Dreamscapes

Demo Video

Introduction

Sometimes, teens feel stressed after so much work and want a break, and a short game session would definitely help get you back into a productive state and refocus your stress. From a study from ASU, 61% of teens who are stressed in 2025 claim to feel more stressed after playing games because games feel infinite with no end, and the adrenaline does not stop. We can help with this problem with our game Dreamscapes. This is a quick, action-packed game that helps teens step away from stress momentarily so they can return refreshed and ready to work. Dreamscapes is a simulation game where you are trying to escape the monsters. It moves from an anxious, busy environment to a calmer and more relaxing setting at the end. The point of this game is to refocus their stress on the game without having users become addicted so they can still work on what they need to do.

Methodology

We created Dreamscapes using Unity as the game engine, Visual Studio Code for C# development, and Procreate and Photoshop for the character art, animations, and backgrounds. The game combines quick gameplay with exhilarating action that gradually slows down, helping the player relax and refocus after a heightened state.

Design

This game is playable in approximately 10 minutes, a perfect amount of time for users to relax and refocus their stress onto the game so that they can get back to their work in a better mental state. In the game, the user starts in a rocky, dark scene, mirroring their mental state at the time due to the stress. They are chased around a world with randomly generated obstacles that they must jump over, with a monster chasing them. As they progress, the scenery will become more serene, leading them into a more calm state to get back to work. Unlike traditional games designed for extended engagement, Dreamscapes intentionally limits replayability through a cooldown system, encouraging users to return to their responsibilities after relaxing. This game doesn't get boring either, as the obstacles are randomly generated so there will always be a new path for users to traverse.

Project Video

Slideshow

If the slideshow does not load inline, you can open it directly here: Dreamscapes Pitch Presentation.pdf