Wakey Wakey: The Dream Machine Chapter 5 Next Week

The Dream Machine's first chapter was so lovely that, in a fit of something or other, I vowed to wait until the whole thing was out before playing any more. Well. Whatever reason I had for that decision, I hope it was worth it. Four years later, the end is drawing near-ish. The fifth chapter of six will arrive on November 14th, developers Cockroach have announced.

"Why's it taking so long?" seems a silly question to ask about a game made from clay, cardboard, paint, and odds and ends by two people, but Cockroach's answer is that this one is "bigger than all the previous chapters put together." Crumbs.

The Dream Machine, if I can remember back that far, is a delightful adventure game about a married couple who move into a new apartment and soon find they're being surveilled, and someone is tampering with their dreams. My most striking memory is of the dialogue, and how it'd offer conversational choices - being considerate, surly, or romantic - that didn't directly affect the game (as far as I saw) but let me role-play a little. I have no idea what happens in subsequent chapters. Maybe it's all a dream.

You can play the first chapter yourself for free in your browser on the official site or download it from Steam. Please do. It's awfully nice.

I think I'll start playing The Dream Machine now. Whatever reason I had to wait wasn't good enough to remember. I've grown more accustomed to episodic games, to unfinished tales and to waiting, over the past four years.

Here, watch the creation of a spooky wood for chapter 5: