Goodnight Universe: Nice Dream Games' Psychic Baby Adventure Redefines Emotional Storytelling

The BAFTA-winning creators of Before Your Eyes didn't rest on their laurels—they built a dream factory. Nice Dream Games emerges from that vision, partnering with Skybound Games to deliver Goodnight Universe on November 11, 2025. This isn't just a spiritual successor; it's an evolution of emotional storytelling through innovative face-tracking technology and a psychic baby protagonist who embodies our deepest longing for connection.

The Birth of Nice Dream Games

From Tears to Dreams: The Studio's Origin Story

The BAFTA-winning success of Before Your Eyes didn't mark the end of a journey—it sparked a new beginning. The game's co-creators channeled their award-winning storytelling expertise into founding Nice Dream Games, an innovative studio based in Los Angeles.

This new venture represents more than a simple follow-up. The team positions Nice Dream as a natural evolution of their creative vision, promising to push emotional storytelling even further.

Skybound Partnership and Global Reach

Nice Dream has partnered with Skybound Games to publish their upcoming title Goodnight Universe. This collaboration ensures their next project will reach players worldwide when it launches on November 11, 2025.

The game will debut across five major platforms:

• Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X/S
• Windows PC via Steam

Studio Formation

Nice Dream Games emerged from the creative partnership of Graham Parkes and Oliver Lewin, childhood friends who first met at age three. Their collaboration on the BAFTA-winning Before Your Eyes naturally evolved into forming their own studio, with several original team members joining them in Los Angeles.

The transition from GoodbyeWorld Games—described as a "loose collective of designers"—to Nice Dream represents more than just a name change. Parkes and Lewin envisioned a dedicated space where their shared creative vision could flourish without the constraints of their previous arrangement.

Their studio's mission reflects this ambition: to craft games that pursue storytelling and innovation in equal measure. The name "Nice Dream" itself embodies their commitment to creating a supportive environment where emotionally engaging titles can push the boundaries of interactive storytelling.

Conceiving the Psychic Baby Protagonist

The Metaphor Behind Isaac's Powers

Isaac's supernatural abilities aren't just flashy mechanics—they're a deliberate metaphor for the human longing to connect. The development team designed every telekinetic moment to mirror the unspoken emotional undercurrents that ripple through families when words fail.

The core philosophy driving this design is simple yet profound:

• "The parts of us that seem the weirdest can be our greatest gifts"—a guiding principle that shaped Isaac's entire character arc
• Communication as the ultimate antagonist—Isaac's greatest foe isn't a villain, but the fundamental struggle to express and understand
• Childish innocence as a healing force—the game champions "an understanding that perhaps we could all benefit from childish innocence and not ignorance"
• Psychic powers as emotional repair tools—what appears supernatural becomes a "delicate tool for emotional repair" within fractured family dynamics

This approach transforms Isaac from a mere protagonist into a living embodiment of every child's desperate wish to fix what they cannot yet articulate.

Evolving Gameplay Mechanics and Innovation

Face-Tracking Technology Evolution

Goodnight Universe takes the camera-based interaction pioneered in Before Your Eyes and transforms it into something more sophisticated yet less intrusive. The game introduces an immersive "camera as controller" mode that builds upon its predecessor's foundation while offering greater flexibility.

After a brief calibration process that maps your facial movements, the system tracks blinks and eye closures with improved accuracy. This creates a deeply personal connection where your actual eyes control Isaac's consciousness alongside traditional mouse inputs. Unlike Before Your Eyes, where blinking was fundamentally tied to narrative progression, Goodnight Universe positions face-tracking as an optional play mode that enhances rather than dictates the experience.

Puzzle and Gameplay Mechanics

The game expands significantly beyond its predecessor's narrative focus, introducing mechanically dense puzzle-solving elements that blend psychic powers with creative task completion.

Core Gameplay Systems

• Badtime Checklist: Functions like Untitled Goose Game's objective system, presenting creative tasks to complete using psychic abilities
• Limited Mobility: As six-month-old Isaac, movement is restricted to observation, listening, and environmental manipulation through psychic powers
• Psychic Power Progression: New abilities unlock throughout the story, each enabling different puzzle solutions
• Reality Shifts: Gameplay alternates between supernatural psychic tasks and grounded baby simulator moments
• Multiple Endings: Your puzzle-solving choices directly influence which narrative conclusion you reach

The developers have hinted at on-rail shooter-inspired sequences, potentially featuring a motorized crib vehicle that adds kinetic energy to the otherwise contemplative gameplay loop.

Conclusion: Carrying the Legacy Forward

Goodnight Universe stands as Nice Dream's bold declaration of intent. The BAFTA-winning creators behind Before Your Eyes have channeled their storytelling mastery into this debut project, proving that their innovative spirit burns brighter than ever.

The game emerges as a spiritual successor that doesn't merely iterate—it elevates. By fusing the emotional weight of their previous work with cutting-edge face-tracking technology, Nice Dream has created an experience that pushes interactive entertainment into uncharted territory. The webcam controls, described by critics as "simple, yet far from a gimmick," transform each scene into an intimate dialogue between player and narrative.

This evolution represents more than technical advancement. Nice Dream's formation was the "logical conclusion" of shared creative vision, suggesting the seeds of Goodnight Universe were germinating long before the studio's official birth. At a $19.99 price point across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, the game delivers exceptional value for its emotional investment.

The critical reception speaks volumes: an 81/100 average and "Strong" OpenCritic rating, with reviewers hailing it as "a striking reminder of how powerful good storytelling can be." The emotionally impactful finale has resonated deeply with players and critics alike, cementing Nice Dream's reputation for crafting experiences that linger long after the credits roll.

As Nice Dream looks toward the future, Goodnight Universe serves as both foundation and promise—a testament to their dedication to expanding the boundaries of interactive narratives while honoring the emotional authenticity that defines their work.