•According to a report for Rock Paper Shotgun, Escher’s Dream is a “neat looking” Portal 2 mod that draws on the impossible geometries of artist M.C. Escher, bending gravity in ways that may leave some players feeling slightly nauseated.
The article notes that despite the ubiquity of Escher’s work, games inspired by it are relatively rare—citing titles such as bağlantı”>Monument Valley, bağlantı”>Manifold Garden, and Superliminal among a “handful of others.” The piece argues that the striking sense of space in Escher’s art has not been widely translated into games.
Escher’s Dream is not, however, its own standalone game. It arrives as a Portal 2 mod created by one Jack Phoenix, described as “the latest in a line of map mods” the creator has made across multiple Source-based games over the years.
The report says what sets the mod apart—along with its potential to induce nausea for those less comfortable with such visuals—is its approach to level design. There are familiar touches, such as stairs tilted at angles impossible to walk on, but the more distinctive element is how players are encouraged to bend the rule of gravity.
The article describes specific levels: one appears to “loop in on itself,” requiring players to angle their portals so they fall back into a room they had just left. Another uses a green gel that shifts the axis of gravity, letting players walk on walls. The mod is framed as being about repositioning oneself however each level dictates.
The piece notes the whole mod is short—just three maps long—but says it’s “worth a punt.” A video has been shared to show it in action, though the report warns that it spoils the entire experience and suggests readers only take a glance.
The writer says the mod leaves them wanting two things: another full game inspired by Escher’s works, and an expanded version of this particular mod. The original Portal 2 is described as “such a short game,” making custom-made levels that add something fresh after all these years “always a treat.”
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