Grand Paradise 
I’m going to level with you. Historically, I’ve not been a huge horror gamer. I adore films in the genre, but for whatever reason, few of the heavy hitters in the gaming industry have ever grabbed me. As such, I’m not positive as to why I ultimately raised my hand for Sleep Awake, a truly disturbing-looking title that I really didn’t know what to expect from going into it.
What was clear, however, was that Sleep Awake promised to be visually striking, bizarre, and truly “out there,” which are the types of movies in the horror sphere that I traditionally find to be my favorites. Combine this with Spec Ops: The Line director Cory Davis and Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck being the leads of this project, and it was enough to get me thoroughly intrigued to learn what this game truly was.
After the five or six-hour experience, I am so glad that I signed up for the ride. Sleep Awake is an absolutely riveting title full of crazy reveals, dream/nightmare-like art reels, and a world that I want to continue learning everything about that I possibly can.
I don’t think this is a title that will hit for every type of gamer, particularly those who are dependent on some sort of combat-centric gameplay. But for those of us who are on board for an artsy trek into the unknown, the abstract, and the often unsettling, Sleep Awake is such an incredibly easy recommendation to make.
Incredible, Riveting World-Building
Right off the bat, Sleep Awake’s premise got me hook, line, and sinker. There won’t be any spoilers here aside from the general setup, because there’s something incredible about jumping into this one as blindly as possible. Main character Katja lives in a world where no one can fall asleep anymore.
Well, they can fall asleep, but upon doing so, a mysterious entity referred to only as The Hush then has the ability to rip these dreamers away, leaving nothing but an ethereal outline of their body on the ground where they finally passed out for the final time. In a world such as this, the goal is immediately made clear: stay awake by any means necessary.
How this idea is fully fleshed out into an entire world instantly is nothing short of a narrative masterclass. Staying conscious perpetually, of course, has everyone in a state of psychosis, with many turning to religious cult-like dedications like worshiping pain or intense shock therapy simply to keep their eyes open. Others have to rely on insanely side-effect-heavy drugs in order to keep their eyes peeled. There are, frankly, no good options here, and the world is bleak as a result.
How this idea is fully fleshed out into an entire world instantly is nothing short of a narrative masterclass. Staying conscious perpetually, of course, has everyone in a state of psychosis, with many turning to religious cult-like dedications like worshiping pain or intense shock therapy simply to keep their eyes open. Others have to rely on insanely side-effect-heavy drugs in order to keep their eyes peeled. There are, frankly, no good options here, and the world is bleak as a result.
…nothing short of a narrative masterclass.
A Humble Beginning
You’ll explore the dire streets of The Crush, but also be thrust into sections constantly where you cannot separate dream from reality anymore. It’s a case-study in surrealism in video games, and one where I felt myself playing through always waiting for the next visual feast to take over my TV screen. There’s a similar vibe to the striking visuals in a game like Control, but I’d argue that Sleep Awake pushes the envelope even further.
Closing Comments
Sleep Awake is absolutely stunning visually and feels like walking through an art installation full of heavy themes and commentary. Combined with the impeccable soundscape crafted by Nine Inch Nails’ Robin Finck and some of the best world-building I’ve ever experienced in a sub-10-hour video game, it’s a title that will stick with me for a long time. Some occasional subpar stealth sections and an obtuse puzzle or two are the only blemishes on an otherwise incredible journey that had me riveted from start to finish, with a story and main character that were incredible to witness. I want more of this world and premise. I want a book. I want a movie. I’m not sure that I’ll be able to sleep till I get it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Absolutely riveting world-building and lore | Occasional gameplay-centric missteps, like a rough Stealth section or an underwhelming puzzle |
| A fascinating story premise that kept me completely locked-in and invested nonstop | Perhaps not as outright scary as you’d expect |
| Insane, art installation-esque visual feast | |
| One of the most effective and unique soundscapes in gaming (play with headphones!) | |
| A main character I truly enjoyed spending time with |
Sleep Awake is absolutely stunning visually and feels like walking through an art installation full of heavy themes and commentary. Combined with the impeccable soundscape crafted by Nine Inch Nails' Robin Finck and some of the best world-building I've ever experienced in a sub-10-hour video game, it's a title that will stick with me for a long time. Some occasional subpar stealth sections and an obtuse puzzle or two are the only blemishes on an otherwise incredible journey that had me riveted from start to finish, with a story and main character that were incredible to witness. I want more of this world and premise. I want a book. I want a movie. I'm not sure that I'll be able to sleep till I get it.
