Well, I finally bit the bullet. I’ve been playing games for a long time, and RPG games have been a huge part of that. Specifically one of my favourite genres is narrative-focused surreal RPG experiences in the vain of things like OneShot or Undertale. One game I hadn’t ever tried though was admittedly probably the first in the genre, Yume Nikki.
If you don’t know what the game is, it’s essentially a walking and exploration simulator where you play as a wee girl exploring her bizzare and downright disturbing dreams. It’s the grandaddy of most ‘quirky’ RPG maker games and for some reason I never played it before. I finally decided to do so and after biking through various dark rooms and listening to the relaxing music of the Snow World I must say that I think I understand where everyone is coming from in regards to this game. At times it didn’t even really feel like a game, more like just a digital space that you… vibe in?
It’s a difficult thing to describe, a game as a space rather than a narrative or gameplay focused experience, but that’s what Yume Nikki felt like to me. Even after completing it now I could happily see myself just going back and enjoying being in the world, even if there’s nothing to do. I genuinely wonder if experiences like this can be replicated in other titles, I don’t think they can, and that’s why this particular game has stood the test of time for so long. I’m glad I finally played Yume Nikki, and I encourage everyone else who hasn’t yet to at least give it a go. Who knows, you may just have a magical experience.
That’s all for now, and as always. It’s not just a game, It’s a Life.