Why Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Could Be 2025’s Standout Stealth Experience

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Stealth games frequently feature main characters who are members of special forces, spies, or ninjas – all highly skilled and emotionally detached professionals in espionage. These characters often undertake missions that involve counter-terrorism, infiltrating enemy territories, navigating warzones, or exploring clandestinely through foreign countries. They usually carry a variety of tactical equipment to help them outsmart their targets, and they strike without mercy before disappearing back into the shadows.

In the novel “Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream,” you are not described as a specialist of darkness or any other specific role. Instead, you play Hanna, a determined young woman who has been compelled to live a life of hiding and evasion in order to find her missing brother Hermann. You outwit the city’s police force, who are also searching for him. Hanna’s unique abilities include an intuitive understanding of the city of Eriksholm and a close bond with its residents, many of whom are agnostic. Her primary motivations are to rekindle her emotional connection with her brother and bring her family back together.

In her quest to solve the enigma of Hermann’s disappearance, Hanna sets off a series of events that could alter the course of her city’s future dramatically. As she delves deeper into the refined facade of Eriksholm, she unwittingly awakens forces more sinister than she had anticipated. The revelation of the city’s hidden truths serves as a beacon, shining brightly but casting long, ominous shadows; these hidden corners become her sanctuaries where she can find refuge, much like the skilled agents in stealth games would do.

The narrative of “Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream” deviates from the usual recipe. Hanna, who is not suited for combat or even killing, has been exposed to authority in the past but remains susceptible. Yet, her extensive knowledge of the city and its inhabitants serves as her most potent weapon. This is far more effective than the tranquilizer gun she obtains later on during her mission. Navigating shadowy alleyways, tapping into hidden underground systems, and maneuvering through narrow passages enables her to reach critical locations quicker than her pursuers.

As I move through this town, the locals greet me warmly and naturally, even lending a helping hand by casually guiding me with their conversations. While the core mechanics of Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream might feel familiar from other games in the genre – watching for patrols, throwing distracting objects, hiding in tall grass – it’s Hanna who makes this game truly unique as its main character.

In this game, Hanna isn’t the only character you can control, as Alva joins her in the adventure too, followed by Sebastian at a later point. The ability to switch between controlling these characters is flexible throughout the game. Each character has unique abilities; Hanna moves through vents, Alva climbs drain pipes, and Sebastian can swim, for example. Collaboration between the party members is essential to solve environmental puzzles and progress together. Unlike the multi-character approach in the stealth game “Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun,” where each operative was distinct but could often tackle obstacles alone, here you need to work together. For instance, one character might fire a cannon to create a path that was previously inaccessible for another team member.

In creating the puzzles for the game “Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream“, the team at River End Games, based in Gothenburg, drew inspiration from the collaborative approach of fellow Swedish studios like Hazelight Studios, as seen in games such as “Split Fiction“. In these games, players must work together to overcome obstacles, with no progress possible without collaboration and the combined use of unique character abilities. While “Eriksholm” offers a single-player mode, it still employs similar design principles, where players are encouraged to carefully analyze environmental cues and challenges based on character skills, before choosing the most effective path through each scene.

River End Games’ Game Director Anders Hejdenberg labels Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream as a game that primarily focuses on narrative, blending stealth and puzzle elements. It is the importance placed on storytelling that influences many development decisions made by Hejdenberg to enhance the game’s compelling narrative aspects.

Eriksholm, the city, draws inspiration from early 20th century Nordic urban centers. Since several members of River End Games’ team of seventeen grew up and resided in Sweden, they recognized the area’s widespread charm and dedicated themselves to designing a setting that is at once beautiful and truthful, yet subtly influenced by economic and political unrest. Each district within the city has its own distinct character, showcasing culture, architecture, and social structure that are noticeably different from one another.

In essence, Eriksholm’s design takes inspiration from elements of Dunwall (from Dishonored) and Revachol (Disco Elysium), with a touch of Studio Ghibli’s dreamlike quality, particularly reminiscent of Kiki’s Delivery Service. Like Revachol in Disco Elysium, Eriksholm grapples with class conflict, amplified by the ominous threat of unchecked industrialization and capitalism’s potential destruction. Similar to Disco Elysium, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream presents these themes from various viewpoints for players to ponder upon. To avoid stereotypes, the creators have chosen not to portray wealthy areas as inhabited by villains. Instead, the city feels authentic and relatable. As a story-driven game, the design of any other city wouldn’t be as impactful in evoking emotions.

It’s not surprising that River End Games chose to build their game around the city itself as its foundation. This place, rich in history yet poised at the brink of a technologically affluent future, offers a captivating backdrop for the game’s events. The game’s puzzles, characters, guards, and casual passersby all pulse with the same lifeblood. The story weaves through every aspect; each element has its own tale to unfold.

In the game Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream, the story takes precedence over any other elements, making it more structured than similar stealth action-adventure games. This is evident in its instant resets reminiscent of games like Limbo and Inside. For example, when a character is spotted by a guard, the screen goes dark and the failure is reset to the beginning of that encounter. Each interaction in the game is carefully designed, with enemies’ reactions and NPC behaviors specifically tailored for certain situations. If players were allowed to hide until guards lose interest, it would disrupt the progression of the narrative.

In the discussion about whether Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream maximizes its potential for immersive stealth gameplay, approaching it with the mindset that it’s a story to be lived through the lens of stealth can help minimize any issues that might break immersion. Moreover, solutions to puzzles are often hinted at within the game itself, like when enemy dialogue suggests a guard is afraid of birds, so you could potentially use this knowledge to create a distraction. These “lightbulb” moments make the linear design feel less restrictive. Although Eriksholm isn’t an open-world game, having the freedom to choose how to solve problems while enjoying a compelling narrative that moves at a carefully crafted pace is an appealing proposition, making Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream one of the most anticipated stealth games.

From a side-view perspective, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream may seem similar to games like Commandos, Desperados, or Shadow Tactics. However, this comparison is primarily based on visuals. In reality, this first release from River End Games shares more resemblance with emotionally engaging narrative-driven games such as A Plague Tale. Interestingly, the characters in Eriksholm also grapple with a crippling disease called Heartpox. But what sets it apart is its unique stealth-based gameplay, which serves as a means to unfold and advance the storyline.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

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2025-06-27 17:11