A Dream About Parking Lots Review | Where Could it Be?

Publisher: Interactive Dreams

Developer: Take It Studio
Nintendo Switch 2 Review

*Disclaimer: I was sent the code for this game on Nintendo Switch in return for a review; all opinions are mine and mine alone.

Lately, I find myself playing shorter games to relax. A dream About Parking Lots is a great way to pass time, it sounds kind of weird, but there is a lot more meaning behind it than the name implies. You find yourself in a parking lot, with your car key in your right hand, walking around a maze of cars to find your car. Yes, I hear you asking how that is meant to be any fun? To be honest, it doesn't really have anything to do with fun, more so a deep dive into your mind and why you're dreaming about parking lots.

Whilst walking around the parking lot, you and your therapist are discussing why you're having these dreams and why not being about to find your car has manifested in your dreams. Anxiety is a strong indicator throughout your 40+ minute gameplay; it's a clear reflection on how your mental well-being can not only affect daily life but also when you sleep.

The conversation between therapist and dreamer is important to take in, you have prompts to answer when the therapist is trying to work out how best to approach what you're going through, all whilst walking around the parking lots and clicking the unlock button on your key to find where your car is located. If I were dealing with this in real life, I would feel very anxious and on edge and like I was going crazy.

The first dream is fairly simple, your car isn't far and it's one of the shorter dreams you will have in the game, the dreams aren't numbered as 1,2,3,4 etc instead they are 1,7,,9,26 and 77. Almost as if these are the specific dreams that stand out the most out of all of them, the ones that may give the dreamer their answers. In each of those dreams, the parking lot was more maze-like. I think the biggest reason behind this is so the dreamer and therapist can have a deeper conversation about your mentality and the route of your dreams. One thing that gets me, though, wouldn't it be more of a nightmare when you can't escape rather than a dream? I personally consider a dream to be more pleasant.

I quite enjoy the game, sure, looking around for a car felt more like a walking simulator, yet the discussion that surrounds what is happening is interesting, it made me realise how my own anxiety is having an effect on my dreams, especially lately. 

Have a cosy day

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