The Dreamwalkers

Cabinet Mysteriis (Quebec City, Canada)

Time limit: 60

Age limit: 6+

Player limit: 3-7

Difficulty: 4/5

Awards: TERPECA Top Rooms No. 47 (2020), TERPECA Finalist (2021-2025), Best of Morty (2025), Golden Lock Award (2023)

Date visited: July 2026

After escaping Screaming Metal, we headed straight into our next game at Cabinet Mysteriis, The Dreamwalkers, their most decorated game that broke then TERPECA top 50 back in 2020. While I'm sure if was one of the best rooms in the world 6 years ago, I had heard mixed things about the game from enthusiasts who played it more recently. So what did we think of it?

• I can see why The Dreamwalkers was the highest-ranked room at Cabinet Mysteriis, but I can also see why the game can be polarising. In terms of theming, puzzle variety, ambition, and GM interaction, this game is very strong. On the other hand, the room is starting to show its age, and the multilinear design and vague signposting did make the progression and flow more confusing than we would have liked.

• I loved the concept behind the the game. The players are the "Dreamwalkers", who have sworn an oath to protect the dream world and prevent dreamers from being trapped in eternal nightmares.

• Accordingly, the game is set in the dreams of a child, who is being tormented by 3 different nightmares. We began our adventure in a seemingly ordinary child's bedroom, complete with books, toys, and stuffed animals. Naturally, as we progressed, we were introduced to a more nightmarish side...

• I thought the game had a very good beginning as we discovered the lore and explored the set, and the nightmare worlds were all well-designed, each with their own unique theme and puzzles. Being an older room, there were obvious signs of wear and tear, but I think it was generally maintained quite well.

• The varied and challenging puzzles were predominantly tech-based and required a decent amount of searching, reading, and logical deduction. Some were also tactile and slightly physical, but nothing too demanding.

• One of the game's biggest strengths was how it balanced the childlike wonder and cuteness with the darker themes and gore. There were props that leaned into either side, and they meshed together in a way that was not jarring.

• Where the game started to falter for me was once all the spaces were opened up and it became a bit of a multilinear nightmare. Some of the puzzles were contained in their own space, but others relied on clues and props from other spaces, and we found ourselves running around trying to figure out all the different connections, many of which were somewhat tenuous. The gameplay got quite messy and there were multiple instances where we weren't sure what to do next.

• A huge positive of the room was our GM. Like in Screaming Metal, the GM's presence is seamlessly integrated into the narrative. In The Dreamwalkers, it was a cool idea that worked especially well, and the interactions made it feel less like you were asking for hints — which we definitely needed towards the end when time was running out, as we had heard from another enthusiast that their game simply concluded when the clock hit zero and they were not afforded any extra time (very rare these days). However, I do think that was likely an outlier experience as our lovely GM did not seem like he would do that.

Escape time: 54 out of 60 minutes

Theming	Atmosphere	Puzzles	Creativity	Fun
A-	A-	A-	A	A-

Verdict: A charming and challenging game that blends child and horror themes but is never scary. Great for teams that enjoy quality decor, clever GM interactions, and multilinear puzzles.

OVERALL RANK:

H	E	Z	J
A-	B+	A-	A-