Evoking The Dream State

Why is this so popular?

You might have seen this post on X — just three days ago, a game dev shared a five-second clip for a potential new game, and it was an instant hit: nearly 40 million views and 150k likes. And I have to agree — the moment I saw it, I was intrigued. It's not just another pixel art game riding the retro wave. It felt different. Deeper. And I couldn’t stop thinking about it. But why?

Like a dream

Maybe you had the same reaction I did. If so, it probably stirred something deep within. For me, it felt like seeing one of my own dreams rendered on screen. The setting has it all: a green valley scattered with houses, the gentle curve of a path winding forward, and the overwhelming presence of a mountain wall enclosing it all. There's a strange tension between openness and enclosure — the world feels expansive, but also sealed off, as if the journey is deeply personal. And at the center of it, of course, is the castle shrouded in mist.

I could already imagine the world unfolding — quests, ruins, forgotten temples, fireside stories. Fights that mean something. And I think that’s the real hook here. It’s not just pretty visuals; it’s the feeling that struck so many people. Games today often lack that early sense of wonder — that sacred unknown you could get lost in. As we grow older, games can start to feel flat, repetitive, mechanical. What’s missing in most isn’t polish or story — it’s mystery. It’s adventure.

That moment of setting off into a world you don’t yet understand — that’s what this clip captured.

https://x.com/de5imulate/status/1947024682118488116?t=8s8QOz2JKeFNoWYiizl7Aw&s=19

The archetype at work

What I think this scene captures – intentionally or not – is something Carl Jung described as an archetype: a universal image or pattern deeply embedded in the collective unconscious. The castle, the winding path, the torch lit like a signal, the sword in hand – these aren’t just game tropes. They’re dream symbols. They're metaphors we've seen in myths, stories, and our own dreams for thousands of years. It's probably the reason why RPGs have endured for so long and never truly become dull (at least as a concept).

Conclusion

Will this game ever get developed? Maybe. It will be extremely hard to get it right since games are more than just first impressions. How would exploration or combat actually work without losing the magic? But perhaps leaving it unfinished wouldn't be such a bad idea as well. Then at least the imagination could continue to dwell in fantasy and wonder.

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