This post is about Every Day the Same Dream, an indie game about the monotony of cubicle life and one man’s attempt to escape it. Or not escape it. Or something. Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, great — another pretentious artgame.
Well, you’re kind of right. But it’s a somewhat enjoyable pretentious artgame, nonetheless. If you really wanna know whether or not it’s worth your time, I’ve made the following handy pro/con list:
PROS:
The music and graphics are gorgeous. It’s got a bunch of optional pseudo-endings before the last “real” ending. At least one of those options ends with your character standing next to a robed man in a graveyard while wearing only his boxers. As the game consists of basically replaying the same (very brief) day over and over again, the game encourages curiosity and exploration. It’s very short.
CONS:
Like Terry Cavanagh’s Pathways (and unlike Aisle), the game is less about the player’s choices reflecting back on him or herself and more about the player checking out every possible narrative branch out of morbid curiosity and a desire to complete the game. The “office jobs destroy your soul and identity” theme is no longer as fresh or insightful as it was a decade ago, and honestly now feels kind of patronizing. The ending makes very little sense, and not in a satisfying way.
