Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a visually stunning, narrative-driven stealth puzzle game that has garnered praise for its art direction, voice acting, and immersive world-building. Set in a detailed early 20th-century industrial city, the game offers a linear, isometric experience where players coordinate multiple characters to solve stealth puzzles. The gameplay is smooth and accessible, with a strong emphasis on storytelling and atmosphere rather than high difficulty or open-ended stealth mechanics.

Many players appreciate the game's beautiful cutscenes, natural dialogue, and well-crafted environments that evoke a lived-in world. However, despite its strengths, the game is noted for its relatively short duration, linearity, and limited replayability. The story, while intriguing, has been criticized for a weak ending and unresolved plot threads. Overall, Eriksholm stands out as a polished indie title with a unique style, recommended especially for fans of narrative stealth games, but some feel the price is steep given its length and scope.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the game's artistic design and detailed environments, comparing its style to acclaimed titles like Dishonored. The voice acting and natural character interactions enhance immersion, with incidental NPC dialogues adding depth to the world. Gameplay mechanics are described as smooth and enjoyable, blending stealth with puzzle elements that require timing and coordination. The cutscenes are lauded for their quality and seamless integration with gameplay, making the narrative engaging despite some story shortcomings. The game's atmosphere and sound design also receive positive mentions, contributing to a compelling stealth experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's short length, with many finishing it in under 10-15 hours, making the €40/$40 price tag feel high. The gameplay is often described as too linear and easy, with puzzles having essentially one solution and limited player choice or alternative strategies. Some players find the story disjointed or underdeveloped, especially toward the end where plot threads remain unresolved and new characters are introduced without sufficient context. Minor technical issues like occasional unresponsive controls and camera angle challenges are noted, along with a desire for more replayability and varied difficulty options.