration is a key focus to help players find these clues as they look around the main character’s apartment, seeminglytaking a page out ofSilent Hill 4: The Roomwith its setting.
For each encounter with the supernatural beings inDream Cage,the game will utilize the player’s microphone on their PC, tracking the amount of sound they make and tasking them with staying quiet in order to survive. This format seems similar to the likes ofAlien Isolationorthe recent film spinoffA Quiet Place: The Road Ahead,which utilized real-life sound in much the same way.
As of right now, there is still no official information regarding a more specific release date forDream Cage,but the game is available to Wishlist on Steam and is reportedly projected to launch sometime in early 2025. In the meantime, there is no shortage of recent horror games for fans to check out with a similar focus on atmosphere, ranging from the highly popularSilent Hill 2remake to a variety of indie games likeCrow CountryorThe Complex: Expedition.
