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Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Launches to Mixed Reviews Over Rigid Stealth Design

Celebrated for high-fidelity Unreal Engine 5 visuals plus robust voice performances, the title faces criticism over memory-based stealth puzzles alongside a narrowing story arc.

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Hanna's face, half-lit by a sunset.
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Overview

  • River End Games and Nordcurrent Labs released Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream on July 14, placing players in a 19th-century plague-ravaged Nordic city.
  • Critics uniformly praise its stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals and robust voice acting for creating an immersive, atmospheric experience.
  • The isometric stealth encounters draw criticism for their strict, puzzle-like design that demands precise, memory-based solutions.
  • Scripted guard behaviors and instant-fail checkpoints contribute to a repetitive trial-and-error gameplay loop that limits player creativity.
  • Reviewers note that a promising community-driven narrative in early chapters gives way to a narrower personal conflict featuring a stereotypical villain.