History VideoGame / NiGHTSIntoDreams

A unique game developed by Creator/{{Sega}}'s Creator/SonicTeam for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn in 1996, ''[=NiGHTS=] into Dreams...'' is the system's KillerApp and one of Sonic Team's more noteworthy attempts at breaking away from their flagship ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series.

* ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars SEGA Superstars Tennis]]'' ([=PS2=], [[UsefulNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames 7th Gen Consoles]], 2008)[[note]][=NiGHTS=] and Reala are playable characters.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU, [[Platform/Nintendo3DS 3DS]], 2013; Steam (PC), 2015)[[note]]The "Deadly Six Bonus Edition" includes a ''[=NiGHTS=]''-inspired level which features several characters from the main games.[[/note]]

* SceneryPorn: Totally expected, considering [[Creator/SonicTeam who made the game]]. What especially makes this impressive is that the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn had major trouble running most polygonal games, and it executes this game ''beautifully''.

After 11 years, a sequel to the original game was released in 2007 for the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, ''VideoGame/NiGHTSJourneyOfDreams''. Unlike its predecessor, ''Journey of Dreams'' features a more traditional narrative, with a larger cast of characters and greater emphasis on world-building and character development.

* ''[=NiGHTS=] into Dreams...'' ([[UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn Saturn]], 1996; [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]], 2008; [[UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} Steam (PC)]], [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 PS3]], [[UsefulNotes/Xbox360 360]], 2012)

* ''VideoGame/NiGHTSJourneyOfDreams'' (UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, 2007)

* ''VideoGame/SonicPinballParty'' ([[UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance GBA]], 2003)[[note]][=NiGHTS=] is a main character.[[/note]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' ([[UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube GameCube]], [=PS2=], UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, PC, 2006)[[note]][=NiGHTS=] is an unlockable character.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'' (UsefulNotes/WiiU, [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS]], 2013; Steam (PC), 2015)[[note]]The "Deadly Six Bonus Edition" includes a ''[=NiGHTS=]''-inspired level which features several characters from the main games.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' ([[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], 1998; [=GameCube=], 2003; [=PS3=], 360, Steam (PC), 2010)[[note]]The stage "Casinopolis" includes a pinball table which features ''[=NiGHTS=]'' imagery and music. The "A-Life" system for the Nightopians was reused for the Chao, and it is possible to raise a Chao that resembles [=NiGHTS=].[[/note]]

* DarkReprise: The main theme from the games gets a makeover when the player gets a game over (a more melancholy song if the time runs out on a regular level, and a LastNoteNightmare when the player loses in a boss fight). The most well-known version of all is whenever the titular character fights Reala, with the refrain of these battles is an angry, fierce reprise of "Dreams Dreams". ''Another'' instance is the first few seconds of the final boss fight in the original game.

After the initial game's success, a [[SelfContainedDemo demo]] disguised as both a spinoff and [[BonusMaterial bonus disc]] titled ''Christmas [=NiGHTS=] into Dreams...'' was released, featuring an extensive HolidayMode remix of the game's first level and serving as a minor epilogue to the original game. A [[ComicBook/NiGHTSIntoDreams six-issue miniseries]] by Creator/ArchieComics was published in 1998, and "The World of ''[=NiGHTS=] into Dreams...''" made an appearance in the ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite Worlds Unite]]'' crossover event, also by Archie. [=NiGHTS=] became a featured character in other Sega games, particularly crossovers with Sonic, and became somewhat infamous for having more appearances in other games than his own series.

After the initial game's success, a spinoff titled ''Christmas [=NiGHTS=]'' was developed, featuring an extensive HolidayMode remix of the game's first levels. A [[ComicBook/NiGHTSIntoDreams six-issue miniseries]] by Creator/ArchieComics was published in 1998, and "The World of ''[=NiGHTS=] into Dreams...''" made an appearance in the ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsUnite Worlds Unite]]'' crossover event, also by Archie. [=NiGHTS=] became a featured character in other Sega games, particularly crossovers with Sonic, and became somewhat infamous for having more appearances in other games than his own series.

* WidgetSeries: A pair of games centered around flying through vivid dreamscapes as a purple jester and reclaiming children's positive traits certainly doesn't spring to mind initially when one thinks of what Sega is famous for.