Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream – Ambitious Debut in the Stealth Genre

• DEVELOPER: River End Games
• PUBLISHER: Nordcurrent Labs
• PLATFORMS: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
• GENRE: Stealth / Adventure
• RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2025
• STARTING PRICE: 39,99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Imagine a city that looks like it stepped right out of a 1900s Stockholm postcard, but with a layer of dystopian gloom and intrigue worthy of a game like Dishonored. That is the setting for Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream, an isometric stealth adventure that isn’t afraid to challenge classics like Commandos or Shadow Tactics, all while adding a modern twist and an emotional story.

Developed by the Swedish studio River End Games, a small team of just 19 people with a pedigree from AAA titles like Battlefield and Little Nightmares, this game represents an ambitious debut that delivers a mix of tense tactical gameplay, cinematic scenes, and Nordic charm. But is Eriksholm a new star of the stealth genre or just a beautifully packaged attempt at reinventing tactical games?

An Intimate Tale That Loses Its Way

In a city fractured by social divides, from the rich villas of the rich to the poor streets of the working class, a sense of unease hangs in the air, fueled by the infectious plague known as the Heartpox. At the heart of this turmoil is Hanna, a young girl who has just recovered from the disease. Desperate, she searches for her brother Herman, a miner who has vanished after stealing a mysterious object, leaving her to navigate the city as she is pursued by the police.

“After very good introductory chapters, which focus on Hanna’s personal struggle, the story broadens into a larger conspiracy involving political intrigue and corruption.”

Hanna’s journey takes a turn when she is joined by an unlikely pair: Alva, a resistance leader with a commanding presence, and Sebastian, a reclusive explosives expert who holds many secrets. Together, this trio forms the emotional core of the story, their complex relationships carrying the weight of the narrative as they delve deeper into the city’s secrets.

The dialogue feels natural and authentic too, grounded by a subtle dose of Scandinavian humor and restraint. Hanna is a particularly memorable character; her vulnerability and determination make her easy to root for. Her companions also add further layers of energy and intrigue to the narrative. The trio’s relationships develop gradually, and the high-budget, cinematic cutscenes help to deepen our connection to the cast and their journey.

Despite its many strengths, the narrative has a few weaknesses. After very good introductory chapters, which focus on Hanna’s personal struggle, the story broadens into a larger conspiracy involving political intrigue and corruption. This is where the plot begins to lose its focus. The villains become generic, and the motivations of certain side characters feel superficial.

Clocking in at about 8 to 10 hours, the game’s length feels ideal for a story of this kind, as it avoids unnecessary padding. However, some might find it too short for the 40 euro price. Even so, each level is designed with a variety of environments, ranging from dockside warehouses to open-ended areas, making you feel as if you’ve explored the entire city by the time you’re finished.

Steampunk Commandos with a Modern Twist

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is one of those stealth games that demands patience, planning, and precision. The game is played from an isometric perspective, and you control Hanna, Alva, and Sebastian, with each character having unique abilities that you must combine to solve complex stealth puzzles. Hanna can fire tranquilizer darts and squeeze through tight spaces, Alva can break lights and climb high structures, while Sebastian can swim and incapacitate guards.

Unlike the sandbox approach of, for example, Desperados III, where you have more freedom in solving missions, Eriksholm is linear, with levels that typically have one or two correct solutions. Each level is like a carefully constructed puzzle where guards have fixed routes, and your task is to synchronize your moves with their movements. This can be incredibly satisfying when everything “clicks”, for example, when Alva breaks a light to create a shadow, Hanna slips through a ventilation duct, and Sebastian distracts a guard by throwing a stone. However, the linear structure can feel limiting for players who love to experiment.

“Eriksholm is linear, with levels that typically have one or two correct solutions.”

Classic line-of-sight cones have been replaced by a more realistic system where guards react to sound, movement, and light. The environment is in fact your ally, allowing you to throw rocks, use birds to create noise, or hide in tall grass. These mechanics make stealth feel organic, as you rely on observation and improvisation. For instance, one level requires you to use the sound of the wind to mask your footsteps. Checkpoints are frequent, which reduces frustration upon failure, but the “instadeath” mechanic when you’re spotted can be demotivating, as there is no option for escape or combat.

The best moments come in the later levels, where all characters work together in complex sequences. Quickly switching between them as you execute perfectly timed moves provides the feeling that you are directing a tense scene from a heist film. Still, the limited solutions and short duration mean the game doesn’t have much replay value.

Technical Masterpiece

Visually, Eriksholm is a small miracle, especially considering the budget and the size of the team that created it. The use of Unreal Engine 5 and MetaHuman technology resulted in cutscenes that look like they came from a studio with a tenfold larger budget. The lighting effects are particularly impressive, from flickering lamps to dynamic shadows that change the gameplay. Here, shadows are not just aesthetic; they are crucial for hiding, making the visual design as functional as it is appealing.

“The voice acting is top-notch, especially for Hanna and Alva, whose voices convincingly convey complex emotions.”

The sound is equally impressive. The voice acting is top-notch, especially for Hanna and Alva, whose voices convincingly convey complex emotions. Sebastian’s voice is a bit more restrained, which suits his character, but side characters sometimes sound generic, especially the guards whose dialogues are repetitive. The ambient sounds are a real treat, for example, the creaking of wooden floors, the clanging of tools in the harbor, and even the distant sounds of a riot intensely and naturally immerse you in the game’s world.

Sadly, the isometric perspective can cause issues with precise positioning, especially in narrow passages where characters sometimes get “stuck” on edges. There are also occasional frame rate drops in more densely populated areas, especially during transitions between levels, but nothing that would require a serious fix. For the most part, the game runs smoothly with minimal bugs.

A Very Good Debut

When we sum everything up, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a very beautiful and atmospheric title with a lot of potential, but with some unfinished elements. However, its linear structure and limited depth prevent it from reaching the status of genre classics. If you are looking for the complexity, you won’t find it in this game. On the other hand, if you enjoy narrative stealth adventures and don’t mind a bit of hand-holding, this is a treat worth your time.

Review copy provided by the publisher