The Smurfs: Dreams review - As fulfilling as a good night’s sleep

Every month, I’m usually pretty aware of what game titles I’m looking forward to and naturally, it’s always a joy when an anticipated release finally lands in my hands. What’s perhaps even more delightful though is the feeling of being swept away by something totally unexpected. I’ll admit, The Smurfs: Dreams was not on my radar. In fact, I first heard about it just a few short weeks ago but if you’re a regular around here, you may know that I’m not one to turn down a platformer - and I’m so glad that an invisible string led me to this one. The Smurfs: Dreams offers up a well-crafted, light-hearted romp that’ll surely appeal to anyone who’s a fan of having a good time.

The second thing I should probably admit is that I can’t say I’ve actually consumed any Smurf media before. Perhaps that’s worked in my favour though, because I can confidently assure you that that’s not a problem should you be wishing to pick up The Smurfs: Dreams. Certainly, franchise fans will likely delight in seeing their favourite characters included, but the premise - as with all platformers - is oh so very easy to follow. Let’s face it, no one picks up a platformer to experience an emotionally nuanced narrative.

In this new caper, Gargamel has found an evil new way to capture the Smurfs, by casting a spell that places them all in a deep slumber. Fortunately, this fate doesn’t befall you so, it’s up to the player to delve into the various Smurfs’ dreams, awakening them in order to finally take down Gargamel once and for all.

Take a look at The Smurfs: Dreams in action below.

Ocellus Games’ site lists Nintendo and Pixar as two major inspirations, and that’s clear to see. If you’re a fan of Super Mario 3D World, I should imagine that you’ll feel right at home in The Smurfs: Dreams. Typically, it’s at this point in a review that I’d say the game revolves around your usual platforming fare - jumping, gliding, swinging … you know the drill. I wouldn’t say that’s actually true of The Smurfs: Dreams though as while you will do your fair share of jumping, many of the game’s levels are concerned with unique mechanics - perhaps akin to what we saw just last month in Astro Bot, albeit on a smaller scale.

For example, a level may revolve around the use of a lamp that can be switched on and off, revealing various platforms under the dual-lighting conditions. Elsewhere, you’ll need a slime gun or a mallet that can build and destroy structures. One level may see the floor coated in a sticky toffee, completely ridding you of the ability to jump, while the next might rely totally on a mirrored reflection in order for you to see the treats and foes that lie in your path.

The Smurfs: Dreams isn’t exactly the most challenging platformer I’ve ever played - you’ll likely breeze through in seven hours or so - but it doesn’t need to be. It’s incredibly inventive and as such, never felt tedious which, in my experience, is a common issue with many games of this genre. I’ve only really scratched the surface of the kinds of levels you face. From glitching landscapes that’ll alter in the blink of an eye to mini battle arenas in which you’ll need to take down an array of monster-like foes, The Smurfs: Dreams is a wonderful display of inventive creativity.

Credit / Microids

As I said, those of you looking for a tough challenge won’t find bucketfuls of that here, but the game isn’t totally without challenge. At the end of the game, I stumbled across a level called ‘The Expert’s Path’ and while it didn’t have me screaming at my screen as much as some of Astro Bot’s ‘Void’ levels, it did take me a number of attempts to master. Thankfully, if you lose your two lives, you’ll simply revert back to the previous checkpoint, so the rinse-and-repeat method never feels overly taxing.

Elsewhere, most levels should be accessible to all abilities - including boss fights which were fun despite being rather straightforward to progress through. I played the game on ‘normal’, the highest available difficulty, but there is an ‘easy’ option if you’re looking to add extra lives - whether that’s because you want a stress-free experience or to introduce the game to someone younger in your life.

As with all platformers, each level is packed with collectibles. Sarsaparilla berries are the most bountiful form of collectible item, and these will allow you to unlock different outfits in Tailor Smurf’s shop. There are also three to six blue mushrooms to be found in each level, with these unlocking additional dreams. You’ll need to unlock all dreams if you want to awaken the entire village. Finally, hidden Smurfs - typically disguised as rattling regular objects - will award you with sewing threads, which unlock the outfits you’ll need the sarsaparilla berries to pay for. As such, scouring a level is of utmost importance. The Smurfs: Dreams packs its levels with hidden nooks and crannies, rewarding the most observant and inquisitive of players.

Credit / Microids

Performance-wise, The Smurfs: Dreams runs like, well, a dream. My only criticism of the game is that I simply wanted more. The game comprises four major dream worlds with eight additional smaller dream worlds. All in all, there is enough content to keep you entertained but given the speed at which many players will likely race through the game, I can’t help but feel that an additional larger world might’ve helped the overall experience feel a tad more balanced.

If you’re looking to be whisked away on a charming platforming adventure, I can say with certainty that The Smurfs: Dreams has you covered. It’s easy to tell when a game is good, because upon putting it down for a break, you’re left immediately thinking about picking it back up again. While this experience is maybe a tad brief, it’s clear that Ocellus Games has a bright future in the platforming space should the studio continue down this route. The Smurfs: Dreams is inventive, joyous, and a welcomed surprise of a game that I’m oh so very happy to have stumbled across.

Pros: Creative level designs and obstacles, runs smoothly

Cons: On the shorter side

For fans of: Astro Bot, Super Mario 3D World, Crash Bandicoot

8/10: Excellent

The Smurfs: Dreams is out on 24 October on PlayStation 5 (version tested), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.