Is This Narrative a Dream Worth Stealing?

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a narrative-driven stealth game set during the Industrial Revolution. It features a world ravaged by a plague and brought to its knees by industrial decay. You are introduced to this world, one of beauty and hardship, where a young woman’s search for her brother will change the fate of an entire city. But is it a story that will pull on your heartstrings, or one that leaves you wanting more? Read on to find out!

A Narrative Journey and a Brother’s Search

The story begins with our young protagonist, Hanna, who has just survived the Heartpox plague. She wakes up to find her brother, Herman, by her side. He is her sole family, and he is working hard to provide for both of them. Herman disappears one day, and the police turn up, desperate to learn of his whereabouts. They question Hanna, naturally keen to pursue him. Hanna manages to distract them long enough to be able to slip away undetected and, now alone, she embarks on a quest to find her brother and uncover the truth behind his disappearance, whilst enlisting the help of two allies, Alva and Sebastian. As the story unfolds, the trio’s search for Herman escalates into a chain of catastrophic events that will forever change their lives and the fate of Eriksholm.

Shadow and Cunning

The gameplay is an isometric stealth experience that places a strong emphasis on puzzle-solving. You control Hanna initially, but as the story progresses, you gain two more playable characters: Alva and Sebastian. Each of the three characters has unique skills and abilities, and it is up to you to decide whose abilities best fit the puzzle at hand. Hanna is able to crawl through vents, Alva can climb drainpipes, and Sebastian can swim and is the only one who can strangle enemies.

As alluded to already, you will often need to switch between these characters to overcome obstacles, solve puzzles, and outsmart your enemies. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is built around these characters’ abilities, with most levels having a “correct” solution in mind. To achieve success, you must do things such as observe guard patrol patterns, use environmental cues, and employ diversion tactics to evade detection. While the game is more of a puzzle game than an open-ended stealth sandbox, the joy comes from executing a perfectly timed plan where each character’s move flows into the next.

When a character is spotted, the game restarts from a recent checkpoint. This is a fair and welcome mechanic that removes frustration. However, Eriksholm can also be very harsh. For example, if you try to solve puzzles in a way the developers didn’t intend, you will fail (usually by being detected). This can lead to replaying some puzzles far more often than you’d like, which ultimately becomes frustrating.

An Industrial Canvas

The visuals in Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream are a significant highlight, with absolutely stunning art direction that brings the 1900s Scandinavian-inspired city to life. The isometric perspective is used to great effect, showcasing a world full of believable environmental details, from narrow gas-lit alleys to cluttered docks. It also features high-quality, pre-rendered cinematics that are jaw-droppingly detailed and are used to convey the story’s most emotional moments. While these are used sparingly, the overall look of the game is consistently strong, and it is really easy to become engrossed with the visuals alone. The audio design is also well-executed, with a main voice cast doing a solid job of lending emotional depth to the story. In addition to that, the world feels alive with the conversations of NPCs and the sound of the environment as you progress through it.

A Dream Once Realised

The replay value is somewhat limited. The linear nature of the gameplay, with most encounters having a single, scripted solution, does not encourage multiple playthroughs. While there are collectibles scattered throughout the levels that add to the world’s lore, these are unlikely to be enough of a draw for a second run, which is a shame because the environments are almost screaming to be investigated fully. The main campaign can be completed in around eight hours for a skilled player, and up to twelve hours for a completionist. Given this, it is likely to be a “one-and-done” experience for most players.

Conclusion

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream successfully combines a compelling narrative with a unique and satisfying stealth-puzzle experience, all wrapped up in some of the most beautiful visuals you’re likely to find in any game to date. The character-switching mechanic and level design are brilliant, offering a series of challenges that are almost always fun. While some players might find the linear, puzzle-like nature of the stealth to be limiting, it is a deliberate design choice that works well within the context of the game. However, it can also be rather frustrating because it somewhat limits your creativity. The visuals and audio create a rich and immersive world that is a true pleasure to explore. Overall, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a beautiful game which is an absolute pleasure to play.

Grade: 8/10 – Very Good