Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream review - An unmissable debut

There’s something magic in the air this year with regards to the AA gaming space; Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 isn’t the only banger set to deliver. It’s not often that I find myself struggling for words. They’re my livelihood, after all. Truth be told, however, I don’t quite know how to encapsulate Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream’s beauty. River End Games’ debut release is both a marvel and a revelation, signalling a bright future for the studio that I’ll certainly be following closely. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream combines a compelling narrative with exceptionally crafted stealth gameplay, all set within a stunning isometric world that’s the real star of the show.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream centres around orphan Hanna in what begins as a very simple premise. Hanna’s brother, Herman, has gone missing and is on the run from the police having taken something. With law enforcement believing Hanna could lead them to him, they’re after her too. Her goal? Find Herman and discover what it is that he took. It’s not something Hanna is able to do alone, recruiting the help of Alva and Sebastian.

I’m not sure I’ve ever played a stealth title that’s quite as cognitively engaging as this. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream’s opening is perhaps what you might expect from a title from this genre. As Hanna, you need to evade law enforcement and smugglers by sticking to the shadows, observing patrol routes, and hiding the bodies of those you’ve tranquillised. Doing so is a joy, I should add, but this is a mere warm up to what you’ll encounter in the meat of the game.

Soon enough, Hanna is joined by Alva and Sebastian, and you’ll need to transport all three characters from A to B in each particular stealth section. They won’t all travel along the same path though, each having their own unique traversal quirk. Hanna can crawl through ventilation shafts, while Alva can climb drainpipes allowing her to gain the best vantage points. Sebastian is the only capable swimmer.

Traversal isn’t all you’ll need to consider, as each also comes equipped with their own stealth-related skill. Hanna can fire tranquillising darts, although she will need to do so discreetly from cover, making sure the leftover body will not be seen or discovered. Alva can throw pebbles, useful for creating distractions and breaking light bulbs. Sebastian is the brute of the team and is able to choke guards from behind.

Each character’s traversal mechanic may indicate the path in which they should most likely follow, but you won’t be able to treat them in isolation. River End Games has outdone itself when it comes to the formation of the game’s stealth puzzles, putting together thrilling encounters that require you to combine the skills of all three characters. Alva may need to use a stone to scare a flock of birds away, for example, making way for Sebastian to choke a guard whilst they’re distracted. Elsewhere, Hanna and Sebastian may need to act in quick succession, using a tranquillising dart and chokehold in tandem so that a pair of guards can be eliminated simultaneously so as not to raise the alarm.

Nordcurrent Labs

Perhaps that sounds rather simple on paper, but you’ll really need to switch your brain on here. I wouldn’t say anything featured within Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is unattainably hard in the slightest, but you’re unlikely to immediately reach a conclusion. Moving your three characters through a particular area via different paths can feel a tad mind-boggling at times, but when one encounters an obstacle they cannot contend with alone, there’s a wonderful “a-ha” moment of realising that a different character can actually assist from another vantage point.

You’ll need to do some keen observation to reach that “a-ha” moment. As I said, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is played from a 3D isometric perspective, something I usually find quite jarring but relished in here. By holding L2, on PlayStation 5 at least, players can engage with a free-roaming camera, surveying the nearby area from every angle - although you can only travel so far away from the selected character’s location. Swooping through Eriksholm’s winding and twisting streets may reveal a usable item or a new vantage point that one particular character can access. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is as much a puzzle game as it is a stealth one.

You shouldn’t be daunted though. First, Hanna is simply joined by Alva before Sebastian tags along too later on in the game. You’ll have ample time to get to grips with directing the three characters before the ante is upped - and when you do reach those final chapters, there’s a great sense of accomplishment (and relief!!!) that comes with completing each stealth section.

Should you fail and be seen (there is a warning period before you're spotted), and this is the only aspect of Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream I sense may be controversial, you’ll prompt the appearance of a ‘You’ve been spotted’ or ‘A body was found’ screen, amongst others. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is very generous, pretty much placing you down right where you left off, should that happen. Personally, that’s something I appreciated as I never became too fearful of experimenting with how I might overcome a certain obstacle. There are some, however, who I assume may be dismayed that Hanna and company aren’t able to evade pursuers somehow and re-enter cover.

Nordcurrent Labs

In the early chapters, I did think along those lines myself but as the game progressed and the sections you must navigate became narrower, more complex, and densely populated, it became clear to me that adding some kind of ‘escape’ mechanic after having been spotted simply wouldn’t have been possible. And narratively, it makes sense. Hanna may be resourceful and quick thinking but she’s young and certainly no match for the armed guards that spot her should you fail.

There are, from time to time, puzzles that don’t include stealth. An early game encounter required Hanna to navigate a crane to repower a generator. Later on, she was tasked with deciphering symbols to navigate a perilous mine. There’s little here I can criticise beyond the fact that I perhaps wish there were a few more puzzles of this variety later in the game. They don’t disappear entirely, but they’re few and far between which is a shame considering that they’re so fun to complete.

As I alluded to earlier, while Hanna is an easy protagonist to attach to, it’s the city of Eriksholm that is the jewel in this game’s crown. Unreal Engine 5 can yield hit and miss results, but River End Games has worked wonders. You’ll travel from the city’s suburbs and slums to grand palatial districts, passing through trade routes and caves. Each location feels like a maze, but one that is a treat to navigate. The world isn’t just populated by NPCs with predictable routes. Eriksholm is full of surprises. Guards have personalities; they chat. And in fact, listening in on their conversations may just provide a hint as to how you can get rid of them. Likewise, you may discover a resident of Eriksholm with something interesting to say. This game is about listening as well as observing.

As for the story, well, I’m keeping that one under wraps. Hanna, Alva, and Sebastian spend much of the former half of the game trying to uncover what it is that Herman stole and where he might now be. Of course, those questions are answered, sending us into a second act but it would be a disservice to touch on its contents. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream may not have the most emotionally arresting narrative I’ve ever encountered, but it’s captivating nonetheless.

Nordcurrent Labs

It’s a tale of corruption, oppression, and rebellion; themes that always retain a relevance. Hanna isn’t afraid to work against the status quo which is perhaps exactly what River End Games has done. The gaming industry’s focus on AAA titles with lengthy development periods has led us to an age of discontent and uncertainty, where layoffs are both commonplace and sadly expected. Yet it’s titles like Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream that remind us that things don’t have to be this way. AA games are delivering exactly what players want; that is fun, reasonably priced games that don’t take a decade to manifest.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream has it all. Between its thoughtful gameplay and enrapturing world, like the light-footed Hanna, River End Games hasn’t put a step wrong. It’s easily one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year and a welcomed reminder that creativity and talent can still find a platform to shine within our troubled industry.

Pros: Well-crafted stealth encounters, beautiful world, runs flawlessly

Cons: The story, while compelling, lacked a tiny bit of wow factor

For fans of: A Plague Tale, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Assassin’s Creed

9/10: Exceptional

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is set to release on 15 July on PlayStation 5 (version tested), Xbox Series X/S, and PC. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.