Common Sense Media Review
By Paul Semel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, clever sleepwalking game has some nightmarish puzzles.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Back to Bed
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
In BACK TO BED, you have to help a sleepwalker named Bob get, well, back to bed. Except that Bob isn't in his house, he's in a surreal dream world inspired by the art of Salvador Dali, René Magritte, and M.C. Escher. Using giant apples you can move, chimneys you can't, and pairs of paintings that work like portals, you have to change the path Bob is walking. Oh, and did we mentioned you're a dog who has Bob's face?
Is It Any Good?
In this inventive, artsy puzzle game, you use giant apples and other objects to help a sleepwalker get back into bed. Originally made for mobile devices, Back to Bed has a somnambulist named Bob walking into worlds inspired by the paintings of René Magritte, M.C. Escher, and Salvador Dali. Directional adjustments can occur if he runs into one of the big apples you can move or a chimney that's stationary. You can even steer him into paintings, which work like portals, transporting Bob across the room and into another picture. It's all really clever and works really well, but it also gets really tough as it goes, partially because Bob doesn't know you're trying to help him (and, of course, he's asleep), so he just keeps walking.
The PlayStation version boasts better graphics and animations than the mobile version, but its cross-play options mean you can start playing on your PS4 or PS3, then continue on your Vita when you go out to get some sleeping pills. Back to Bed may just take over your dreams with its clever puzzles.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about somnambulism. Have you ever walked in your sleep? Know anyone who does? Do you know what to do if you see someone walking in his sleep? Are you aware that putting an apple in the way doesn't work in the real world like it does in the game?
Talk about art. Are you familiar with the work of M.C. Escher, René Magritte, or Salvador Dali? Who are your favorite artists? Do you think their art could be integrated into a level of Back to Bed?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation Vita
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : LOOT Interactive
- Release date : August 6, 2015
- Genre : Puzzle
- Topics : Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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