The Watergardens

Creator: HalfUp

Is this what dreams are made of? There’s something magical about this project which sees you travelling by boat between a selection of dioramalike levels – and we’re not just talking about the serious Ico vibes it’s giving off.

Dreams is an excellent sketchpad for exploring ideas, but sometimes it’s best to take what you’ve learnt from an unfinished design and move on to the next thing. As a result, there are a lot of half-made Dreams out there. However, this pleasant puzzle platformer is complete, showing an impressive level of focus and, importantly, scope management.

You sail between five rocky islands, each one littered with steps, arches, and other features presenting a pleasingly to-thepoint platforming experience. You pull levers for items, place quirky expanding blocks, and collect primary-coloured shapes tucked away just out of reach. Collect a shimmering blue key on the first island, for example, to unlock the padlock preventing you from docking at the next, called The Citadel. The puzzles challenge your noodle just enough, and all the while there are chill beats drifting in on the ocean breeze, with plenty of scenery to soak in. Speaking of soak, we’ve yet to see water effects that look this inviting in any other project.

This little Dream is not only an excellent showcase of what it’s possible to achieve visually, but also a genuinely inspiring effort if you’re looking for motivation to create a game; it’s definitely one you shouldn’t sleep on.