Sweet Dreams Alex, developed by Clarity Games and published by Kasedo Games, invites players into the imaginative world of a young girl named Alex. The game presents itself as a charming construction-based puzzle experience, interwoven with a subtle narrative that serves as a backdrop. As the Dream Builder, players assume the role of safeguarding Alex from encroaching Nightmares, employing an array of tools to craft intricate labyrinths that thwart these nocturnal intruders. It’s a Steam exclusive, and we played through it after first meeting with the developer for a first look during Gamescom.
The game unfolds across six distinct worlds, each with its own set of puzzles, narrative threads and gameplay mechanics, making for a total of over 250 carefully designed challenges. The diversity in mechanics ensures that the narrative journey through Alex’s formative years remains engaging, from exploring a new home to savoring moments like ice cream outings and little day trips.
One of Sweet Dreams Alex’s standout features is its robust level editor, which empowers players to craft their own dreamscapes if the included puzzles aren’t enough for them. The user-friendly interface makes level creation and sharing a breeze, allowing for a flourishing community-driven experience that gives those not creating new levels access to new content as well.
Visually, Sweet Dreams Alex adopts a pixelated art style. While this choice exudes a certain nostalgic charm as it brings back memories of home computer puzzlers, it also occasionally makes some of the in-game text a bit hard to read. On the auditory front, the game excels with a soothing Lo-Fi soundtrack by edelwize, offering a perfect backdrop for players to relax as they play around and experiment with the puzzles.
On the positive side, Sweet Dreams Alex delivers an engaging dream-themed experience, encapsulating the innocence of childhood through an endearing narrative. The pixel art visuals contribute to the game’s overall quaint atmosphere as well, and the accompanying soundtrack adds a layer of relaxation to the gameplay, complementing the dreamy theme and making this is a relatively stress-free puzzle game.
However, it’s worth noting that Sweet Dreams Alex may toe the line of repetitiveness, particularly during extended play sessions where the same mechanics repeat themselves regularly when you start tackling 10+ levels in a row.
In conclusion, Sweet Dreams Alex offers a substantial package at an accessible price point. The inclusion of a level editor extends the game’s longevity, inviting creative expression from its community. And while some elements may verge on monotony, the game excels as a delightful, accessible puzzle experience, and one that is available at a budget-friendly price point. If you enjoy charming indie puzzlers, this should satisfy you nicely.
Score: 7.8/10
Press Play Media 