By Karoline Castillo Troncoso

Dreams. They are described to be a product of brain activity during sleep, drawing from recent and remote events; typically a combination of sensory experiences, emotions, memories, and thoughts. But how cool would it be to see our dreams projected, to be reminded of pleasant experiences from our past, reviving the cherished memories within us?  

When I was younger, I became really fascinated with the idea of shadows – particularly creating hand puppets and seeing the image that they would cast as a shadow on the wall. Projected Dreams, an immersive puzzle game developed and published by Flawberry Studio, portrays the bittersweet phenomenon of growing up through exploring themes of family and relationships. The game’s opening scene depicts protagonist Lisa Miller on the phone, reading a letter about a new job offer. Due to this opportunity, the family has to move. While unpacking, her young daughter, Senka, discovers what appears to be a scrap book illustrating diverse moments within her mother’s life.

 The objective here  is to solve a puzzle by creating a shadow play using objects found within the given settings, which range from a bedroom to a mini theater and various scenes that appear to be from the perspective of a playful imagination, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. 

Each puzzle is solved by aligning certain objects so that their combined shadows illustrate the silhouette of a key item from a significant memory. Players can receive a max of three stars depending on how precisely they can select objects that fill in the outline of the given silhouette. As levels progress, puzzles become increasingly more challenging. Unlike games of a similar nature, objects don’t float freely. In Projected Dreams, objects remain bound by gravity, making it increasingly more difficult to create the silhouette of the given shadow with precision. 

When each puzzle is solved, it reveals a memory, an essential piece of the game’s rich storyline. Memories are represented as snapshot pictures, which are then stored within the scrap book after the completion of every level. Although dialogue is minimal during gameplay, the storyline is exhibited through subtle details that are relevant to the memory revealed. Whether that be simple notes from Lisa’s mother, nostalgic music, or even a sugar packet, every element seamlessly adds to the game’s charm. Additionally, the scrapbook’s very titles depict the chapters of Lisa’s life and her transition from childhood to adulthood. 

This creators’ approach to choice is explored as players are given the freedom to choose from a variety of diverse objects relevant to each level’s particular setting in order to form the combination which will accurately fit the silhouette of the shadow play. In the early stages, players must rely on physics-based mechanics to solve puzzles. However, the element of glue or “sticky slime” is later added.

Projected Dreams’ sometimes offers a  90s aesthetic amid a vibrant color palette, evoking feelings of nostalgia. But some memories are more evergreen. For instance, the playful atmosphere of the bedroom setting-embodied by the Furby, the toy train making its way across the tracks, the baby book, and other child-like elements further stirs feelings of nostalgia rendered by the quiet wonders of childhood. Another setting is that of an outer-space themed room with glowing stars plastered on the walls, something I desperately wanted at some point as a kid, toys depicting cartoon aliens, and more. No matter the setting, a child-like essence lingers in the midst.

The Furby, the Russ troll doll with pink hair, the handheld water ring toss toy with buttons – seeing these in the game brought me back. Exhibiting toys and other objects that players are sure to recognize from their childhoods, as well as depicting familiar family dynamics and relationships, allows players to feel more emotionally invested in the plotline. That’s not only due to the fact that the narrative is relatable, but also because players are able to recognize themselves in the characters depicted during gameplay. It’s almost like it’s not just a visit to Lisa’s childhood, but a visit to ours, as well.

I recommend Projected Dreams to players who enjoy relaxing puzzle games with a rich narrative. It’s a perfect match for those who appreciate thoughtfully designed puzzle games that are deeply woven with an immersive essence. Projected Dreams seamlessly paints the picture of the common phenomenon we all experience: growing up. Nonetheless, returning to our past and reminiscing on both the good and unpleasant memories reminds us of who we are today. And why we are. 

Karoline Castillo Troncoso is graduating from the Bronx’s TapCo school. She won one of our scholarships for writing a one-act play featuring a video game.

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