Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

As a general rule, stealth games rely on the enemy AI to be total dunderheads. Gun-toting grunts can only search for an imposter for about thirty seconds before inexplicably stating, “Well, I guess they’ve gone,” before resuming their patrol without a care in the world. Even worse, what about all those times they find the dead corpse of one of their allies, search briefly for the culprit, before returning to their daily tasks, presumably then stepping over their dead colleague as they continue to meander around the place? It’s all very silly, and leads to the player – well, me at least – funda...

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a wonderful adventure in a gorgeous world, and deserves to put River End Games well and truly on the map.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream delivers its vision with confidence. It’s clear that River End Games set out to create an immersive, story-driven adventure rooted in a rich, detailed world and they’ve succeeded. The engaging narrative, supported by strong voice acting, adds authenticity and emotional weight to the characters. Every element feels purposeful, from the thoughtful storytelling to the smart use of puzzles and stealth mechanics. Together, these pieces come together to create something truly special.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a little gem of indie games. It has amazing visuals, cleverly designed levels with challenging gameplay, and the real star of the game is its main character, Hanna.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a brand new stealth game that I'm very happy I played so if you're ready, keep it quiet and let's get sneaking.

Appledise Lost

A stealth game played from an isometric viewpoint, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is likely to win you over thanks to its stunning visuals, engaging narrative and rewarding scenarios that are best approached like puzzles.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream won't offer anything that stealth aficionados haven't seen before, but its world-building and gameplay execution make it worth a look.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a good game that could have been so much more if some changes were made. The game is way too short, and the fact that there's usually only one solution in each level removes replayability, making it a one-and-done experience with almost zero reason to return. Unless, however, you're a completionist looking to find all the collectibles. Still, I'm happy I played it due to its fantastic stealth mechanics and heartfelt "stick it to the man" story of political corruption.

In an industry where high-fidelity graphics are so often associated with triple-A titles, you’d be forgiven for assuming Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a triple-A title too. But no, this narrative stealth game set in a fictional city reminiscent of industrial-era London reminds us that the big publishers don’t have a monopoly on looking great, offering a 10-15 hour experience of movie-quality story and characters with a solid gameplay foundation to back it up.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream offers luxurious cutscenes and a focused twist on stealth by remaining intentionally inflexible, but doesn't quite pull it all together.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream wants to spin a grand Dickensian tale centered on the familial bond of a street urchin and her brother, but this ambition is betrayed by its lack of emotional stakes. And while its stealth puzzles can be intriguing and challenging at times, thanks to the ability to swap among multiple characters, these largely fail to deviate from the genre's long-held conventions.