Dreams, from Media Molecule on the PS4, is an impressive suite of tools. There is no shortage of amazing game creations for players to check out, from racing sims to eccentric RPGs. The very best of Dreams game creations range across genres and styles, with designers able to use the endless possibilities featured in Dreams to tap into the deepest recesses of their imaginations. While Dreams can also be used to create amazing animation and music videos including an expanded Dreams audio kit, this article will focus on the best game creations found on the Dreams platform so far.
Dreams is not just an engine for game creation. The entire Dreams suite is wrapped in a flashy and artistic dreamscape that really encourages players to let themselves get lost in a world of their own imagination and the imaginations of the wider community. Whether players are participating in game jams, creating epic scenes of art, or showing off musical talent, Dreams has tools to help make it a reality.
Since Dreams' tools are so robust, there is really no limit to what players can create. From homages to pop culture phenomena, like this recreation of The Mandalorian's Baby Yoda, to completely original ideas, like some of the games listed below, players have gone wild with Dreams' tools. As Dreams is still actively supported by the developer Media Molecule, there is every indication that Dreams will continue to be a place for developers to stretch their considerable brain power in bringing some fascinating new creations to the world.
Fallout 4: Dreams Edition
This fascinating test of Dreams' limits is a faithful recreation of the look and feel of Bethesda's Fallout 4. Fallout 4: Dreams Edition boasts three quests and a couple of included minigames, a functioning Pip Boy, and series favorite monsters like the Deathclaw. Since Fallout 4 is competing against Cyberpunk 2077 in the eyes of some players right now, it's worth checking out this fan creation. The UI is enough to really make it feel like a Fallout game alone. With a few more updates and a few more quests, this could turn into a fully fledged RPG experience. At the very least, Fallout 4: Dreams Edition conjures the same feeling that wandering the wasteland evokes in the original.
The Pig Detective Series
Now with three entries, Pig Detective is a humorous adventure game starring the titular Pig Detective as he talks to interesting characters, wanders surprisingly well rendered environments, and engages in hilarious hijinks. The overall visual style evokes a claymation film feeling, placing The Pig Detective in the same zany realm as the best of Wallace and Gromit. A must-play Dreams experience with a surprising amount of content across all three episodes, The Pig Detective series is a stand-out hit.
A Little Perspective
For all the puzzle fans out there, A Little Perspective offers a relaxing, but brain tingling experience. Players control a red cube that must reach a glowing green space. The trouble is that reaching the glowing green space will more often than not require tilting the environment, thereby providing the player with a fresh perspective and the ability to traverse previously impassable gaps.
The mechanics work very well and the low-fi music that accompanies the game makes figuring out the puzzles an enjoyable experience. It's always good to take a step back and look at things with a fresh perspective, after all.
Tectonic
On the surface Tectonic looks like an average racing game, albeit a well made one. Players can customize a car and take it on a ride around a well-rendered city. Everything's going smoothly, until the world starts coming undone. Dodge earthquakes, falling buildings, exploding helicopters, all while playing three different race modes. Bomb mode, where players race to secure checkpoints to extend the fuse on a bomb within their car is especially frenetic and exciting. It's the closest thing to a miniature new Burnout game.
Ethan Goes to Work....
Firmly in the category of zany but heartfelt, Ethan Goes to Work.... tells the stirring tale of the world's most dedicated employee. Set amidst a wonderfully bright candy world, Ethan Goes to Work.... quickly devolves into a chaotic adventure. As his morning commute is interrupted by multiple robot and alien assailants, the crumbling of city streets, and the eventual destruction of his entire planet, Ethan Goes to Work.... will keep players guessing until the end.
Ratchet & Clank: Bullet Heck
If Ratchet & Clank: Bullet Heck looks suspiciously accurate to the source material, that's probably because it was created by developer Josh Leman of Insomniac Games. An intense 2D side-scrolling shooter, Ratchet & Clank: Bullet Heck is a frantic and fun shoot-'em-up with some classic Ratchet & Clank charm tossed in for good measure. A quick play, but well worth it to see what developers with industry experience can create within the Dreams suite. It might also be the last Ratchet & Clank experience before a PS5 release.
Four Seasons: A Fan Created Avatar Game
Four Seasons: A Fan Created Avatar Game demonstrates what passion and dedication can do for creators. An homage to Avatar: The Last Airbender, the pre-alpha has already garnered a massive following for creator Elca_Gaming and their collaborators.
While complete single player and multiplayer mode are planned and currently being developed, the pre-alpha already has enough gameplay to warrant a peek and is shaping up to be the best Avatar: The Last Airbender game. With fluid animations and the ability for players to really feel like they're controlling the Avatar, there's a lot to love and a lot to look forward to with Four Seasons: A Fan Created Avatar Game.
Hypercycle Arena
Another excellent addition to the list of homages created in Dreams, Hypercycle Arena faithfully recreates the hyperlight cycles from Tron and lets players battle it out in a flashy neon-tinted arena. A simple game concept, Hypercycle Arena still manages to deliver the tension with its excellent visuals and impressive feeling of speed. Players have a team of AI riders to assist, and riding through their trails will heal while riding through debris powers up the hypercycle. It's a fun experience that really drives home the Tron vibes.
The Pilgrim
This majestic adventure game, starring a tiny bearded pilgrim, is one of the best experiences on Dreams. An adventure platformer, The Pilgrim sends players on a magical journey through a variety of beautiful environments accompanied by excellent music. The visual theming in The Pilgrim manages to evoke the melancholic atmosphere most commonly associated with Dark Souls, though enemies won't be respawning at bonfires here either. Whether players are climbing a rickety tower or dangling from a chain attached to a magical glowing butterfly, The Pilgrim will delight as well as most full releases. The Pilgrim is one of the best examples of what creative and enterprising minds can create in Dreams.
Each of these games demonstrate the very best of what is possible with Dreams. The ability to transform an idea into reality within such a relaxing and usable suite of systems is Dreams' best feature. The fact that players are now able to enjoy so many excellent community creations is testament to both the very best of Dreams' creators and the flexibility of the toolset. While these may be the best that Dreams currently has to offer, there's no reason players can't jump in and start creating their own masterpiece of design.