Chris InglisEriksholm: The Stolen Dream is an isometric narrative-driven stealth game developed by River End Games and published by Nordcurrent Labs. The game launched on July 15 on PC and consoles, and from its opening moments, pulls you into the richly imagined fictitious world of Eriksholm, a place of beauty, hardship, and adventure, heavily inspired by the Nordic cities of the 1900s.
When Hanna’s brother, Herman, disappears and the police begin to pursue him, the police want to question her. She flees in search of Herman which sets off a chain of catastrophic events that will not only alter their lives but also the destiny of the entire city. The plot unfolds with a deliberate pace, revealing layers of backstory and character motivations through well-crafted dialogue, collectibles with newspaper clippings or hand-written notes, and environmental storytelling. The central mystery of the stolen dream is genuinely engaging, prompting constant speculation and rewarding careful observation.
Character development is another significant strength. The protagonists are well-rounded and relatable, each carrying their own burdens and motivations that drive the narrative forward. Their interactions feel authentic, fostering a strong emotional connection. Supporting characters also contribute meaningfully to the world-building and overall atmosphere, making Eriksholm feel like a living, breathing place.
Gameplay in Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream revolves around stealth puzzles and environmental exploration. While not as hardcore or open-ended as titles like Shadow Tactics or Stargate: Timekeepers, it demands thoughtful execution and precise timing. You initially control Hanna, crawling through ventilation shafts and utilising her sedative darts, and later join forces with Alva (who can smash lights with pebbles and climb pipes) and Sebastian (who can swim and choke out guards), enabling clever tag-team stealth operations.
The game excels in its environmental interactions, requiring players to make astute use of their surroundings—from scaring birds to create noise, to waiting for a train to rattle past to mask movement across loud metal grates. This reliance on timing and patience, combined with generally generous checkpoints, makes the trial-and-error nature of the stealth puzzles less frustrating. Panning the camera around the scene revealed alternative paths to take as well as collectibles to try aim for.
Visually, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is stunning. The art direction creates a distinct and memorable aesthetic, blending Nordic inspirations with an early 1900s industrial feel. The isometric view allows us to see some amazing visuals with buildings overhanging waterways, the use of lighting in darker areas, and detailed environments perfectly capture the game’s mood. The sombre and emotive music and sound design further enhances the immersion, with a haunting score and subtle ambient effects that draw players deeper into this mysterious world.
Overall, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is an excellent isometric stealth adventure with great storytelling and atmosphere. It’s a journey that will appeal to anyone who appreciates a deep, character-driven narrative with a compelling mystery at its heart, complemented by engaging stealth gameplay. For those that usually struggle with high stealth games, this is definitely much less punishing, and the story is well worth playing through.
This review utilised a Steam key provided by ICO Partners and Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is out now on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox and PlayStation.
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Daniel Agius