Neverending Nightmares

{{missing information|the video game's design|date=January 2015}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = Neverending Nightmares

| image = NeverendingNightmaresLogo.png

| developer = Infinitap Games

| publisher = Infinitap Games

| designer = Matt Gilgenbach

| composer = Skyler McGlothlin

| engine =

| release = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|September 26, 2014}}|Android, Linux, OS X, Windows|September 26, 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/9/10/6131531/neverending-nightmares-release-date|title=Neverending Nightmares set to disturb on Sept. 26|last=McElroy|first=Justin|publisher=Polygon|date=September 10, 2014|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}|PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita|May 3, 2016|iOS|November 29, 2017|Nintendo Switch|July 22, 2020}}

| genre = Survival horror

| modes = Single-player

| platforms = {{cslist|Android|Windows|OS X|Linux|PlayStation 4|PlayStation Vita|iOS|Nintendo Switch}}

}}

Neverending Nightmares is a video game developed by Infinitap Games. It is a horror game drawing inspiration from the lead designer Matt Gilgenbach's personal struggles with obsessive–compulsive disorder and depression;{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/7/23/4529198/neverending-nightmares-retro-grade-matt-gilgenbach|last=McElroy|first=Justin|title=The Neverending Nightmare of Retro/Grade creator Matt Gilgenbach|work=Polygon|date=23 July 2013|accessdate=3 June 2014}} in an interview, he stated that he was "trying to create that feeling [of bleakness and hopelessness] in Neverending Nightmares".{{cite web|last1=VanOrd|first1=Kevin|title=Neverending Nightmares: How OCD Inspired a Psychological Horror Breakthrough|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/neverending-nightmares-how-ocd-inspired-a-psychological-horror-breakthrough/1100-6414083/|publisher=Gamespot|accessdate=4 June 2014|date=5 September 2013}}

Gameplay

The player takes the role of Thomas, a man who "wakes up" from one nightmare and into another. As the player navigates Thomas throughout the game, the nightmares become progressively worse, including the horrifying monsters that lurk within them. Each time Thomas dies in a nightmare, comes across some serious cause of depression, or commits self-harm, he will "wake up" again in either the same nightmare as before, or into a different one. This acts as the game's checkpoint and save system. The game contains a total of three different endings, all influenced by the player's choices or paths that they take.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

The game features a 2D hand-drawn line art style heavily influenced by the works of Edward Gorey.{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Neverending-Nightmares-Horror-Game-Channels-Art-Edward-Gorey-58923.html|last=Usher|first=William|title=Neverending Nightmares Is A Horror Game That Channels The Art Of Edward Gorey|work=Gaming Blend|date=8 September 2013|accessdate= 3 June 2014}} It uses a minimalist user interface, forgoing onscreen prompts and loading screens during play in order to increase immersion.{{Cite web|url=http://steamcommunity.com/id/StacheSplosion/recommended/253330/|title=Steam Community :: 0xC0DED00D :: Review for Neverending Nightmares}}

Plot

=Setting and characters=

Neverending Nightmares revolves around Thomas Smith, a young man who is suffering from a seemingly-endless string of nightmares (hence the title). Another character, Gabby, is introduced as Thomas' little sister, and frequently appears in his nightmares, occasionally changing roles. At turning points in the game, Thomas finds Gabby dead in various situations; Thomas himself also dies in his nightmares, sometimes by his own hand, though this only leads him to wake up in yet another nightmare.

Throughout the game, which is implied to be set in the late 1800s, Thomas must explore various locations in his nightmares. These include a mansion, a cemetery, an insane asylum, a forest, and a hospital.

=Story=

The game begins with Thomas "waking up" from a nightmare, in which he had stabbed his younger sister Gabby in the stomach. As he wanders through each nightmare, "waking up" in a bed each time, the player sees Thomas commit gruesome acts of self-harm out of depression, such as pulling a blood vessel or even a bone out of his arm.

Depending on the player's actions, Thomas will finally wake up into one of three different endings.

Wayward Dreamer: after waking up, a young Thomas goes to Gabby's room, where he kisses his sleeping sister good-night.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/xke58wkC4vE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20161027030121/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xke58wkC4vE Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xke58wkC4vE| title = Neverending Nightmares Dev Diary 213: The Endings | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Destroyed Dreams: after escaping a nightmarish version of himself, Thomas slowly awakens in a hospital, his arms bandaged and bloody. Gabby, either as his sister or wife, begs him to wake up, and rejoices when he finally does.
The Final Descent: an adult Thomas wakes up at his desk, where he reads a letter from Gabrielle, his wife. After the loss of their daughter, Gabrielle was forced to leave Thomas, as he couldn't get over the tragedy. After reading the letter, Thomas quietly weeps in his chair. A portrait on the wall implies that the girl murdered at the beginning was his daughter, not Gabrielle.

Development

In September 2013, a Kickstarter campaign for the game's development was successfully funded, raising $106,722 of its original $99,000 goal.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/infinitap/neverending-nightmares|last=Gilgenbach|first=Matt|title=Neverending Nightmares Kickstarter|accessdate=3 June 2014|date=27 August 2013}} The game was released for Linux, OS X, and Windows via Steam and as well as Android via Ouya on September 26, 2014. Ports for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita were released on May 3, 2016. Mobile versions for iOS and Android were released on November 29, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Lazarides |first=Tasos |date=November 27, 2017 |title='Neverending Nightmares', the Psychological Horror Game, Is Coming to Mobile this Wednesday |url=https://toucharcade.com/2017/11/27/neverending-nightmares-the-psychological-horror-game-is-coming-to-mobile-this-wednesday/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=TouchArcade |language=en-US}} The game was made available for Nintendo Switch on July 22, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Guglielmo |first=Samuel |date=July 22, 2020 |title=Your Nightmares Can Continue Anywhere as Neverending Nightmares Comes to the Switch |url=https://www.dreadxp.com/news/your-nightmares-can-continue-anywhere-as-neverending-nightmares-comes-to-the-switch/ |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=DreadXP |language=en-US}}

Reception

= Pre-release =

Neverending Nightmares received largely positive buzz during the course of its development. Adam Sessler said it was "very, very interesting" after playing an early build at the Penny Arcade Expo. He compared it to Gone Home in how it told a story personally relevant to its creator.{{cite interview |last=Sessler |first=Adam |interviewer= Meg Turney |title= Pax Prime 2013 Favorites with Adam Sessler |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VfiMxGgHDo|location= Seattle, WA |date= 2013-09-02|work=SourceFed Nerd |accessdate=2014-06-08}} IGN included it on a list of its most anticipated horror games for 2014, emphasizing its "wonderfully-distinct, pen-and-ink style."{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/29/13-horror-games-not-to-turn-your-back-on-in-2014 | title = 13 Horror Games Not To Turn Your Back On In 2014 | first = Daniel | last = Krupa | accessdate = 2014-06-08 | date = 2013-01-29 | publisher = IGN}} It was nominated by The Escapist as one of the best games of E3 2014.{{cite web|title=The Escapist's Best of E3 2014 Nominations|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e32014/11678-The-Escapists-Best-of-E3-2014-Nominations.6|website=The Escapist|accessdate=17 June 2014|date=11 June 2014|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027224906/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/conferences/e32014/11678-The-Escapist-s-Best-of-E3-2014-Nominations.6|url-status=dead}}

{{Video game reviews

| title = Reception

| MC = 68/100

| Destruct = 70/100

| EuroG = 70/100

| GI = 78/100

| GSpot = 7/10

| GStar = 62/100

| Joystiq = 70/100

| GameRev = 90/100

| RPGFan = 85/100

| USG = 90/100

}}

= Post-release =

The game received a score of 68/100 at Metacritic indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|title=Neverending Nightmares for PC Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/neverending-nightmares/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=December 27, 2014}} Smangaliso Simelane praised the game's "spooky soundtrack composed of twinkling piano notes and ominous synthetic whines."{{Cite web|title=Four Indie Games That Tackle Mental Illness|url=https://indieranger.com/four-indie-games-that-tackle-mental-illness/|last=Simelane|first=Smangaliso|date=2020-04-26|website=Indie Ranger|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-17}} Giant Bomb nominated it for Best-Looking Game and Best Horror Game of 2014.{{cite web|title=Giant Bomb's 2014 Game of the Year Awards: Day One|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/giant-bomb-s-2014-game-of-the-year-awards-day-one/1100-5122/|website=Giant Bomb|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=December 27, 2014|date=December 26, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Giant Bomb's 2014 Game of the Year Awards: Day Five Text Recap|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/giant-bomb-s-2014-game-of-the-year-awards-day-five/1100-5126/|website=Giant Bomb|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=December 31, 2014|date=December 30, 2014}} In a positive review, GameRevolution praised the story and atmosphere, recommending, "Whether or not you find it scary, you’ll definitely be disturbed and intrigued."{{Cite web |title=Neverending Nightmares critic reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/neverending-nightmares/critic-reviews/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}

In a mixed review, Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer praised the artwork, environments, and sound design and felt the game "succeeds in making the player feel an uneasy sadness in a terrifying setting", but "falls short on compelling gameplay".{{Cite magazine |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=2014-09-26 |title=Neverending Nightmares Review - Absolutely Unsettling |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/neverending_nightmares/b/pc/archive/2014/09/26/neverending-nightmares-review-game-informer.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926212249/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/neverending_nightmares/b/pc/archive/2014/09/26/neverending-nightmares-review-game-informer.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=September 26, 2014 |access-date=2024-03-07 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}} Similarly, Justin Clark of GameSpot commended the game's atmosphere and art style, but criticized the gameplay, endings, and replay value.{{Cite web |title=Neverending Nightmares Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/neverending-nightmares-review/1900-6415927/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}

=Sales=

In April 2015, it was reported that Neverending Nightmares had sold around 22,000 copies across all platforms, and that it had generated around $250,000 in revenue.{{cite web |last= Matulef |first=Jeffrey|date=April 25, 2020 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-24-how-neverending-nightmares-diminished-its-creators-nightmares|title=How Neverending Nightmares diminished its creator's nightmares|publisher=Eurogamer|accessdate=September 17, 2020}}