Dreamscaper, released on May 30, 2025 for the PCand Switch, is a brilliantly crafted role-playinggame with roguelite, and puzzle, elements thrown into the mix. During the protagonist’s (Cassidy) waking hours the player explores the surroundings and interacts with the NPCs in town. While Cassidy sleeps, the player enters her nightmares.
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Nightmares are randomly generated action-oriented segments with an isometric top-down view of the area. Anyone who’s played games likeDiablo 3orHadesshould feel at home with these nightmare levels. The nightmare levels can be difficult, and players only get one life - so it’s important to use the best weapons available. This game is designed to make players switch weapons at some point. When you’re carrying a level one weapon you like, and find a level three weapon you don’t like, it’s better to get the stronger weapon you don’t like.
10Super Slugger
The Super Slugger is a baseball bat. A hard-hitting, fast swinging, baseball bat that proficient at staggering enemies. This staggering effect is excellent for performing long chain combos that enemies are unable to stop. This weapon does respectable damage - not the best, but higher than average.
This is a solid melee weapon without much in the way of negatives. It does have negatives though; this weapon is horrible at crowd control. Against a single enemy this weapon is one of thebest inDreamscaper, but against a crowd there’s a good chance Cassidy is going to take damage.
9Fishing Pole
InDreamscaperthe Fishing Pole is treated like a whip. This immediately brings to mind a fast, long range, weapon that does minimal damage. The fishing pole attacks a little slower than most melee weapons, but does a lot of damage per swing. This weapon has an even greater range than the Megaton Stingers.
This weapon is not as good with crowds as the Megaton Stingers, but its wide slashes can hit multiple enemies. This weapon can leave the user open to attacks - so be prepared to dodge, parry, or block. If the Megaton Stingers don’t do enough damage, try the Fishing Pole.
8Boxing Gloves
The Boxing Gloves are a melee weapon that forces the player to get right next to the enemy. This can be bad, but there are plenty ofbuilds inDreamscaperthat rely on getting close to the enemy. There are few melee weapons with a faster attack speed than the Boxing Gloves. The speed and power of this weapon give it one of the best DPS in the game.
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The Boxing Gloves are excellent at staggering enemies; if the first punch lands it’s easy to perform a punishing three-hit combo. The Mastery Modifier is a bit weak - a 5% chance will not be noticeable. Getting this weapon the knock-back ability makes them vary satisfying to use.
7Breaker Sword
The Breaker Sword is clearly ahomage to Cloud Strife’s signature swordfromFinal Fantasy 7. This broad sword swings in slow, wide, horizontal arcs; these swings can hit multiple enemies and have a good chance to stagger those it hits. On the final swing of the combo the Breaker Sword impacts the ground causing damage in an area-of-effect.
This weapon has a short range for such a large sword; the range is only slightly better than Unarmed, or the Boxing Gloves. Swinging the Breaker Sword is a commitment; meaning it leaves Cassidy open to an attack for about a second. Good thing Cassidy can dodge, parry, and Block attacks.
6Megaton Stingers
The Megaton Stingers are the perfect weapon for players that want to keep a lot of distance between Cassidy and the enemy. This weapon has a long range. In fact, the range of this melee weapon is long that it almost feels like a ranged weapon. This weapon also has a fast attack animation - this pairs well with the long range.
With such great range and attack speed you know there has to be a catch. In this case the catch is weapon damage. The DPS for Megaton Stingers is on the low end. Oh yeah, by the way, this weapon is actually a large yo-yo.
5Criss & Cross
Criss & Cross is a double sword type of melee attack. This means two things. First, the player needs to get Cassidy close to use this weapon. Second, this weapon has a very fast attack animation. This weapon is awful at crowd control; its best when trying to focus on one target. Criss & Cross' DPS of 26 is about average.
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What makes this weapon rank so high is its Mastery Modifier of +20% to critical damage. This weapon strikes quickly and often. More attacks per second equates to more chances for critical hits; which Criss & Cross increases the damage of by 20%.
4Radiant Edge
The Radiant Edge looks like the Breaker Sword, constructed of rainbows. This weapon attacks much like the Breaker Sword in terms of attack animation. However, instead of the white tracers trailing behind the sword as it swings, the Radiant Edge has a prismatic color scheme.
The crowd control capability of Radiant Edge is one of the best among the melee weapons. The wide swinging arcs cover the area directly in front of Cassidy and can hit multiple enemies. As with the Breaker Sword, Radiant Edge is a slow weapon that can give enemies attacks of opportunity against Cassidy.
3Biting Dagger
The Biting Dagger is incredibly effective - it’s definitely one of the best melee weapons inDreamscaper. Unlike nearly every other melee weapon, the Biting Dagger has a special power at level one. This dagger causes poison damage, and every hit cause persistent poison damage for ten seconds.
This is also one of the fastest melee weapons. In seconds the player can deliver numerous strikes with the Biting Dagger; each one causing lingering poison damage. With a few items that boost poison damage, this dagger can make boss fights much easier. Melee weapons are not normally practical against bosses.
2Whirling Current
Whirling Current is a weapon that’s really hard to swap out with another, higher level, melee weapon - even when players know they should. With its Off-Balance ability, it has a 100% increase to critical hits. Combine this with its Mastery Modifier that makes critical hits more damaging, and you have a melee weapon around which to center a build.
The Wind damage this weapon causes can be boosted easier than the regular damage caused by most melee weapons. If the player can find some companion Keepsakes to protect Cassidy while she engages enemies in melee, this weapon will make the ranged weapon an afterthought.
1Gale Blade
This is the sword version of Whirling Current. It attacks slower than Whirling Current, but does more damage and has a higher DPS. The Gale Blade is ranked as the best melee weapon inDreamscaperbecause of its damage potential, its fast attack speed, and its inherent Wind damage.
Whirling Current may attack faster, but this equates to about one extra attack against an enemy. Doing more damage per swing is preferable inDreamscaper. This is especially true for bosses; who generally give a window of attack that allows for only a swing or two with a melee weapon. The Gale Blade is also better at crowd control than Whirling Current.
Dreamscaperis available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
