Dolls Nest

Dolls Nest is a unique indie game blending Armored Core-style mech customization with Dark Souls-like exploration and atmosphere. Players pilot customizable mechs, called Dolls, through vast, interconnected industrial megastructures that evoke a sense of scale and desolation. The game offers a deep lore experience primarily through environmental storytelling, item descriptions, and cryptic NPC quests. Combat is a mix of ranged and melee attacks fueled by a shared ammo pool, encouraging tactical weapon management. The level design is praised for its verticality, shortcuts, and variety, though some areas feel repetitive visually. The game’s soundtrack and world-building receive strong commendations. However, the title suffers from technical issues such as optimization drops, graphical flickering, and bugs. Weapon balance and melee combat mechanics are frequently criticized for being frustrating and underdeveloped. Despite these flaws, many players appreciate the game's passion, atmosphere, and niche appeal, recommending it especially to fans of mecha and Souls-like genres.

Overall, Dolls Nest is seen as a promising but rough gem, with potential for improvement in future updates or sequels. It delivers a compelling experience for those willing to tolerate its jank and technical shortcomings.

Highlights

Players praise Dolls Nest for its engaging mech customization and diverse loadouts, which allow for varied playstyles. The level and environment design stand out, with massive, atmospheric megastructures that offer impressive verticality and exploration opportunities. The game’s soundtrack and lore add depth and immersion, with cryptic NPC quests and rich item descriptions enhancing the narrative. Combat is considered satisfying, especially the movement and ranged mechanics, drawing favorable comparisons to classic Armored Core and Dark Souls. The game’s unique fusion of mech action and Souls-like elements is highlighted as a fresh and enjoyable experience in the indie scene.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on technical issues such as frame rate drops in certain areas, graphical flickering, and bugs affecting combat animations and player movement. The weapon balance is a frequent complaint, with many weapons feeling underpowered or ammo-inefficient, leading to reliance on a small subset of loadouts. Melee combat is often described as clunky, with poor hitboxes and long cooldowns reducing its effectiveness. Some players find the visual fidelity lacking and the environments, while vast, sometimes repetitive in texture and design. The game’s difficulty is uneven, with bosses often feeling too easy or unchallenging, and some areas considered frustrating due to enemy placement or unclear progression. Additionally, the absence of a map and limited UI guidance can make navigation and quest tracking confusing.