Pleasant Dreams (2015) Board Game

Pleasant Dreams is a card game designed by Wayne Dorrington and released in in 2015. It is a push-your-luck game for 1-2 players, with a runtime of about 10 minutes. The game is aimed at players aged 13 and above and features artwork by Aerjen Games.

Game Components of Pleasant Dreams

Wakefulness cards with a track from 0 to 5

Barrier cards to disregard actions on dream cards

Action cards providing various abilities

Dream deck consisting of 19 cards with different symbols

Blue acrylic beads for tracking wakefulness

Flip icons on some cards for revealing new actions

How To Setup Pleasant Dreams

To set up the game, each player chooses a wakefulness card and places a blue acrylic bead on the “1” position. Each player also receives a barrier card and an action card. The dream deck is prepared by shuffling the 19 dream cards, ensuring the flip symbols are face up. Players are then ready to begin their turns.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turn: Decide how many cards (1-5) to draw from the dream deck.

Resolve Cards: Draw the specified number of cards, placing them in a row, and resolve each card’s action, which can increase or decrease wakefulness.

Flip Icons: Choose to flip cards with flip icons, decreasing wakefulness by one, and then secretly insert the flipped card back into the deck.

Barrier and Action Cards: Use barrier cards to disregard actions and action cards for various benefits.

Game Objective: Win by finishing the dream without waking up (wakefulness reaching 5) or by making your opponent wake up first.

Player Experience

Pleasant Dreams offers a unique and light gaming experience that can be completed in under 10 minutes. The game’s aesthetic, with tarot-sized cards and whimsically terrifying images, adds to its appeal. However, the use of blue acrylic beads for tracking wakefulness can sometimes be cumbersome, as they can accidentally shift.

Pros

Unique Theme: The game’s dreamworld and nightmare theme is distinct and engaging.

Quick Gameplay: Ideal as a filler game, taking only 10 minutes to play.

Aesthetic Appeal: The cards and acrylic beads provide a visually appealing experience.

Strategic Depth: The push-your-luck mechanic and card actions offer strategic choices.

Cons

Component Issues: The blue acrylic beads can be prone to accidental movement.

Limited Complexity: The game is light and may not appeal to players seeking more complex gameplay.

User Rating: Despite its unique mechanics, the game has received mixed user reviews.

Personal Thoughts on Pleasant Dreams

Pleasant Dreams is perfect for casual gamers and those looking for a quick, thematic filler game. It is well-suited for players who enjoy press-your-luck games with a dark and unique theme. While it may not offer the depth sought by more serious gamers, it is a great addition to any game collection for its novelty and aesthetic appeal. With potential tweaks and expansions, it could become even more engaging for a broader audience.

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