A look at Insomnia: Theater of the Mind
Developed by Perfect Day Studio, my introduction couldn't be more fitting. One of the many demos available at W.A.S.D. 2023, I walked into that event with an hour's sleep and no chance of napping until late afternoon. When I saw the game tucked away in the Curios section, it felt like giant neon arrows were signalling me towards it.
Across several short chapters, she faces another sleepless night with no one to comfort her. You briefly glimpse her daily routine but, after hitting the pillow, her subconscious loudly explains that 11pm is no time for rest -- a relatable feeling when I'm often still awake at 2am. Clearing your head is never straightforward, and Theater In The Head showcases that inability to"switch off" well.
Each chapter's theme examines her troubles through various point-and-click puzzles. That ranges from removing objects by clicking them to creating an animal orchestra, and filling out a music sheet using animal sounds. I appreciate how these chapters poke fun at tired advice, playfully stating,"you think sheep counting helps?" Honestly? No, I did not, and such advice critically failed me before W.A.S.D.
What stuck with me most is its sobering reflection on the silent grief many of us carry in our daily lives, subconsciously or otherwise. How often have you told someone close,"I'm doing OK," when you really aren't? Opening up doesn't always come easy, so many of us believe it's better to shoulder that burden alone.
While many games treat sleep as a standard mechanic or focus only on dreams, Theater in the Head's portrayal of anxiety and mental chatter captures a feeling I've never seen in games. It's a surprisingly relatable experience that encourages self-acceptance over shutting those feelings away. That is easier said than done, yet this brief adventure gave me cause for self-reflection. Weeks later, it's still on my mind.
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