Among the Sleep is a survival horror game in which the player controls a toddler looking for his mother.
Click a title to learn more about each topic.
Story & Themes
In Among the Sleep, the player controls a toddler who, at the game's beginning, is celebrating his birthday with his mother. After the celebration is cut short, the mother leaves the toddler to play in his room, at which point the player is introduced to the game's guide, Teddy. The toddler is put to bed and enters a fantastical land of imagination where, at Teddy's prompting, he must look for his missing mother.
br>
A recurring and implicit theme throughout the game is abuse. As the player delves deeper into the world, he/she will uncover numerous hints suggesting that the mother is an alcoholic and abuses her son.
Difficulty
The game does feature some puzzles, but nothing too challenging.
Heads Up!
Violence Themes and depictions of violence are present throughout. There's also a monster that will pursue the player, though there's never any blood or gore involved.
Scary Imagery The eerie atmosphere of the game induces tension from the beginning, and the addition of a monster only adds to the overall scariness of the game. Also, as a toddler the player will oftentimes feel fairly helpless in the face of potential danger.
Substance Use Because alcoholism is a significant part of the story, expect to encounter references and scattered bottles throughout the game.
Conversation Starters
- When did you pick up on the underlying story in the game?
- Do you think Among the Sleep handled the issue of alcoholism and child abuse well?
- In Among the Sleep, the traditional narrative is flipped as the mother is the abuser and the father the responsible and loving parent. What did you think of this reversal?
- How did playing as a toddler affect your experience?