Nightmare Diver is a roguelite action video game developed and published by Dicey Duck Games.

About

Nightmare Diver is a bubble shooting roguelite game in which a rubber duck dives into the world of nightmares to save a young girl, defeating enemies with bubbles. Players will enjoy shooting down enemies and skillfully chaining combos.

Story

A young girl suffers from nightmares every night due to her personal worries. To rescue her, the brave rubber duck dives into a bathtub that connects to the dream world. In the nightmare world, toys connected to the girl appear as enemies. The rubber duck must delve deep into the nightmares to uncover the source of the girl’s troubles and ultimately free her from her suffering.

Strategic and Satisfying Bubble Combos

In this game, bubble combos are a key mechanic. When the player attacks an enemy, it turns into a bubble. Attacking the bubble again causes it to explode. If another bubble is nearby when it explodes, a chain reaction occurs, resulting in a combo. Combos drop items that can be used in shops or for recovery, giving players an advantage in clearing stages.

However, bubbles will naturally explode after a certain amount of time. If left too long, enemies inside will revive in a stronger state. Players must strategically manage their combos, balancing the risk of enemies becoming stronger with the reward of chaining massive, satisfying combos.

Player Growth and Combo Builds

As players progress through stages, they can choose between “basic stat upgrades” and “combo builds,” which determine the types of items dropped during combos.

Most basic upgrades help players create more combos, making them easier to achieve as the game progresses. For example, increasing the explosion radius allows combos to be chained between bubbles further apart. In later stages, the number of enemies increases, resulting in more combos and more intense action.

The items dropped are determined by the number of the combo, and “combo builds” can increase the variety of drops. The higher the combo, the better the chance of getting rare items. Players can choose to aim for small, stable combos or go for big, explosive ones.

Drops include temporary power-ups such as invincibility or HP recovery (represented by a “yuzu”), as well as exchange items like “Bath Bombs.” Players can choose their preferred playstyle. Each time players challenge the nightmare world, their stats are reset. By strengthening both their basic stats and combo builds, players can enjoy a different experience with every run.

Game Cycle

The bathroom serves as the game’s hub.

After collecting “Bath Bombs” in the nightmare world, players can throw them into the toilet in the bathroom, causing “poop” to pop out.

Inside the poop, players may find “Duck Friends” or “Girl’s Memory Items,” both of which appear randomly.

“Duck Friends” provide permanent stat boosts and fun dialogue.

“Girl’s Memory Items” are collectibles that reveal aspects of the girl’s story not covered in the main narrative.

Players will alternate between the action stages in the nightmare world and the hub stage in the bathroom as they progress through the game.