When I Dream*
+1UK Games Expo Best Party Game Judges Award
Hidden Traitor
Word Game
Storytelling
Party Game
Large Groups
+22 more
- Graf Ludo 2018🇩🇪
- Hunter & Cron Award 2018🇩🇪
- SPIEL'17🎡
- Hidden Roles
- Role Playing Game
- Detektive🕵️♂️
- ❤️Spiegel-Online
- 2016📆
- Memory🤔
- Restricted Communication🤐
- Gioco dell'Anno🇮🇹
- Graf Ludo🇩🇪
- Origins Award🇺🇸
- Real Time⏳
- Anti-Neuroticism Games
- Family Resilience Games
- Openness Games
- Empathy Games
- Storytelling
- Teams👯♂️
- UK Games Expo Awards🇬🇧
- Word Game
When I Dream is a whimsical and imaginative board game that delves into the world of dreams, blending elements of storytelling, deduction, and teamwork in a playful setting.
Gameplay Overview
Roles and Setup: Each player receives a secret role card, categorizing them as either a "good" spirit, a "naughty" spirit, or a "trickster" who changes sides. The Dreamer, blindfolded with a sleeping mask, represents a person dreaming.
Round Duration: A round lasts 120 seconds. During this time, spirits draw "Dream" cards depicting various dream elements.
Describing the Dream: Spirits take turns providing one-word clues to the Dreamer, describing the element on the Dream card. The Dreamer attempts to guess the elements based on these clues.
Scoring System: Correct guesses earn points for the Dreamer and good spirits, while incorrect ones benefit the naughty spirits. Tricksters score points by maintaining a balance between correct and incorrect guesses.
Dream Storytelling: At the end of the round, before removing the blindfold, the Dreamer recounts the dream using the guessed elements, earning additional points for this creative storytelling.
Unique Aspects
- Immersive Role-Playing: The game's charm lies in inhabiting different roles and contributing to the dream narrative in distinct ways based on your assigned character.
- Creative Storytelling: A standout feature is the storytelling aspect, encouraging imagination and creativity as the Dreamer weaves together the clues into a coherent dream.
- Dynamic Team Play: The shifting roles of spirits and the trickster's balancing act add an engaging dynamic, making each round unpredictable and entertaining.
Gameplay Experience
When I Dream is ideal for players who enjoy light-hearted, social games with a strong emphasis on creativity and communication. The game thrives on the imagination of its players, making each round a unique and often humorous experience. The game's accessibility and quick learning curve make it suitable for both casual gamers and those seeking a fun, engaging party game.
Conclusion
When I Dream stands out as a delightful and engaging game that combines elements of dreaming with creative storytelling and social deduction. Its simple rules, combined with the imaginative and cooperative gameplay, make it an excellent choice for a wide range of players, offering a unique and memorable gaming experience with a different dream unfolding in every round.
Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.
- 👥 4 - 10 Players
- ⏱️ 20 - 40 Minutes
- 🧒 8+ years old
- 🧩 Immediately playable
Video reviews, ratings, Let's Plays and tests for When I Dream
We like When I Dream so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2026
- Position 3 in All winners and nominations for the game graphics award "Graf Ludo🇩🇪 2018"
- Position 10 in All games of the "Hunter & Cron Patreon Award 2018" list 🇩🇪
- Position 13 in Best games released at SPIEL 2017 in Essen
- Position 12 in Best games with hidden roles
- Position 8 in The best board, card & dice games with role playing elements
- Position 6 in The best Detective board games 🕵️♂️
- Position 55 in The best games recommended ❤️ by Spiegel Online magazine
- Position 17 in The best games released in 2016📆
- Position 18 in The best games where you have to memorize things 🤔
- Position 27 in The best games with limited communication 🤐
- Position 15 in The best "Gioco dell'Anno🇮🇹" winners and nominees
- Position 9 in The best "Grad Ludo🇩🇪" winners and nominees
- Position 33 in The best "Origins Awards" winners & nominees
- Position 16 in The best Real-Time board games ⏳
- Position 7 in The Best Resilience Games That Reduce Neuroticism
- Position 30 in The Best Resilience Games That Strengthen Children and Families
- Position 13 in The Best Resilience Games That Train Openness to Experience
- Position 13 in The Best Resilience Games Train Empathy
- Position 13 in The best storytelling games - making up stories
- Position 25 in The best team-based games 👯♂️
- Position 24 in The Best "UK Games Expo Awards🇬🇧" winners and nominees
- Position 11 in The best word games
*