Bad Dream Games

Bad Dream Games is an independent video game development studio based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2018 by University of Southern California graduates Thomas Wilson and Zach Lower, it creates experimental games that combine narrative, atmospheric worlds and unusual approaches to player interaction. Its work spans musical puzzle-platforming, audio-driven exploration and interactive fiction.

The studio grew out of One Hand Clapping, a 30-minute student prototype developed at USC. Its central idea asks players to hum, whistle or sing into a microphone to navigate a two-dimensional puzzle-platforming world. Following the demo’s reception, the founders developed the concept into a commercial game, with HandyGames serving as publisher and distributor.

Voice as a game mechanic

Released commercially in December 2021, One Hand Clapping uses vocal input to connect musical expression with exploration and puzzle solving. Its environments are structured around harmony, melody and rhythm, encouraging players to experiment with their voices as they progress. The studio emphasizes non-punitive design and creative self-expression, making musical participation central to the experience.

The game reached PC, console, mobile and cloud platforms. Bad Dream Games’ development work encompasses game design, programming, narrative writing, audio and sound engineering, visual art and animation. The company develops original intellectual property rather than offering external work-for-hire services.

Experimental projects

Alongside its commercial release, the studio has published smaller interactive projects through itch.io. A Sound Escaped! is a three-dimensional, first-person prototype built around acoustic manipulation and puzzle solving. Trick or Treat explores narrative interaction through a browser-based interactive short.

Together, these projects reflect the studio’s interest in sound as an interactive medium and in different forms of storytelling. Its portfolio combines the sustained development of a commercial musical platformer with smaller experiments in audio mechanics and narrative play.