Yume Nikki

Yume Nikki is a surrealist adventure game created by the pseudonymous Japanese developer Kikiyama. The player controls a girl named Madotsuki and explores her dreams, collecting 24 effects that change her appearance and equipment. Random events also occur throughout the game in the form of cutscenes and unique gameplay sequences. The game was developed using RPG Maker 2003 without a traditional plot or battle system. Gameplay instead focuses on the exploration of the dream world. Yume Nikki was distributed as freeware on Kikiyama’s personal website in June 2004, with updates continuing until 2007.

The game received a cult following globally following an English fan translation. Its emphasis on open-ended exploration and lack of combat was described as a precursor to walking simulators. Its visual style and horror elements also inspired numerous indie games. Yume Nikki was published on Steam by Playism in 2018 in promotion of a reboot, Yume Nikki: Dream Diary, which was released the same year. Yume Nikki is an exploration-based adventure game with no dialogue, combat, or plot; there is also no way to reach a game over. The player controls a girl named Madotsuki who lives alone.

The game begins inside her apartment, which the player is initially unable to leave. The player can save their progress by sitting at Madotsuki’s desk and writing in her dream diary. Sleeping in her bed causes Madotsuki to start dreaming. Her dream begins in a room closely resembling her apartment. Upon leaving the room, Madotsuki enters a hub area commonly referred to as the Nexus, which contains a series of styled doors. Each door leads to a different area in the dream world, with areas having distinct environments and designs. 

The player’s objective is to explore these areas and collect 24 different Effects, items that change Madotsuki’s appearance or equipment when used. Effects can be collected by interacting with certain objects and non-player characters (NPCs). Other objects can send Madotsuki to different areas. Throughout the game, random events occur, which can be cutscenes or have interactive elements. The game’s ending, unlocked after the player collects all 24 Effects, shows Madotsuki jumping off of the balcony of her apartment.