From indie team Half Asleep Games in Vancouver, British Colombia, here we have Melatonin. It’s a rhythm music game about sleeping and dream states. All set to the colour purple!

Ambitious stuff to merge dreams with reality. This launched in 2022 and is available on PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. With 20 levels to blast through, it’s short but sweet and has a most satisfying gaming loop.

Bite-Sized Rhythm Game Action in Melatonin

The biggest irony would have been if Melatonin was so dull it sent players off to sleep. The devs have worked hard enough to ensure that most definitely isn’t the case.

It differs from other rhythm games, such as the uplifting Runner2 or the visceral Thumper, with its use of a story. That and varying gameplay styles.

Melatonin is the brain hormone that helps us humans get to sleep. In the game, the main character  who has to do stuff during his lucid dreams. This allows for a variety of mini-game type rhythm action, proving that Corona’s hit song Rhythm of the Night would’ve been ideal for this game. Instead, it DARES to have its own score. Tsk.

Anyway, here’s some of that sleep gameplay action (as explained by Half Asleep Games).

Some of these ideas are very creative and clever, making it a truly unique rhythm game that stands out from the rest of the market. Plus, we’ve never seen so much purple before in our lives! It’s everywhere.

This is a music game, though, and crucial to any rhythm title is an excellent soundtrack. Runner2 had that in spades with an all-time great indie game score.

However, we didn’t really take to Melatonin’s music that much. We guess it’s an acquire taste, and it does have its moments (such as below). But not having a score we love dampens the impact a tad.

To add to the music there are sound cues to ensure you keep on the beat.

It’s good fun! It’s not a super hardcore challenge to take extremely seriously (although it’s surprisingly tricky at times), more a fun distraction with some clever ideas that, on the whole, are implemented very well.

However, some gamers will baulk at the two-hour gameplay time. This is a short game. Every level constitutes one nigh and with 20 stages you’re through everything pretty quickly.

Overall, Melatonin is short but memorable. In part as we can’t remove the colour purple from our brains after playing it, but as a different type of rhythm game it uses its appeal to solid effect.

We rate the game a good night’s sleep, rather than a great one. 🛌