🌙 When virtual worlds continue into the night
Many players have already had this strange experience:
falling asleep after a long gaming session… and finding yourself dreaming of Pokémon, Zelda, Mario or our favorite RPG .
For some, these dreams go even further:
They know they are dreaming — and can act consciously within their dream .
This phenomenon has a name: lucid dreaming .
Among gamers, it is much more common than you might think.
🧠 What is a lucid dream (simply)?
A lucid dream is a dream in which the person:
- is aware that she is dreaming,
- can influence the scenario, the actions...
- maintains control of the dream and mental clarity.
It is neither esoteric nor rare.
Neuroscience now recognizes lucid dreaming as an intermediate state between wakefulness and REM sleep .
🎮 Why gamers have lucid dreams more often
Players unknowingly develop key mental skills that promote lucid dreaming.
1. 🌍 An intense immersion in fictional worlds
Retro games like RPGs, Zelda, or Pokémon require:
- to project oneself into a universe,
- to memorize maps,
- to imagine actions.
👉 Exactly what the brain does during a dream.
2. A habit of virtual control
In a game, the player:
- control an avatar,
- makes decisions,
- influence a world.
In lucid dreaming, the mechanism is similar:
the brain reuses this control pattern .
3. 🔁 Repetition and procedural memory
Replaying the same cult games for years creates:
- automatic processes,
- a strong mental imprint,
- a familiarity with certain settings.
As a result, these worlds naturally reappear in dreams.
🕹️ Retro games and dreams: a stronger link than you might think
Retro games have one particular characteristic:
They leave more room for imagination than ultra-realistic modern games.
- Simple graphics
- Repetitive music
- Symbolic universes
👉 The brain fills in the details itself , as in a dream.
That's why:
- We dream more often of games like Zelda and Pokémon
- how many photorealistic modern games there are.
🌌 Can we learn to have lucid dreams?
The answer is yes — but not overnight.
Lucid dreaming can be developed gradually through:
- exercises in awareness
- a better understanding of sleep,
- structured (safe) methods.
⚠️ However, be aware:
The internet is full of inaccurate or dangerous advice (sleep deprivation, poorly explained techniques).
📘 Going further: a guided and serious approach
For curious players who wish to consciously explore their dreams , it is best to follow a clear, progressive and documented method.
👉 The Complete Guide to Lucid Dreaming offered by Dreamiolab adopts an approach:
- rational,
- sleep-friendly
- based on recognized techniques.
A useful resource for those who want to understand and experience lucid dreaming without endangering their balance.
🧠 Lucid dreams: mental game or personal exploration?
For some gamers, lucid dreaming becomes:
- a natural extension of the imagination,
- a field for inner exploration,
- sometimes even a source of creativity.
But as in video games, progression must be controlled .
Sleep remains a vital function, not a performance arena.
🎯 In summary
- Gamers experience lucid dreams more often.
- Video game immersion trains the brain in dreamlike states
- Retro games are particularly stimulating to the imagination.
- Lucid dreaming can be learned with method and caution.
🎮 The gaming universe doesn't stop when the screen goes off.
For some, it continues… in their dreams.