Demi and the Fractured Dream, from new developer Yarn Owl Studios (and published by Annapurna Interactive), feels like a warm throwback to '00s adventures of old. Think embarking on journeys across the PS2 and GameCube. Action-adventure games from that era had a particular way of showcasing a world full of mystery and intrigue that made it so enticing to explore. Even today, many developers still have a fondness for 2000s video games, to the extent that they're creating their own games that aim to recapture that captivating era.
Going hands-on with Demi and the Fractured Dream at Tokyo Game Show 2025, alongside a slate of reveals from Annapurna, I got to give it a go for myself. Centering on a dungeon crawl, my time with Demi really does remind me of some stone cold classics. But, I also got the chance to speak with art director Fabian Willis about their inspirations for Demi and the Fractured Dream, and how the final game will be much larger than they anticipated.
