surreal storytelling in "ENA: Dream BBQ"

I've played a few surreal-feeling games before, with ENA: Dream BBQ being one of my favorites so far. It really leans hard into the surreal, to the point where I'm not entirely sure what is happening at any given point in the game. But it's never a bad thing--I know enough, almost inherently, that I can really suspend my disbelief (and I mean really suspend it) enough to kind of just go along with things. One thing I know for sure: ENA is searching for the boss.

https://braintreehighstudentpress.com/4665/media/ena-dream-bbq-the-fever-dream-steam-loves/, ENA yelling at Froggy about their job.

ENA: Dream BBQ is a game based off of a YouTube web-series with similar surreal elements. Both the series and the game have some internet/technological references and symbols that tie them possibly to a surreal interpretation of whatever it is that happens on the internet. Weirdly enough, I do see the connection there--so much is constantly happening on the internet that it almost needs to be interpreted through surrealism.

The game is still being made, with only the first chapter being currently out. However, something I've noticed throughout the game is more symbolism of war. I'm not quite sure what it means, since on top of this being a very surreal game, there's only one chapter to go off of. However, the ENA of this game is depicted wearing what could be a military-ish uniform; there's also a specific scene that flashes where ENA is suddenly transported to what seems to be a battlefield, covered in bullets, while they cry out that "I'm not doing what you say I'm doing! I'm not doing anything at all!" This dialogue is a reaction to one of many characters immediately being rude to ENA, or denying her information/service, due to some past interaction that is never explained. A lot of the characters in this game don't seem to be a fan of ENA, but this is one of the only parts where ENA actually fights against it--and seems to feel guilty, or distressed over something. And in typical ENA: Dream BBQ fashion, it's never explained after it happens.

There's also a weird emphasis on employment, and jobs, which could have to do with the themes of eating and food also present in the game. Money doesn't seem to be nearly as valuable as chocolate coins instead, and there's weirdly a lot of eating stuff that's going on--even cannibalism. In terms of jobs, there's a specific interaction where ENA is shocked that someone would prevent another person from working--to them, that's a terrible crime, completely reprehensible. Even ENA themselves is completely oriented around working, talking about work, and looking for new "divestment opportunities." The opening of the game is, in fact, a job--and it's to find "the boss" (we also don't know who this is, but apparently they're already dead but also haven't been born yet). It's not even clear what we're doing with the boss when we find them, maybe we're supposed to kill them, which would also tie back into the war/soldier themes and symbolism we see through ENA.

ENA: Dream BBQ is probably the most surreal game I've ever played by definition alone. André Breton, the guy who pretty much started the surrealist movement, placed a ton of emphasis on the unconscious and it's processes. To me, ENA: Dream BBQ perfectly captures this unconscious, dream-like effect (it is in the name, to be fair), to the point where the player kind of just has to go along with things as they happen. In an attempt to capture this "super-reality," a lot of surreal writing establishes nonsensical rules for their worlds to follow--typically, these rules fly in the face of what would be expected in the real world. But by having the other characters (including the main characters) in a story act in such a way where it just seems to be everyday life for them, it kind of just forces you to go along with it. Not sure what that thing is you just picked up? Well, apparently it's a pet, and also a baby, and also food. No one else is 100% sure either. Did that wizard just tell you to get a life? Bring him a motherboard and he'll make you one from scratch.

I'm interested to see where this ENA's story goes (since there seems to be multiple, because of course there are). I'm mostly curious what this surreal story is representative of--the war symbolism is especially intriguing to me. Is this dream-world experiencing a war-induced famine? Is that why everyone is so obsessed with jobs, and idolizes those that are employed? I'm wondering how using surrealism in a story/game like this changes the meaning conveyed to the audience. I'm still not entirely sure what meaning I'm trying to grasp.

"All it takes is a place and the right food."