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Yume Nikki header art

Yume Nikki

This is a game in which you traverse the extremely dark world inside a dream.

Steam Page
Developer
kikiyama
Publisher
PLAYISM
Release
January 9, 2018
8 years and 207 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive10,438 reviews94.2%

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Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
PLAYISM meets the large-publisher game and partner thresholds.
Search Google: Is Yume Nikki self-published or published by PLAYISM?Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Yume Nikki and PLAYISM funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Yume Nikki and kikiyama?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.
PLAYISM is listed as a separate publisher for this release.

Media

9 items

About the Game

An RPG Maker tour de force, and a divisively controversial work for fans.


You are free to explore the various dream worlds at your own pace.
If you check certain characters or items in the game you will collect an “Effect”. These “Effects” can be used to change the main character’s appearance.

Some of these “Effects” have special actions or animations which you can activate by pressing 1 or 3 on the number pad.

Yume Nikki is a very unique title that has become one of the most well-known indie games to come out of Japan.

It is unlike any other RPG, especially in the fact that there really is no action or dialogue to speak of. This gives the game a very dark and foreboding atmosphere. Can you make it to the secret ending?

  • There are no particular goals nor story of which to speak. You simply walk around.
  • Checking certain characters inside the dream will increase the number of "Effects".
  • Using "Effects" will cause the main character's appearance to change.
  • (During this time, you can use the 1 or 3 keys to implement special movements and effects.)
  • Using the same "Effect" a second time will cause the character to revert to their original form.
  • "Effects" can only be discarded inside rooms with many doors.

FAQ

Q. There is a glitch or aspect ratio issue in the game.
A. Please switch to Window mode by pressing F4 or Alt + Enter.

Q. Why does the Japanese version crash?
A. The Japanese language coding in this game runs only on Japanese system locales. If you want to play the game in Japanese and it crashes, please change your system locale to Japanese.
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