Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Previews » Hands-On With ‘Sleep Awake’ Dives Deep Into The Lore Of Its World

Hands-On With ‘Sleep Awake’ Dives Deep Into The Lore Of Its World

Eddie De SantiagoBy Eddie De Santiago06/10/20255 Mins Read
Sleep Awake keyart
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Sleep Awake is an upcoming psychological horror game from developer EYES OUT and published by Blumhouse Games. In the far-flung future, humanity has been reduced to living in the last city standing, known as the Crush. To make matters worse, anyone who falls asleep is susceptible to The Hush, a phenomenon that results in the victim vanishing, leaving behind nothing but an ethereal shadow. We recently had the chance to get some hands-on time with Sleep Awake, an experience that left us cautiously optimistic for more.

In our brief time with the game, we took on the role of Katja, a young woman desperately trying to stay awake while solving the mystery behind the city’s vanishing sleepers. While the city is full of people attempting various methods to stay awake, Katja utilizes plants, creating solutions that keep her awake despite her fatigued mind’s protests. To find the necessary plants, we had to explore her home, which was completely rundown and filthy, as is befitting of a horror setting. Our first attempt at making one of these solutions was very straightforward, but the developer hinted that more puzzle-like tasks may be in store later on.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Before we could complete the solution, we suddenly found Katja standing in a dreamscape, conversing with a mysterious woman. After a few odd scenes, like Katja approaching a train station in the middle of nowhere and appearing on an airport runway, she finally woke from this surreal segment. This tells us that simply falling asleep isn’t enough to be abducted, with some other force at work. Upon completing her anti-sleep solution, it became clear that this was meant for someone else, though Katja still used some of it to keep herself awake.

Sleep Awake blurs reality into dream as Katja fights to stay awake at all costs.

Screenshot from Sleep Awake

The next segment of the preview had us exploring the city, following markers Katja set up at some point in the past. This was our first chance to see what life is like in the last city, and it turns out Katja’s home was just the tip of the iceberg. The Crush was in a state of disrepair, with collapsed buildings, infrastructure and debris littering the path every step of the way. This was also the setting for our first run-in with one of the many cults Katja will run into throughout Sleep Awake, the Pain Eaters.

While remaining hidden, we witnessed a man reciting what sounded like a prayer and performing a sadistic ritual, indicating to us that he used pain instead of medicine to stay awake. As a result, the Pain Eaters have developed a reverence for pain, forming the foundation of this demented following. The developer promised that this is not the only cult we’ll run into, since desperate citizens will look for solutions in increasingly bleak communities. Additionally, though this and other cults may seem threatening, they aren’t the only force Katja will need to avoid as she explores.

The Crush is buckling under the weight of the mysterious disappearances, but even in emergencies, there are people who attempt to maintain order and control at any cost. This results in a paramilitary force known as the DTM patrolling the city, arresting those like the cult leader we saw earlier, and anyone else that they deem troublesome. We didn’t spend much time around them, but had to remain out of sight whenever they patrolled an area. Judging from Katja’s light narration, we did not want to cross paths with them.

The world of Sleep Awake is falling apart, intensifying the need for control.

Screenshot from Sleep Awake

Despite being a horror game, Sleep Awake was not very scary. There were a few segments in which disorienting FMVs were overlaid on top of whatever was happening in the game, and the soundtrack was perfectly suited to the haunting locales we explored. These created an atmosphere that was more uncomfortable than it was outright scary, but it feels like it’s setting the stage for big scares later on.

That said, one segment was a bit scary, where Katja entered a looted and dilapidated vault to retrieve a switch. When she attempted to exit, she was forced to the back of the suddenly larger room, with plenty of grotesque offal suddenly covering every surface. This repeated once more, creating a sense of dread that only dissipated when we successfully exited the room.

Shortly after this section, our time with Sleep Awake was done. I wonder how often the tone will shift between creating uncomfortable tension versus more direct frights. I’m also curious to discover what’s causing The Hush and how or if Katja will be able to put an end to it. Even if she can, does that mean the people living in the Crush will suddenly be truly saved? Without a firm release date, we’ll be waiting for some time before we get answers. With all that in mind though, if you’re a horror fan, Sleep Awake is a game to watch out for.

Sleep Awake will be released in 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleDLC REVIEW: ‘Lies Of P: Overture’ Is P’s Hardest Journey Yet, Even On Easy
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut’ Is Still One Of The Franchise’s Best Entries
Eddie De Santiago

Eddie has been an avid gamer since he picked up a Game Boy at age 4. Now he loves streaming games and writing about them. When he's not gaming he's reading comics and manga, or making music in LittleBigPlanet.

Related Posts

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

‘Digimon Story: Time Stranger’ Is A Treat, Full Of Tactics And Time Travel

09/08/2025
Pokemon Legends Z-A promotional still from Nintendo

‘Pokemon Legends Z-A’ Puts Dynamic Encounters First With Real-Time Combat

09/05/2025
STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions

‘STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions’ Promises Playful Shenanigans and Community Goals

09/05/2025
Switch 2 Upcoming Releases

Borderlands 4, Kirby Air Riders, And More Awesome Switch 2 Demos We Played

09/05/2025
Skate Skateboarder But Why Tho

Skate. Feels Like Free-To-Play Done Right

08/31/2025
Outer Worlds 2 Hero But Why Tho

‘Outer Worlds 2’ Delivers A Strong Opening Chapter In Our Hands-On Preview

08/27/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen - But Why Tho (2) Features

Everything To Know About Satoru Gojo

By Kate Sánchez09/07/2023Updated:02/16/2025

Satoru Gojo is the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 — now, heading into Cour 2, here is everything you need to know about the character.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here