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Ready to have a game mess with your mind? She Dreams Elsewhere is a rather surreal RPG that's coming to Linux and it has a demo available. In terms of style, it wouldn't be a stretch to say it firmly reminds me of Undertale.

About the game:

SHE DREAMS ELSEWHERE is a surreal adventure JRPG about dreams and the extent to which they mirror reality. You play as Thalia Sullivan, a high strung, anxiety-ridden, comatose woman on a journey to defeat the nightmares preventing her from awakening, while also finding out how exactly this mess happened in the first place.

She Dreams Elsewhere is developed by Studio Zevere, a one-person operation from Davionne Gooden. Last month they put up the official trailer, so take a look:

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Feature highlight:

  • A deeply personal narrative with a thematic focus on emotions, mental illness and self-identity
  • A surreal, visually-striking world brimming with mystery that begs you to explore its every detail
  • An easy to learn, yet difficult to master turn-based battle system that pits you against a variety of nightmarish beings
  • Customize your characters with the “Charm” system, allowing for a wealth of different playstyles and battle strategies
  • Connect and bond with a diverse cast of characters with their own intimate narratives via the “Dream Link” system
  • Status ailments that can be used and abused with every enemy, bosses included – but be warned; if you’re not careful, they can devastate you just as easily…
  • Three difficulty modes for those who want to simply experience the story (Easy), face a true challenge (Normal) or have their limits pushed to the edge (Nightmare)
  • Optional “New Game Plus” and “Developer Commentary” modes, plus various accessibility features
  • A original, ethereal soundtrack composed by Mimi Page, supplemented with tracks by up-and-coming indie artists

While Steam only has a Windows version of the demo, if you hop on over to itch.io they also have a Linux demo there. I spoke to the developer a while ago, who confirmed a Linux version will be available at release and they've continue to mention Linux support since then too.

She Dreams Elsewhere is a game I've been meaning to write up since December last year, but previous versions wouldn't run at all for me. The latest version of the demo does run (hooray) but it crashed on me during the combat which I've reported to the developer.

The full release is due this year, no exact date set. For now, you can wishlist it and follow it on Steam or itch.io.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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7 comments

Liam Dawe Apr 6, 2019
Quoting: GuestDon't call this an JRPG. not only it doesn't have Japanese developers, these kind of themes aren't explored in this way by Japanese developers...because they like fun and unpretentious games.
I will agree it's not really a JRPG, I was going by the developers own description on that and my tired brain didn't think properly there. Title adjusted. As for the theme, I wouldn't box-in an entire country like that.
HadBabits Apr 6, 2019
I've been waiting for something to fill the same hole as OFF for me, hopefully it turns out well :)

Quoting: GuestDon't call this an JRPG. not only it doesn't have Japanese developers, these kind of themes aren't explored in this way by Japanese developers...because they like fun and unpretentious games.

It's at least JRPG inspired: I mean the battle system UI definitely smacks of Earthbound.


Last edited by HadBabits on 6 April 2019 at 9:04 pm UTC
Nezchan Apr 6, 2019
Sorry, I'm just giggling about the idea of Japanese developers preferring unpretentious games in a world where the Metal Gear Solid series exists. A lot of JRPGs have a taste for the melodramatic, honestly.

That aside, some of the visuals and the monsters in this look really sharp, and I definitely get that inspired-by-Earthbound vibe, the same way Undertale had it but going in a different direction. From what little we've got to go on from the trailer, it looks pretty fun for folks into that sort of style.
micha Apr 7, 2019
Does the demo work for you guys? Crashes for me after `New Game` in the menu..
Liam Dawe Apr 7, 2019
Quoting: michaDoes the demo work for you guys? Crashes for me after `New Game` in the menu..
Direct download or itch client? If you use the itch client, the third option to launch it works.
micha Apr 7, 2019
Ah cool, thanks for the tip only tried the first in the itch client. :-)
HadBabits May 22, 2019
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: michaDoes the demo work for you guys? Crashes for me after `New Game` in the menu..
Direct download or itch client? If you use the itch client, the third option to launch it works.

Sorry to reply so late, but what 3rd option? When I select 'new game' it immediately crashed; I don't see any other option to start the game.
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