As I Began to Dream: Hand-Illustrated Puzzle Platformer Arrives on Nintendo Switch November 2025

Soft Source and Strayflux have officially announced that As I Began to Dream, their hand-illustrated puzzle platformer, is set to launch on Nintendo Switch on November 20, 2025.

This highly anticipated title brings a fresh perspective to the puzzle platformer genre and will be available as a digital download through the Nintendo eShop. As I Began to Dream places players in the shoes of Lily, a young girl navigating a surreal, dreamlike limbo in search of acceptance and peace.

Inspired by the emotional journey through the five stages of grief, each of the game’s chapters is intricately designed to visually and emotionally reflect these stages.

For example, the Denial world offers a comforting and familiar environment, while Anger throws players into a tumultuous desert landscape.

Other stages—Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance—are rendered with distinctive atmospheres that guide players through Lily’s experience of loss. At its core, As I Began to Dream is defined by tactile puzzle platforming mechanics.

Players are challenged to swap, rotate, and manipulate segments of the environment in order to solve puzzles and access new areas.

These dynamic mechanics, enhanced by physics-based elements, portals, enemies, and hazards, ensure constant engagement and strategic thinking while maintaining accessibility to a broad range of players. The game’s hand-illustrated art, reminiscent of childhood storybooks, immerses players in worlds full of childlike wonder and vibrant imagination.

Both Soft Source and Strayflux have emphasized that this visual approach, coupled with a heartfelt narrative, aims to evoke feelings of nostalgia and hopefulness unique to classic storybook adventures. Enhancing the emotional resonance, the original soundtrack for As I Began to Dream has been composed by Indonesian artist JabFina.

With over 37 original tracks, the music is designed to deepen the player’s immersion, conveying peacefulness and melancholy as Lily moves through each stage of her journey. The debut trailer for As I Began to Dream showcases the game’s unique mechanics, art direction, and evocative soundtrack.

The title, set to be distributed digitally, further expands the Nintendo Switch’s diverse portfolio of indie and narrative-driven experiences. For more updates and announcements on new Nintendo Switch games and upcoming releases, be sure to follow our continuing coverage on Nintendo Direct presentations and eShop highlights.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch I platformer Soft Source release date As I Began to Dream Strayflux Nintendo Direct JabFina