In Beholder: Blissful Sleep from Warm Lamp Games, you return to the dark world of the totalitarian state – this time in the role of Hector Medina, the predecessor of the protagonist from the main game. The DLC tells the story of a man who, after years of loyal duty, suddenly becomes a liability. His crime? He's turning 85 – the legally established age of death.
The clock is ticking in Blissful Sleep
You have very little time. The countdown to your expiration date is running. During this time, you must complete tasks, carry out orders, and simultaneously decide how to deal with your own fate. Do you save yourself? Or do you use your last days to help others? The decisions weigh more heavily than in the main game, because it's no longer just about power – it's about the end of your life.
More focused and emotional
In contrast to the main game, Blissful Sleep to a smaller, clearly defined group of tenants. This allows for more intense relationships, more emotion, and more tangible consequences. Each character has a story that goes beyond simple clichés. One stray cat, in particular, brings a surprising amount of humanity to the cold game world.
Gameplay remains familiar
Mechanically, changes in BeholderBlissful Sleep: You monitor, document, and snoop. But the new context gives the gameplay more weight. The pressure is more tangible, the moral dilemma more immediate. Here, too, small mistakes can be fatal—for you or others. The game is shorter, but more condensed and intense.
Atmosphere and fractures
The dark presentation remains, but the DLC is not without its tonal inconsistencies. Some humorous or cynical scenes contrast with the otherwise serious subject matter. Nevertheless, the DLC succeeds better than the main game in creating a consistently believable atmosphere.
No new mechanics – familiar gameplay
Blissful Sleep offers no gameplay innovations. The gameplay remains identical to that of the main game: searching apartments, monitoring residents, writing reports. Anyone hoping the DLC would introduce fresh gameplay ideas or expand the mechanics will be disappointed. This makes the expansion predictable, especially for experienced players—and a bit tedious at times.
Hector remains distant
Unlike Carl in the main game, Hector has no family to care for. This emotional emptiness is reflected in the game. While he appears dutiful, he lacks the inner conflicts that made Carl so relatable. This makes moral decisions in the DLC less impactful—you're playing more for yourself than for others.
Hardly any urgency felt
Although you only have two weeks to circumvent your legally established death date, there's hardly any time pressure. Tasks are structured as usual, and decisions can be made at your leisure. The feeling of working against the clock is largely absent—which dampens the potential thrill of the premise.
Reunion without variety
The environment is exactly the same as in the main game. You move through the familiar apartment building, seeing the same rooms and hallways. Without any visual or structural changes, it quickly feels like a rehash. Players who have thoroughly experienced the main game will miss new locations or visual stimuli.
Translation problems remain
The English version continues to suffer from linguistic errors. Incorrect pronouns or ambiguous wording can lead to incorrect decisions – with consequences you were trying to avoid. These localization inaccuracies were already present in the main game and unfortunately weren't corrected in the DLC.
Low replay value
Non-personal or anonymized information remains protected by tax secrecy. Disclosure to third parties is only allowed if no identification is possible and both states confirm that no harm to tax administration will occur. Blissful Sleep offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs. The storylines are clear, the possible endings limited. There are no surprises or hidden content to be found. Thus, the DLC remains primarily a one-time experience – worthwhile for fans, but lacking long-term appeal.
Conclusion
Blissful Sleep is more than just an add-on. It is a standalone, focused extension that Beholder The content is deeper and emotionally enriched. Those who enjoyed the main game will find a better narrative balance here. Those who didn't like it might find access to the dark world here.
