Why is this so highly rated?

[Sarnen]

Like ok you walk around, see some weird things, you can sit, and there' doesn't seem to be any effects. I'm not too upset since itw as free, but so far this is just a walking simulator. When does the game *do* something to justify playing it?

[Ortort]

The game when originally released in 2004, became an underground hit throughout the internet for it's interesting and provocative imagery, scenes, secrets, and creative use of the RPGmaker engine. Though too experimental and niche to ever break into the mainstream, the impression it left on RPGmaker culture, as well as the explorative and walking sim genres is significant. Due to its recognition and cult following, it can be considered as a historical piece of early underground internet, a strong influence in the making of several genres, and a pioneer piece in the rise of video games as an fine art form. Especially within the RPGmaker and gamedev community, Yume Nikki was and is a groundbreaking example of the potential of the RPG and video game medium. The fans of Yume Nikki have their own popular imageboard forum that remains as the cornerstone of the discussion surrounding Hikkikomori and NEET lifestyles, Yume Nikki itself and other niche games that deserve recognition. Many, many games are inspired by Yume Nikki, most notably the LISA games, Oneshot, Anodyne, Doki Doki Literature club, Undertale and more recently, Omori. This isn't counting the literal hundreds of direct fangames and fan projects dedicated to Yume Nikki, either.
Though evidently dated and boring by modern standards, the shockwave created by its rise throughout the early internet and its subsequent influence cannot be understated.
The game isn't for everyone, and really only lends itself to the player if they're actively engaged and inquisitive. However, when played in this way and viewed in context, why the game has the reception it does becomes apparent.

[Sarnen]

How is this a "game" at all? There's no plot, no interaction for the most part, and its just a walking sim. I found a knife and sometimes I kill people in the psychadelic atmospheres.

This isn't art, this is just pretentious. I feel cheated even though I bought it for free. I'm annoyed that its labeled "horror" when its nothing of the sort, either.

[Dimmi]

Originally posted by Sarnen:

How is this a "game" at all? There's no plot, no interaction for the most part, and its just a walking sim. I found a knife and sometimes I kill people in the psychadelic atmospheres.

This isn't art, this is just pretentious. I feel cheated even though I bought it for free. I'm annoyed that its labeled "horror" when its nothing of the sort, either.

If you don't understand the meaning of this game then you shouldn't play it. Also shouldn't say these bad words about the game,because it's actually genius. In it's own way.

[Sarnen]

Originally posted by Хасти:

Originally posted by Sarnen:

How is this a "game" at all? There's no plot, no interaction for the most part, and its just a walking sim. I found a knife and sometimes I kill people in the psychadelic atmospheres.

This isn't art, this is just pretentious. I feel cheated even though I bought it for free. I'm annoyed that its labeled "horror" when its nothing of the sort, either.

If you don't understand the meaning of this game then you shouldn't play it. Also shouldn't say these bad words about the game,because it's actually genius. In it's own way.

how? how is walking around while nothing happens except sometimes weird images float in the background "genius?"

That's like saying your child's crayon drawings of the family are "genius"

[Ortort]

You don't have to think of it as a "game" if having enticing gameplay is non-negotiable in your definition of the term. It most definitely is a walking sim.
I'm not going to lie and say that the game is a strong all-round video game for everyone to enjoy. It really isn't. It lacks many things that are expected from a game, it's endlessly cryptic, and if you aren't actively trying to take in what the game is, it's cripplingly boring to be lost and wondering around the first few environments, which are the most empty. These are common criticisms. They're entirely valid.

That said, there are many reasons why the game is as loved as it is.
You'd be mistaken to believe the game doesn't have interaction. It won't hold your hand throughout any of it, but there are two dozen effects, over four dozen locations, many events and secrets to wonder into. The game isn't simply a checklist, however.

Arguably the strongest sections of the game are its atmosphere and tone. Depending on where you are in the dream world, the feel of the game can vary wildly, the visuals changing from psychedelic to native american imagery, suburban to abstract, threatening to beautiful. As you continue to explore the dream, your own perception of the environment changes as your familiarity with the dream, the images and consistencies in it develop.
A lot of the game is build around the experience of dreaming: the endless wondering through the mishmashing of ideas, imagery and scenes filtered through varying degrees of lucidity. Evocative fantasy and real memory blending into a part-nightmare, past-escape fantasy, part-reflective vision.
There's a lot that can be read into the dream environments that can relay the experiences of the otherwise mute player character. The game is highly interpretative as it won't explain the scenes it presents, but if you're looking for explanations, there's a lot of material to draw from. The events are more explicitly suggestive than the environments and are the main purpose for exploration. Some of the more significant ones are notoriously difficult to find; push at the limits of the dream, and you might just break through into the depths of thought and memory.

Though evidently influenced by the early japanese internet, social reclusivity, and various RPG games, Yume Nikki always was and still is a shockingly original piece of experimental and expressive media.
The constant tone of lonliness and a sheer scrambled weirdness that underpins the whole game is something that you won't find anywhere else.
Make of it what you will, but it's what stuck with me after all these years.

[deepsurfer]

Originally posted by Sarnen:

Originally posted by Хасти:

If you don't understand the meaning of this game then you shouldn't play it. Also shouldn't say these bad words about the game,because it's actually genius. In it's own way.

how? how is walking around while nothing happens except sometimes weird images float in the background "genius?"

That's like saying your child's crayon drawings of the family are "genius"

get outta here, dude. there is a different meaning beyond the surface of what you see, and if you cant appreciate that and are not willing to be open minded of that meaning, then id rather you go back to playing cs:go or whatever you do to numb the pain of this cruel world.

[immunoblockers]

didn't read other guys' messages but:
this game is like meditation.
you don't have to have strong meaning behind any pixel or action, you just wander around and sometimes bump into awesome stuff. that's it.
if you don't like it, there's plenty of games which provide you exact story with exact plot twists etc. so, it may be not your cup of tea, that's totally fine and you have a right not to play it.

[Sarnen]

Originally posted by James:

didn't read other guys' messages but:
this game is like meditation.
you don't have to have strong meaning behind any pixel or action, you just wander around and sometimes bump into awesome stuff. that's it.
if you don't like it, there's plenty of games which provide you exact story with exact plot twists etc. so, it may be not your cup of tea, that's totally fine and you have a right not to play it.

why not just like... meditate then? If you want to zone out, why do something that's billed as "interactive" or (lmao) "horror?"

[ProductionBlues]

It's simple: you got filtered
go back to COD

[Sarnen]

Originally posted by Captain Beefheart:

It's simple: you got filtered
go back to COD

"haha if you don't like bad video games you must be some kid who likes cowadoody lel owned XD XD XD XD kek"

[Ortort]

Originally posted by Sarnen:

Originally posted by Captain Beefheart:

It's simple: you got filtered
go back to COD

"haha if you don't like bad video games you must be some kid who likes cowadoody lel owned XD XD XD XD kek"

Just ignore the people replying who're giving you a hard time.
Don't hate them either, though. They're not trashing you out of spite, but more in defence of the game that they've spent a long time playing and thinking about, and grown to respect.
The above user that you quoted, for example, has spent a lot of time playing games that owe a lot to and were influenced by Yume Nikki. So have most of us here.
It's not a game for everyone, but for the people who learn to love it, it's an important experience.
It's alright to not like the game. Most people don't immediately like it. It grows on you as you spend more time in it, as long as you're inquisitive. If you're not in the right state of mind, the game won't have much of an appeal.

[AVeryGoofyGoober]

Yume Nikki is for a very specific kind of person. Someone who doesn't care about visuals, gameplay, or really any other of the normal game mechanics. It is for someone who wants something completely different. If you are not that kind of person, that is ok, very few people are. We will not judge you for uninstalling.

[Sarnen]

Originally posted by Michaelfaceguy:

Yume Nikki is for a very specific kind of person. Someone who doesn't care about visuals, gameplay, or really any other of the normal game mechanics. It is for someone who wants something completely different. If you are not that kind of person, that is ok, very few people are. We will not judge you for uninstalling.

but this isn't even a "game" really, nor is it a visual novel, so yeah I don't get the hype

[AVeryGoofyGoober]

Originally posted by Sarnen:

Originally posted by Michaelfaceguy:

Yume Nikki is for a very specific kind of person. Someone who doesn't care about visuals, gameplay, or really any other of the normal game mechanics. It is for someone who wants something completely different. If you are not that kind of person, that is ok, very few people are. We will not judge you for uninstalling.

but this isn't even a "game" really, nor is it a visual novel, so yeah I don't get the hype

That is ok. People who don't like it can't really understand. It's less of a game and more of an experience.

[kat]

dont know if you have the same opinions, but many people tried explaining to you what yume nikki is about and ♥♥♥♥. i dont really get why your still, yknow. im trying my best to not sound rude, but it is difficult whenever im just typing my thoughts onto the screen. what makes a game, a game in your eyes? honestly i just think video games are anything with choices. like a visual novel, or some rando shooter game. even if the ending is the same there should be a few choices like to reload your gun or choose something in a visual novel. im not very good at explaining my thoughts, so sorry if you dont understand very well.