Not Your Typical Horror Adventure
What do you do when dreams are your only way forward?
Scriptwelder’s return to the Deep Sleep series blends point-and-click puzzling with randomized layouts and tense, turn-based combat. It is part survival horror, part point-and-click puzzle adventure, part surreal fever dream, and it all fits together far better than it should.
Welcome to Into Indie Games’ review of Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken, where we discuss all the things we liked and did not like about the game.
For more information about Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken, check out their official website here.
A World of Shifting Dreams
What sets Deep Sleep apart immediately is its setting. The story is told in dreams, and each one feels unique. One moment you are in a hotel with flickering lights and hushed halls, the next in a mist-choked city street with lost souls wandering about, and then in a forest infested with giant spiders and other monsters pulled straight out of nightmares.
What makes things even more unpredictable is that rooms and items are randomized. In one playthrough, you might find a crowbar right when you need it, while in another, you are stuck fighting with nothing but a human bone. This randomness can be frustrating, but it fits the theme. Dreams do not always play fair after all.
A Pixelated Love Letter
Deep Sleep may lean on pixel art, but it is far from rough or dated. The visuals are crisp, clean, and deliberate, creating a style that feels both modern and nostalgic at the same time. Every room and corridor is easy to read, but the shadows, lighting, and small details give each area weight and atmosphere.
It feels like a love letter to classic horror games, echoing the eerie hallways of Resident Evil or the dreamlike strangeness of Silent Hill, but done through a 2D isometric lens. The limited detail works in its favor, leaving room for your imagination to fill in the blanks, which often makes the horrors more effective.
The result is a game that looks simple on the surface but hides an unsettling beauty in its design.
Puzzles That Keep You Thinking
Puzzles are the heart of the game. They range from simple symbol-matching to trickier riddles like sorting bags into the right rooms or unlocking safes with hidden codes. The clues are usually in the environment if you are paying attention.
They are never too easy, but they rarely feel impossible either. And often, solving one puzzle comes with a twist. A door unlocks, the lights flicker, or enemies appear. It keeps you on edge and makes every success feel like it comes at a price.
Combat With a Twist
Combat is turn-based, which is unusual for a horror game. Instead of shooting, you pick weapons from your inventory, pipes, crowbars, even bones, and hope they last. Every weapon has fixed durability. After a set number of uses, it breaks for good, leaving you scrambling for whatever else you have found.
This creates tense moments where you are always weighing your options. Do you use your strongest weapon now, or save it for something tougher later?
The game also introduces an Imagination system. By spending Focus points, Amy can recreate weapons and items she has already used before. It is not cheap, and you have to choose carefully, but it means even a broken crowbar can return if you are willing to pay the price.
It is slower than the action-heavy combat of other horror games, but that is part of its appeal. Every fight feels like a puzzle of its own, balancing durability, resources, and imagination.
Strange Allies and Creepy Faces
You are not always alone in the labyrinth. Some NPCs appear to help, though their intentions are never clear. Adder will give you puzzle hints, but only if you let him drain your health. Dr. Shulzer offers to trade health for Focus points. Tutu, a mysterious Egyptian deity, guides you cryptically through some chapters.
What is interesting is that they all have their own personal reasons to be here. These recurring characters make the dream world feel alive, but also untrustworthy.
The Trouble With Bosses
Not everything in Deep Sleep works smoothly. The boss fights in the later chapters can feel a little unfair. Enemies hit hard, and if you are not well-prepared, it is easy to get stuck replaying earlier chapters just to grind enough Focus points for upgrades.
On the positive side, the game does let you reshuffle your skill points for free after each dream, so you are never locked into a bad build. Still, the need to grind in a game built on atmosphere and exploration feels a bit out of place. It breaks the flow and pulls you out of the dreamlike pacing the game does so well elsewhere.
The Verdict: A Horror Worth Experiencing
Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken is a smart mix of puzzles, horror, and strategy. Its randomized rooms keep you guessing, its combat forces you to think, and its atmosphere lingers long after you stop playing.
It will not be for everyone. Some players may find the slower combat or the randomization frustrating. But if you are looking for a horror game that feels both classic and new, one that plays like a nightmare you cannot quite shake, Deep Sleep is well worth stepping into.
- Developer: Scriptwelder
- Country of Origin: Poland
- Publisher: Armor Games Studios
- Release Date: 21 August, 2025 (Nintendo Switch, PC)
The PC version of the game was played for this review of Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken.
Already playing the game? Check out our walkthrough hub if you get stuck on the puzzles.
For more interesting articles on indie games, check out the links below
- Into Indie Games Homepage
- Discounty Walkthrough
- OFF (2025) Complete Walkthrough & Guides
- Lost Twins 2 Review
- Artis Impact Review
Muhit Rahman lives off two things: gaming marathons and endless cups of tea. He writes guides, reviews, and occasionally forgets that real life doesn’t come with checkpoints. His favorite genres are Soulslike and Metroidvania, with Dark Souls III, Hollow Knight, and Dota 2 forever holding top spots on his all-time list.
