Unravel mysteries in this BL-themed visual novel
Dreambound is an RPG in a demo version created by Two and a Half Studios, the indie developer behind A Date with Death. It is a visual novel that follows the story of Noah, a painter entangled in a series of mysterious deaths that haunt him even in his dreams, together with his three love interests.
As the introverted protagonist, you must step out of your shell and solve the mystery for peace of mind. Dreambound boasts three storylines featuring Noah’s romantic affairs, leading to 10 different endings. It shares similar murder mystery and LGBTQ+ themes with Twin Coves.
Paint a story
In Dreambound, you step into the shoes of an introverted artist named Noah as he tries to make sense of a string of murders he got involved in. Forced to leave his comfort zone, he sets out to find answers to all the questions surrounding these mysterious deaths that bother him even in his dreams. For Noah, though, dreams and reality are the same. They have no boundaries.
The game features three storylines with a BL partner as you craft your unique narrative and collect clues in your quest to solve the mystery. The storylines, whether you pursue and fall for Kaine, Ivan, or Crow, lead to 10 distinct outcomes, depending on the choices you make. With a total of 260,000 words and fully fleshed-out epilogues, each storyline is worth considering despite the short playthroughs.
Another highlight of this simulation game that adds depth to the gameplay is the point-and-click escape rooms. While progressing through your story, you can enter one of these rooms and solve related puzzles. As for the visuals, the game impresses with original and captivating illustrations and dreamy art style. While it doesn’t feature adult content, it is still heavy in dark themes involving death, depression, and even homophobia.
Short but intense
It is tempting to declare that Dreambound is a short but sweet VN title. A single playthrough may run for an hour or two, but in that span of time, you will encounter deaths, fall in love, feel depressed and confused, and receive homophobic remarks. This emotional roller coaster, along with the gripping murder mystery tale, however, is more than sufficient to keep you entertained in your spare time.
