Kyiv, Ukraine – June 19th, 2025. Independent developer Sandman Team and publishing partner Pingle Studio are delighted to announce the launch of Through the Nightmares, available today on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Players will take control of the mythical Sandman, a guardian spirit sent to rescue children trapped by the King of Nightmares. As Sandman journeys through surreal dreamscapes, players will have to master the ability to shift his physical size, shrinking down to slip between blades or growing taller to smash through barriers.
A brand-new launch trailer sets the stage for the Sandman’s journey, introducing Morpheus, the legendary King of Nightmares, and showcasing the realm he built on childhood fears and buried trauma
It’s time to face your fears, platforming fans. Through the Nightmares is out today on PC via Steam, as well as PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Through the Nightmares — Launch Trailer
youtube.com/watch?v=SW2fKESEd8s
Through the Nightmares has already earned early recognition at various developer events including Indie Cup, Digital Dragons, Games Gathering, and WeGame. Early reviews call it a ‘relentless platformer for the brave’, praising the game for its clever gameplay hook, demanding difficulty curve, and standout visuals.
Players will face over 45 carefully crafted levels across three chapters of the game’s narrative. Each nightmare is a childhood fear brought to life — from creatures lurking in dark forests to monsters hiding beneath beds.
Through the Nightmares delivers a ruthless, precision-driven platforming experience. The game’s multiple unique twists on the genre are spearheaded by Sandman’s ability to change his size, which directly impacts physics — altering momentum, jump arcs, and the ways players navigate obstacles, traps, and secret pathways.
The children are waiting. But the dream already knows you’re here… and it will stop at nothing to ensure you never leave.
Media Quotes
“However, no matter how you look at Through the Nightmares, everything works well, from the great size-shifting mechanics to the haunting visuals and dramatic soundtrack that keep you going.” — Gareth Brierley, The Xbox Hub
Key Features
- Size-Shifting Platforming. Change your size to squeeze through tight spaces, manipulate traps, and discover hidden shortcuts.
- Challenge-Driven Gameplay. Enjoy ruthless precision platforming with instant respawns and a unique checkpoint system that lets you control where you respawn by using a collectible item.
- Handcrafted Dreamscapes. Explore dozens of handcrafted levels across three chapters and six different locations based on Nordic folklore, modern-day suburbia, and medieval ruins.
- Reactive Environments. Manipulate the dreamscape with Sandman’s abilities to open up new pathways, discover secrets, and solve tricky challenges.
- Narrative-Driven Collectibles. Collect personal items from each nightmare to learn more about the children’s past, reveal the deeper story, and piece together the truth of what happened to Morpheus.
- Immersive Visuals and Haunting Soundtrack. Nightmare dreamscapes are brought to life with striking low-poly art and a haunting original score.
Factsheet
- Developer: Sandman Team
- Publisher: Sandman Team (Steam), Pingle Studio (Consoles)
- Platforms: PC (Steam), PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Precision Platformer
- Release Date: June 19th, 2025
Links
- Website: throughthenightmares.com
- Steam: s.team/a/1266210
- Twitter/X: @kovnirdev
- Discord: discord.com/invite/eraxzJB
About Sandman Team
Sandman Team is made up of three developers from Ukraine. We’ve spent the last nine years bringing Through the Nightmares to life (and many sleepless nights making it the best game we can). We hope you enjoy the journey!
sandmanteam.com
About Pingle Studio
Pingle Studio is a game development and publishing partner specializing in AA and AAA projects across PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. With over 17 years of experience and a team of 300+ industry professionals, Pingle provides full-cycle development, porting, co-development, QA, and publishing services. The studio is known for its technical expertise, platform certification support, and commitment to high-quality delivery.
Pingle has contributed to titles for renowned partners including Disney, EA, Epic Games, Square Enix Montréal, Zynga, Jagex, Starbreeze, and Sega. From innovative indies to large-scale franchises, Pingle helps bring bold creative visions to life — on time, on target, and on every major platform.
pinglestudio.com