Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Parents' Guide to

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die

By Neilie Johnson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Surreal, violent murder investigation has control flaws.

Game Xbox One 2014
D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is an unforgettably bizarre adventure. On the surface, it's a typical hard-boiled detective story, but underneath it's a surreal trip through one man's psyche. David has the ability to travel through time and space, so the action jumps between the present and the past. The present involves piecing together events leading up to David's wife's murder and hanging out with his gluttonous ex-partner and a strange, free-loading girl who thinks she's a cat. Although the present contains plenty of pointless (albeit entertaining) moments, the past focuses strictly on David's investigation. You search for evidence and interview passengers/potential suspects (there are many eccentric, even grotesque, personalities). Things get downright David Lynchian here, full of twisted nightmare logic. It's both exciting and unsettling.

Unfortunately, the experience is diluted by a clunky control scheme. Everything is done by moving a pointer over on-screen icons, which is slightly less cumbersome with a controller. Other problems are the game's wooden characters and episodic nature. The former you can get used to; the latter just isn't fair, because it means the game ends right when it's really getting interesting. Despite these flaws, D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is well worth your time and money. It offers an absorbing story, interesting ideas and varied, compelling gameplay. Its stylistic approach could make playing it a “love it or hate it” kind of prospect, but if you keep an open mind, you're in for a good -- or at least thought-provoking -- time.

Game Details

  • Platform: Xbox One
  • Pricing structure: Paid
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Access Games
  • Release date: September 19, 2014
  • Genre: Adventure
  • Topics: Adventures
  • ESRB rating: M for Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content and/or Strong Language
  • Last updated: January 13, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate