Nightmare Catcher

"Nightmare Catcher" takes players on a gripping journey through the troubled life of Euphy, a teenage girl battling sleepless nights fueled by anxieties and school problems. The game follows a routine life pattern, from waking up to sharing heartfelt moments with her caring mother, attending school, and returning home for dinner. Euphy's life takes an eerie turn when, in a quest for peaceful sleep, she tries using a dream catcher, transforming her dreams into a nightmarish reality.

As players guide Euphy through her daily routine, they must help her distinguish between the dream world and reality. Subtle discrepancies, changes in her mother's behavior, and out-of-place objects hint at an ominous entity seeking to take control of Euphy. The game intertwines horror and mystery themes, with the core gameplay mechanics combining elements of a visual novel and a spot-the-difference game.

The chilling story unfolds over seven days, each revealing more about Euphy's struggles and the malevolent entity haunting her dreams. Through encounters with a mysterious old lady and the discovery of a peculiar dream catcher, players must assist Euphy in navigating her increasingly confusing dreamscape. As the line between reality and nightmare blurs, Euphy's anxieties intensify, leading to a psychological and emotionally intense narrative.

The game incorporates detailed background art for various settings, including the Kitchen, Living Room, and Bedroom, each reflecting different times of the day. Character art brings Euphy, her caring mother, and the ominous Demon to life, while CG art captures the essence of both the Good and Bad Endings. The user interface features a main menu, pause menu with a Sanity Meter, dialogue box, and elements displaying the in-game date, time, and a timer for spot-the-difference sequences.

Kitchen

Bedroom Draft

Living Room Draft

With a targeted release date of October 17, 2024, "Nightmare Catcher" is a collaborative effort led by the talented team of Chrystarin (Coding, Game Design, Script), Kyuririn (Background Art, UI Design), and Cherustation (Character Art, Horror CG). The game is designed for both desktop and mobile platforms, utilizing Unity or RenPy for development.

Immerse yourself in the haunting world of "Nightmare Catcher," where uncovering hidden horrors and assisting Euphy in escaping the clutches of the malevolent entity become the player's mission. Will you guide Euphy to a Good Ending, freeing her from the nightmares, or witness her succumb to the malevolent force in the chilling Bad Ending? The choice is yours in this psychological horror mystery.