Onirism Review: The Badass "Kids' Game" That Packs a Doom-Sized Punch

In the gaming industry, we often fall into the trap of judging a book by its cover—or in this case, a game by its color palette. At first glance, Onirism, developed by Crimson Tales and published by Shoreline Games, looks like a sugary-sweet Saturday morning cartoon. It features a little girl, a plushy bunny, and a world made of dreams. For most adult gamers, this is a title that usually gets scrolled past without a second thought.

However, as 2024’s Astro Bot proved, dismissing a game based on its "all-ages" aesthetic is a monumental mistake. Released on October 23, 2025, for PC, Onirism is a bizarre, high-energy hybrid that successfully hides a fast-paced third-person shooter beneath its adorable exterior. If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if Schwarzenegger’s Commando was remade with a ten-year-old girl in the lead, you’re in for a treat.

The Story: Carol’s Modern Wonderland

The narrative setup is as classic as they come. You play as Carol, a little girl who wakes up to find her beloved plushy bunny, Bunbun, has been snatched by a mysterious figure through a glowing portal. Without hesitating, Carol dives into the portal, entering the world of Crearia to retrieve her toy.

While the "rescue mission" premise is generic, the writing of the protagonist is anything but. Carol is a masterclass in character subversion. One second, she is an innocent child with a sweet, high-pitched voice; the next, she is an absolute engine of destruction, wielding heavy ordinance and spitting attitude at anything that stands in her path. This shift from "cute kid" to "action hero" is legitimately hilarious and gives the game a unique personality that anchors the entire experience. While the surrounding plot is somewhat forgettable, Carol herself is a character who deserves to be remembered.

Gameplay: "Run and Gun" in its Purest Form

Beneath the colorful vistas lies a game that plays more like Doom or Quake than Super Mario. Onirism is a third-person shooter that prioritizes high-octane gunplay, constant movement, and absolute chaos.

An Arsenal of Absurdity

The weapons in Onirism are creative and punchy. You aren't just using standard pistols and rifles; Carol’s arsenal includes:

• The Hairdryer: A short-range blast of heat.
• The Soup Dispenser: A projectile weapon with surprising stopping power.
• Heavy Ordinance: Traditional shotguns, machine guns, and rocket launchers that feel satisfying to fire.
• The Umbrella: Carol’s primary melee tool, used for quick takedowns and essential platforming.

The Input Hurdle: Mouse and Keyboard is King

If you are a console gamer looking to play this with a controller, be warned. Onirism is unashamedly designed for a mouse and keyboard. While it technically supports a controller, the implementation is severely flawed.

During my playthrough, I spent hours struggling with what I thought was limited ammo, only to discover mid-game that the controller lacked a dedicated command for weapon switching. By the time I scrolled my mouse wheel, I realized I was carrying eight fully loaded weapons I didn't even know I had. This lack of UI/input polish is the game's biggest mechanical stumbling block.

World Design and Navigation

The world of Crearia is semi-open, featuring linear levels that funnel you into large combat arenas. One design choice that feels oddly "old school" is the total lack of objective markers. You have an in-game map, but the game refuses to hold your hand.

While I appreciate the lack of "Ubisoft-style" UI clutter, a simple waypoint would have saved a lot of aimless wandering through similar-looking meadows. Furthermore, the traversal mechanics—specifically climbing ladders and hanging from ledges—are poorly implemented. You actually have to unlock the ability to climb ladders as a skill, and the floaty physics make platforming sections more frustrating than they should be.

Visuals and Audio: A Technical Time Capsule

This is where Onirism becomes a game of sharp contrasts. From a distance, the vistas are stunning—colorful hills, towering alien trees, and vibrant meadows. However, once you look closer, the "PS2-era" technical foundation becomes impossible to ignore.

The Graphics Dilemma

The textures are noticeably blunt, and modern graphical effects like ray-tracing or high-fidelity shadows are nowhere to be found. It feels as if the game was built twenty years ago and simply upscaled to modern resolutions. While the fluid animations and flashy special effects during combat help hide some of this, gamers expecting a 2026 technical showcase will be disappointed.

The Soundtrack: Heavy Metal Sensory Overload

The audio design is equally strange. The game features a heavy metal soundtrack that kicks in during combat. While the music itself is great, each level only has one combat track that repeats on a loop. During a 10-hour campaign, hearing the same riff over and over becomes "drilling holes in your brain" levels of annoying. I eventually found myself turning the music off just to maintain my sanity.

Technical Performance

The silver lining of the dated visuals is the performance. On a high-end rig (Ryzen 9 5900x, RTX 3080 Ti), the game runs at blistering framerates with zero issues. Even those with "potato rigs" or older laptops will likely find Onirism to be perfectly playable, which is a rare win in an era of poorly optimized PC ports.

Final Verdict: A Flawed, Heartfelt Adventure

Onirism is a game that succeeds because of its heart and its lead character. Carol is a fantastic protagonist who carries the weight of the game’s technical flaws on her tiny, well-armed shoulders. The shooting is fast, the bosses are hilarious, and the sheer energy of the game is contagious.

However, it is impossible to overlook the "jank." The floaty movement, the dated textures, and the frustrating lack of controller optimization prevent it from reaching "masterpiece" status. It is a "rough gem"—a game that will make you smile and swear in equal measure.

Is it worth it? At $19.99, if you are looking for an indie shooter that doesn't take itself seriously and rewards raw "run-and-gun" skills, Onirism is an easy recommendation. Just make sure you have your mouse and keyboard ready.