Dreaming Mary is a whimsical horror RPG game by Accha and Trass. It was made way back in April of 2014, using RPG Maker VX Ace Lite. Inspired by Japanese horror games Ib and Yume Nikki, as well as the psychological-horror anime Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, Dreaming Mary’s adorable facade hides a twisted nightmare beneath.

You play as little Mari, waking in your dream bedroom to the sound of Accha’s voice on the radio. The radio program gives you a number of warnings before you start your game. 1.) Remain in the pink world for your safety. 2.) Do not pay any mind to any strange noises or sightings you may encounter. 3.) Ignore the animal in the second room. 4.) There are only three doors in the hallway. There are quite a few more, but you get the picture. You can continue listening to the radio program as you figure out the first puzzle to unlock your door, as Accha has a few segments of music and foreshadowing content for you to enjoy.

The Flip-side of Art

As expected, most of the over world is colored in various shades of pink. It is light, fanciful, full of childlike wonder. Tall, elegant pillars and archways give you the impression of being in a fairytale castle, and so long as you stay there it remains just that. However, if you ignore the warnings given to you by the radio strange things begin to happen. A glitching black and white Mari falling through the air, your friends looking at you with a malicious gleam in their eye. And if you’re observant, you find the world behind your dreams.

If the pink world is filled with happiness and sweet dreams, the flip side of this world is one of nightmares. Peeling paint that looks like dripping blood adorns Mari’s room, and the hall is filled with black tangles against the dingey wall. I won’t speak more on this section of the game, as this is where the really exciting twists begin, but the creep factor is just built so well. The subversion of the sweet and beautiful elements in the pink world is truly terrifying to behold.

Music to Your Ears

The soundtrack for Dreaming Mary is absolutely delightful, and much more diverse than you’d expect for a free game project. The main theme when you’re out exploring is a cute music box melody that gets different variations as you encounter the other characters. Bunnilda’s theme sounds elegant, with harps, pianos, and flutes playing a classical version of the melody. Penn Guindel’s is faster paced and anxious, with violins and tympanic beats. Foxanne’s version is jazzy, played with saxophone, trumpet, and keyboard. 

It is Boaris’ theme that gives you your first true sense of unease. It enters with a discordant press of piano keys that lingers until it fades and repeats. The melody is plucked out slowly on a much lower octave, imitating a false cheer. Given certain conditions, you can even hear Boaris begin calling your name in his room, over and over again. The music changes again in the other world. Boaris’ piano chords play in the other hallway as well, under the high pitched squeaks of rats. When the melody does come in, it is played on a harmonica in minor keys in a lonely, mournful tune.

How Puzzling

As a side-scrolling RPG, there’s no combat to Dreaming Mary. You progress through by solving puzzles and speaking with the characters in your dream. Satisfying different requests can lead you to hidden objectives and different endings. You also have four flower petals, which you can lose by exchanging them or failing games. These petals are essential for determining which of the four endings and their variations you achieve, so guard them closely.

A relatively short game, each run of Dreaming Mary can last between 15-25 minutes. As a free program, RPG Maker VX Ace Lite has some very specific limitations. The game cannot support more than 20 maps, with only 10 events allowed per map. There are no more than 10 common events allowed, and there is a limit of 100 switches and variables. Despite these limitations, Dreaming Mary has achieved a truly astonishing level of depth with its storytelling.

The writing is subtle enough that a young player won’t pick up on exactly what’s going on. As an adult coming back to it, however, the implications that lay under some of the character’s words is genuinely horrifying. Even in the “happy” endings, it suggests a darker fate for Mari. However, if you’re quick and clever, you can reach the True Ending. 

Where Are They Now?

It is unknown what Acchia, Trass, and their friends who developed Dreaming Mary are doing now. Plans were in motion for a sequel game called Blue Dream, but the original Tumblr where they posted updates has been inactive for some years now. I, for one, hope that they have found blooming careers as full time developers. It would be a shame not to see their talents again.

Final Thoughts

For me, Dreaming Mary is an easy 5 out of 5 stars. If you want to give it a try yourselves, which I highly recommend you do, you can find the free download of it here on the original blog.