Mama’s Sleeping Angels – Surreal Multiplayer Horror Best with Friends

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• DEVELOPER: itamu
• PUBLISHER: Oro Interactive
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Multiplayer / Horror
• RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2026
• STARTING PRICE: 9,99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Mama’s Sleeping Angels is easily one of the strangest games I’ve played. From the moment you start, it presents an unusual mix of grotesque, dreamlike visuals that feel intentionally unsettling. While this artistic direction may seem chaotic or even off-putting at first, it ultimately contributes to the game’s distinct atmosphere.

However, the initial experience can be quite confusing. The tutorial does little to explain the mechanics, which makes the early stages frustrating, especially if you’re playing alone. It wasn’t until I jumped in with friends that the gameplay began to make sense. Fortunately, it is fairly cheap, and if you’re familiar with multiplayer-focused titles like Lethal Company-style experiences, you’ll have a general idea of what to expect. In fact, Mama’s Sleeping Angels is clearly designed with co-op in mind and supports up to four players, where one player hosts the session.

Familiar concept set in dreamlike world

The premise revolves around exploring surreal dreamscapes where you and your companions are trapped by a mysterious entity known as Mama. Your goal is to collect cursed objects scattered across procedurally generated maps and deliver them to a designated location. Once enough items are gathered, you can “feed” Mama and escape the dream. Along the way, a journal system keeps track of discovered elements, adding a light layer of progression.

In general, the game tasks you with waking up 12 imaginary NPCs and surviving long enough to escape, which means chaining together successful runs to push deeper into the dream layers. Fail a quota, and Mama punishes you instantly: your progress resets and saved NPCs are lost. However, permanent unlocks, including previously awakened NPCs, carry over between runs, encouraging you to treat early attempts as learning experiences rather than failures.

Although the gameplay loop is simple, it remains engaging, especially when played cooperatively. Each map introduces different enemies and environmental variations, which helps maintain a sense of unpredictability. The enemies themselves are a highlight, as they are both unsettling and challenging. You can defend yourself using weapons like shotguns, chainsaws, and other tools found throughout the levels.

Moreover, the game’s atmosphere is one of its strongest aspects. The combination of eerie sound design, surreal visuals, and bizarre enemy designs creates a unique and immersive experience. Even though the art style may seem inconsistent at first glance, it gradually becomes part of the game’s identity, reinforcing its “fever dream” quality.

Rough around the edges in certain areas

Your most valuable tool isn’t a weapon, but your flip phone, which acts as your inventory, flashlight, and scanner. With only four slots, managing space becomes stressful, especially when valuable cursed items are within reach and danger is closing in. Enemies are terrifying but predictable. Panicking is often deadlier than the monsters themselves, as each creature is confined to its own zone. If you’re unarmed, escaping into another area is often enough to shake them off.

One of the biggest issues for Mama’s Sleeping Angels is repetition. While the maps are procedurally generated, they start to feel familiar after a few runs, and the core gameplay loop, collecting items and returning them, doesn’t evolve significantly over time.

I think the game also needs a wider variety of curses. While there’s a certain thrill in the mystery of scanning them with your phone, many fail to heighten the tension. I loved the more creative ones, like the singing angels that reveal item locations, but the game needs more of those impactful moments.

Additionally, certain mechanics feel unpolished. Stamina management is somewhat awkward, and it’s not always clear when you’re taking damage. Combat can also be inconsistent, with some enemies behaving unpredictably and occasional issues with hit detection.

The final verdict

The game is, without a doubt, considerably more difficult when played solo. Since you are on a time limit, roughly 15 minutes per run, and must gather an increasing number of items, managing everything alone can feel overwhelming. In contrast, playing with others makes the experience far more manageable and enjoyable.

In the end, Mama’s Sleeping Angels is a bizarre yet intriguing experience. Its surreal presentation, unsettling atmosphere, and cooperative gameplay make it stand out, even if its mechanics are somewhat rough around the edges. While it may not appeal to everyone, especially those who dislike repetitive gameplay loops, it offers a unique and chaotic multiplayer experience that is best enjoyed with friends.

Review copy provided by the publisher