Garage: Bad Dream Adventure (Limited Release 1999 Japanese Point-and-Click Game)

Developed by Kinotrope and originally released in early 1999 (in limited numbers) was a Japanese PC/Macintosh game titled Garage: Bad Dream Adventure (though referred to by many simply as Garage).

The point-and-click game, directed by Tomomi Sakuba, features bizarre, surreal and often nightmarish (as the title implies) imagery. The player controls a small alien-like robot, maneuvering their way through a barren, foreboding landscape of cracked wood panelling and rusted, broken down machinery, complete with creepy, lifeless faces. The eerie background music only adds to the sense of impending danger, making for a very disturbing atmosphere.

A relatively recent search effort for the game, spearheaded largely by 4chan's /vr/ board, has uncovered multiple copies for sale, though said copies have always been immensely expensive. It was also discovered that a special "private edition" was made available for a short time in April of 2004 through Sakuba's official website (released in very limited numbers, allegedly selling out in just two weeks), consisting of the game itself, plus a collection of concept art. Notably, the regular version of the game also remained available for purchase on Sakuba's website, up until September of 2007, when it was officially discontinued.

Despite it still being officially available for purchase just seven years ago, no downloadable copies of Garage have ever shown up online, and the game has since become incredibly rare and sought-after. Over the past few years, several owners have come forward, claiming to own copies of the rarity, though they have all been reluctant to provide a rip to the online community, fearing punishment on account of Japan's strict anti-piracy laws. One owner, however, has been kind enough to provide roughly 50 minutes of gameplay footage, and a short trailer has also been unearthed.

Garage will likely remain /vr/'s "holy grail" of sorts, until the inevitable happens, and the game is finally unleashed upon the cheering masses.