Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken Review – Horror in the Half-Light

Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken Review – Horror in the Half-Light

Overview

Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken marks the long-awaited return of scriptwelder, the indie developer behind the cult-classic Deep Sleep series. Known for eerie atmosphere, cryptic storytelling, and haunting imagery, the series has built a reputation for psychological horror that burrows under your skin.

This time, players step into the role of Amy, a small-town vet whose estranged brother, Thomas, has just died—or so she thinks. His journals, filled with ramblings about lucid dreaming and alternate worlds, point toward something more sinister. When Amy begins to investigate, she slips into a nightmare labyrinth of shifting realities where the line between dream and death quickly disappears.

It’s both a continuation of Deep Sleep’s legacy and a bold evolution, mixing classic point-and-click puzzle-solving with RPG-lite systems, turn-based combat, and skill progression.

Story & Atmosphere – Between Dreams and Death

The setup is simple but effective: Amy’s search for her brother drags her into a surreal dreamscape, where environments change at will and monsters stalk her through the shadows. Scriptwelder has always excelled at making the familiar uncanny, and here, the dream logic hits harder than ever.

The writing balances slow-burn mystery with gut-punch dread. Amy’s discoveries about her brother and the “beings” that inhabit the dream-world keep you guessing, while journals, environmental details, and hidden dialogue choices flesh out a story that branches into multiple endings.

From dimly lit corridors to sprawling, otherworldly landscapes, every location drips with menace. The new soundtrack by Christopher Carlone ties it all together with atmospheric, brooding tones that ratchet up the tension at just the right moments.

Gameplay – Point-and-Click, Evolved

Longtime fans will feel right at home with the puzzle-solving and exploration. Objects are scattered across environments, ready to be combined or used in clever ways, and puzzles blend logical problem-solving with dreamlike abstraction.

But Labyrinth of the Forsaken takes things further:

• Turn-Based Combat: Encounters introduce a surprising amount of tension. Foes don’t just jump-scare; they must be outmaneuvered, out-thought, or out-fought using Amy’s limited abilities.
• Skill Tree & Progression: Instead of static puzzle-solving, Amy grows stronger as you explore. Unlocking new dream-shaping powers and survival skills adds welcome depth and gives the game replayability.
• Randomized Elements: Some rooms, enemies, and challenges vary between runs, keeping the dreamscape unsettling and unpredictable.

It’s still very much a Deep Sleep game—slow-paced, cerebral, and loaded with puzzles—but now layered with systems that make every choice matter more.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros

• Captivating dream-horror setting with surreal environments.
• Smart mix of puzzles, exploration, and RPG-lite mechanics.
• Haunting soundtrack that enhances the oppressive mood.
• Multiple endings and a randomized design encourage replay.
• Builds on the Deep Sleep legacy without abandoning its roots.

Cons

• Combat, while novel, can feel clunky compared to the puzzles.
• Randomized elements occasionally disrupt story pacing.
• Slow-burn progression may frustrate players expecting faster payoffs.

Final Verdict

Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken is both a love letter to fans of Scriptwelder’s original trilogy and a bold experiment in expanding the series’ mechanics. It blends eerie point-and-click exploration with survival elements that raise the stakes, creating a nightmare that’s equal parts cerebral and visceral.

For horror fans craving something atmospheric, surreal, and genuinely unsettling, this labyrinth is well worth getting lost in.

Score: 7.5/10 – A dreamlike horror experience that evolves the point-and-click formula while staying true to its haunting roots.