Yume Nikki: Ambiguity is Terrifying

happy halloween, chooms. perfect time to come out of hiding, be pretentious, and talk about one of my favourite games of all time.
bird app: / nixashearts
quirky lil patreon: / nixashearts
Chapters:
0:00 - A HALLOWEEN NIGHT SPECIAL
0:31 - A Freeware Cult Classic
2:59 - Starting a New Dream Diary
4:51 - Exploring the Dream World
6:16 - Immediate Atmosphere
7:10 - Safety in Dreams
7:57 - The Many Worlds
9:01 - The Player's Objective
10:21 - Yume Nikki, Madotsuki, and Questions
12:07 - Discussing Themes and Solving Mysteries
13:29 - Inspired by Futility
14:21 - A Lack of Control in Horror
15:45 - Kikiyama
17:26 - Conclusion: A Tremendous Strength
19:58 - Outro
20:36 - I'LL SEE YOU IN ANOTHER DREAM
Yume Nikki is available on Steam for FREE (actually highway robbery): store.steampowered.com/app/65...
Videos used (some were actually recorded by me this time, on account of having a better PC and crippling debt):
Mackerel Phones (Yume Nikki Longplay) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr4iJ...
FukoSan (Yume 2kki Playthrough) - • Yume 2kki - Road to 10...
Next (.flow Playthrough) - • Yume Nikki Fangame pla...
Cryolceray (Ao Oni Playthrough) - • Video
Oka Putra (OMORI Walkthrough) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF6p2...
YTSunny (The Legend of Zelda NES Walkthrough) - • The Legend of Zelda (N...
IULTMx (FNaF 4 Jumpscares) - • Five Nights at Freddy'...
Music is from the Yume Nikki OST, composed by Kikiyama. Full playlist (fan uploaded) is here - • Yume Nikki: Extended OST
Tracks used in this video are as follows:
Dark World
Martian Underground
Dense Woods A
Barracks Settlement
Mall Rooftop
Title Screen
Candle World
Dark Water
Happy Halloween! Thanks for watching :)

[@shadokwastaken]

this video itself has a very special atmosphere i really love

[@NixasHearts]

This genuinely means so much to me, thank you so much

[@casualkris4806]

The sheer number of (good) fangames came out of this really shows the impact it had on the internet, it is a cult classic.

[@NixasHearts]

This! Yes, exactly! And I truly believe it'll only continue to inspire more fangames and original works well into the future. :)

[@horriblechronicdiseases]

But somehow the better ones need a degree in programming shit and 5 lines of coke to get working

[@ozmantiswine3678]

in another video by someone else, i think they gave yume nikki the perfect description-- saying that what makes it so scary is how it's entirely possible for something silly to share the same world as something terrifying. like seeing the little gnomes running around or the rave monkey takes place in the same game where there's literally a world of just hands with eyes in the palm reaching out. the lack of explanation makes yume nikki so much more engaging, and it blows my mind how i only played the game once so far and it's one of my most favorite games ever and i have so many vivid memories from that single playthrough. i'm looking forward to playing .flow and yume 2kki when the holiday rush is all over and i have the time to do so

[@jerrym1218]

Just knowing that there are hundreds, if not thousands, and shockingly probably millions of real life people out there in our planet right now just like the main protagonist of this game. People that are trapped in their own hell and terrified to get up out of bed every day and go outside and confront the real world, and they all just sit in their room lying in their beds slowly withering away with no purpose and losing their will to stay alive on this planet because of their fears and mental afflictions. It’s truly a heartbreaking feeling because just like not being able to understand everything in this game, is very similar to trying to understand why people you knew most of your life who seemed happy and ok, suddenly decided to just end their own lives or take others out with them at times. That’s a truly terrifying thing knowing that everyone around us every day is probably going through their own dream worlds and confronting their own inner demons, and while many are able to hold their demons back and at times overcome them, there are so many more out there that are losing that battle and just truly lost in their own minds of wishing they could stay asleep in their own dreams forever and never wake up. The only way one could understand all this, is if they have gone through it personally, and everyone has their own inner demons, we either fight them back or let them take us. We are all human beings just trying to find true meaning on this big floating rock in outer space called Earth. Try and always be humble to everyone around you, even if they are cruel to you, we never truly know what people are all going through unless you walked some miles in their shoes, your kind gestures just might make them change how they view life at certain points in their lives. Godspeed as well as peace and love to all, weather they believe in a higher power or not.

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you for this wonderful comment. Having lost someone incredibly important this year to their inner demons, and continuing to struggle against my own, it's nice to be reminded that there are those out there that get it. Godspeed to you as well, friend

[@MishKoz]

I totally agree with you that Yume Nikki feels like a sort of meditation. I've tried a few of the fangames or things inspired by Yume Nikki but they never stuck in the same way. The original Yume Nikki just got it right the first time, from the atmosphere, to the exploration, to the ambiguity, like you said. It's definitely as timeless as it is iconic. Fantastic video.

[@NixasHearts]

I agree, honestly - Yume 2kki, .flow and their like just don't do it for me the same way Yume Nikki does. I think they're good experiences but everything about how Kikiyama constructed the dream world is just perfect, at least to me. And thank you! So glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@kaothic86]

Good video, I'm so tired of videos saying "YUMME NIKKI LORE EXPLAINED" spouting fan theories as facts, seeing one focusing on its ambiguity is welcomed. I pretty much share your feelings about the mystery of the game and can't even fully enjoy most of the games inspired by it that focus on surrealism and mystery because "inspired by Yume Nikki" already answers most of their mysteries. Keep it up.

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you! And I totally agree - it's impossible to explain Yume Nikki "lore", so it can be tiring seeing people claiming with any amount of confidence that xyz theory is the answer. Especially when, as I argue in this video, I really think that outright goes against everything Yume Nikki stands for and what makes it so special. I just hope my little tribute to this game helps some people realise that. So glad you enjoyed :)

[@AlanHernandez-jg1xv]

One thing that i always liked to think for the many years i have known this game is that the thing does not has any meaning at all probably the people were overthinking too much about what could be the creator even thinking, i thought that maybe it was just one peculiar way of doing art and concepts, that yeaah it might be related to other things but overall the whole concepts and art were just pretty not normal creations that would have helped to make something more interesting and out of the common

[@NixasHearts]

This is very possible! And if it were indeed to be the case, I believe Yume Nikki would still remain a wonderful piece of art. Even regardless of intent there's so much to love about it for sure. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, and I hope you enjoyed the video :)

[@rosevevoswag]

ambiguity stays unexplored in current media... it makes sense, people have big stories they want to tell to their fullest. but i absolutely adore ambiguous media.. the only media ive seen id describe as truly ambiguous inside and out is yume nikki and petscop... im sure both have extremely complex stories that could be behind them, but in the end, it may never have a true meaning. what matters most is how experiencing it all made you feel

[@rosevevoswag]

also i love your voice ^_^

[@NixasHearts]

Yeah, exactly! I wish more creatives would be not so afraid to explore ambiguity because it really can result in something special - even if we can't understand something fully, our experience with it still matters, as does how we feel about it. And haha thank you, my voice is something I'm quite insecure about and I've been putting a lot of work into so comments that say nice things like this really mean a lot to me :)

[@rain_mendoza2000]

I love this game to death and it's been my hyperfixation for a while now. Great video :)

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed :>

[@kordeliiius9821]

Thanks so much for making this video, I believe this is a stance that more people need to hear! Some of my favorite stories (including Yume Nikki, Little Nightmares, and Blame! for example) have stuck with me because they prompt my imagination to wander down many different paths, so it grinds my gears to see people beg for answers when they're intentionally hidden.

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you for watching! And I totally agree - I wish more people would come to terms with the idea that we don't necessarily NEED answers to something. Answers or no, the experience still means something and often it is made even more powerful due to those lack of answers. I'm really glad there are still people out there that get it :>

[@Mooniepiez]

Yume is my current hyperfixation and I love almost all videos on it. And this is a great one. Ty :}

[@NixasHearts]

I'm glad you enjoyed and very happy to be of service :)

[@yuwomy]

The only thing we know for sure is that the NASU hitbox should be slightly larger.

[@NixasHearts]

So true

[@Josuh]

your channels feels like brushing your teeth and feelin fresh

[@NixasHearts]

This is one of the best comments I have received

[@shadeanon6365]

Amazing video! It's always so cool to see that members of the community still appreciate and comment on the game to this day, and I wholeheartedly agree with the points you made. Some things are better off unexplained, and I feel like Yume Nikki benefits greatly from this concept

[@NixasHearts]

Yeah! And I really hope that appreciation never stops. Thank you, so glad you enjoyed :)

[@LACHRYMA]

i just realized this video reminds me of hazel's vids, theyre another youtuber who does obscure/weird media and lost anime and video game deep dives (at least from my memory i havent watched her in a few months)

[@NixasHearts]

as a fan of hazel's videos this means very much to me, thank you

[@LACHRYMA]

@@NixasHearts np

[@gwendaartist]

Out of all the video games I adored,Yume Nikki,might be in my number one.(and I wish I could discovered it earlier in my slightly young times.) and I really loved the fangames too(2kki,dotflow,uneven dream,etc.) and this video deserves alot of views,Great job! (I know this one is slightly off topic but....Madotsuki moment.)

[@WrathOfWood]

oh hiya, great video. Fear of the unknown is such a strong thing that's not really describable because it could be anything,

[@maddie3685]

You have outdone yourself once again, it was a really good video and happy Halloween!!

[@Updoggo1]

watched this awhile ago but hoping this still gets more views. very cool and professional video

[@NixasHearts]

thank you so much

[@gnocchi6610]

Finally, a good video on yume nikki. thank you for making this, its amazing!

[@NixasHearts]

So glad you enjoyed! It was a pleasure to create :)

[@LACHRYMA]

this video is such a vibe

[@craycraywolf6726]

Kikiyama: *makes Yume Nikki* *Drops it on the Internet* *Refuses to demonstrate* *Leaves*

[@OJSthecoder]

yume nikki is such a good game. im so happy people are coming back to it recently

[@derpkipper]

I hate that things that are abstract, artistic, thought provoking, etc are so quick to be labeled as "pretentious" by those that dont understand I guess I always hear people defend things and say "i know this sounds pretentious but *proceeds to say something not pretentious at all* " Sorry just a random rant about why the adjective pretentious is used in such a dismissive way sometimes and how ridiculous that is

[@NixasHearts]

No no, your rant is entirely valid. I guess I am guilty of this too, I throw around the term pretentious a fair amount. What many call "being pretentious" is really just having basic media literacy, and I find it pretty ridiculous too. I think I just find it fun to lean into and in a way, poke fun at, because being "pretentious" is a positive thing imo and not something that should be this negative buzzword. But I can see why hearing it so often might be frustrating and maybe I should work on trying to convey that a little better or outright just using the word less. Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)

[@derpkipper]

@@NixasHearts oh yeah i never got a sense of malice from you using the word lol. It did feel tongue in cheek xD but then it sent me on a bigger thought of "why do people unsarcastically think things are pretentious anyway" lol I guess what you saw was me adding 2 and 2 to make 22 and wasnt able to see how I got to that 😂 I loved your vid by the way! I probably should have mentioned that before

[@NixasHearts]

@@derpkipper Ahh, I see, seems I misinterpreted what you meant. Your rant is still totally valid though and I agree. And thank you, so happy to hear you enjoyed the video :)

[@woof_dev7115]

the intro gave me a coryxkenshin sss vibe so im subbing

[@somethingelse9598]

Fantastic video essay!

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you!!

[@LuksLeppu]

you are very underrated

[@blast4434]

I love this video; perfect vibes

[@catenby1785]

Great video!

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you so much!

[@macabre464]

your voice is so relaxing

[@keip4568]

Your voice is perfect for ASMR!

[@shipgirllover]

Upon my first time playing Yume Nikki, I did not like the game until I finally went deeper into the dream world itself. Needless to say, I fell in love. The game def feels like some form of abstract meditation. It's not just the worlds and their fascinating weird imagery; its the music, too. A lot of it, even some of the more ominous songs like Dark Waters, have me feel strangely at peace. Only part of the game that's ever had me feel uncomfortable in the slightest was the Number World.. Side note, your voice was perfect for a video in relation to this game. *can't wait for the funni ASMR video*

[@NixasHearts]

I think it's a common experience that the deeper you explore Yume Nikki's dream worlds, the further they draw you in and leave you enamoured. It's really wonderful. Additionally I am a woman of the people, if an ASMR video is widely requested then they shall receive (but seriously thank you lol, I am quite insecure about my voice so this means a lot)

[@gmdmiokinon]

great video! I share pretty much the same thoughts you presented here, and I'm glad to see a video talking about the game's profound mystery rather than trying to solve it. I also get the feeling that if there's nothing explained about anything in the game, then it just should not be. the feeling of getting lost in your own little world is portrayed really well, and I wish I could explore my own dreams like Madotsuki does. though I think that Yume Nikki Fangames nowadays are a bit too different to be compared to the original game. 2kki, for example, seems to focus much more on the artistic expression with the amount of worlds it has, rather than having a mindbreaking lore. .flow also seems to have its approach on a more disturbing horror than YN does. while I'm not saying you compared those in a way you put one as superior (they weren't even really compared, as they were just mentioned), it's something I believe is important to note now that the game has so many of those. Yume Nikki, as well as every fangame, tends to try something different, every time. it's magical stuff. I will be tuning in for your next videos. this was really entertaining! 👋

[@NixasHearts]

Oh for sure, .flow and 2kki really are their own experiences and I find it difficult to compare them as well. Mostly just brought those up to emphasise the impact that Yume Nikki has had, inspiring fangames and original titles alike. And thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video - I'll continue working hard so hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the next one :)

[@gmdmiokinon]

yeah yeah! just the sheer amount of existing fangames shows the passion the community shares about it. also I didn't expect that atmosphere could be a big part of a video like this. you created the exact feel of the game with that and I'm like "what?!!!???" I hope to see your next video soon, but I also hope you don't work to exhaustion lol take care!

[@S1NINJA]

nice

[@licethelouse5618]

YESSSSS

[@NixasHearts]

I am glad someone shares my excitement for Yume Nikki :)

[@RealMiniLink]

This is great but when are we getting the 10 hour long Nixas' Hearts sleep aid?

[@NixasHearts]

Given on request

[@toaster_rtx1829]

Wow, you’re incredibly small with your level of quality, I was surprised when I saw the view count under 1k. You definitely deserve more. BUT you have an ASMR-like voice, and I hate asmr lmfao. Just a nitpick tho, great vid 👍

[@NixasHearts]

Thank you so much! This means very much to me. And, haha, not sure I can do much about my voice but I appreciate you for putting up with it anyways :>

[@toaster_rtx1829]

@@NixasHearts don’t worry about it, it’s just me. but fr tho as someone who thoroughly enjoyed Yume Nikki, it really put into words that I couldn’t, since I like to stay away from any theory videos, you put it all perfectly

[@NixasHearts]

If nothing else, I'm really happy that seems to be a shared sentiment when this video. I'm happy I could help put into words what so many people love about this wonderful game :)

[@svkee1g]

i wish i could see outside of the real world.

[@baumthetree]

i was about to watch the whole video but am not sure if I should because I dont even know this game

[@NixasHearts]

Your choice! Yume Nikki is a storyless game and I put a lot of effort into trying to make this one easy to watch even if you haven't played it, but it's really up to you :) Thanks for waiting this long though

[@baumthetree]

@@NixasHearts Okidoki, I will watch it as soon as I have time

[@NixasHearts]

Awesome, take your time, hope you enjoy :)

[@baumthetree]

@@NixasHearts I forgot I left this comment, I already watched it and forgot to reply, and I liked it, it was really interesting in my opinion! ^^

[@aubreyathame]

why are you literally just want i want to be this is the most gender video ever and its talking about one of my biggest hyperfixations ???

[@NixasHearts]

Haha you are so sweet, I'm glad you find my video very gender :) Yume Nikki as you can tell is also a massive hyperfixation for me

[@maddie3685]

second

[@indihowell8511]

First