Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is the breakout title for Swedish developer River End Games - and they are coming out swinging. Taking players on an immersive and emotional journey in a somewhat alternate history, join Hanna in her adventures through the vibrant city of Eriksholm. While indeed vibrant with color, activity and character- it is also a city dealing with the heartpox: a devastating disease that is more often than not a death sentence for those who contract it- very few skirting by into the graces of recovery. Bringing this unique city and it's circumstances to life is no easy feat, nor the stealth-reliant gameplay that makes up the core of this one-of-a-kind experience.

Against all odds, Hanna manages to recover from the heartpox- a devastating disease ravaging parts of Eriksholm.

For a majority of the game, players will control Hanna, an orphan girl who has made a living through a less-than-honest line of work. Following the death of her parents, and finding herself the sole caretaker of her brother Herman, they leave behind what they knew, struggling to make an honest living, and staying under the radar of local law enforcement. But with Hanna contracting heartpox unexpectedly, Herman does what is needed to assure his sisters recovery at ANY cost.

Use machinery noise to cover the sound of your footfalls, and moving crates to break line of sight to safely navigate your way out.

One of the main highlights of Eriksholm is it's ease of play. By using situational awareness, as well as diversional tactics, players navigate past local law enforcement who are hot on your trail. Controls are simple, and straight forward, allowing you to easily control and switch between multiple characters who you will use in conjunction to weave your way through the city. While Hanna can slink through small spaces, she also has use of her blowpipe- a tool that comes in handy when your passage may seem otherwise impossible. I decided to play using a 360 controller, and swapping between characters was a breeze- the D-Pad allowing for quick responsive inputs. And let me assure you, sometimes you need to be quick. While a standard run-of-the-mill guard may go down with a singular tranq dart, more seasoned and protected guards will not. It will require your WHOLE crew working in succession to bring down some of the tougher enemies. Keep in mind, before you take someone down, where they will land, or if they are small enough, where you can drag the body off to for them to "enjoy" the duration of their "nap"... undisturbed.

Cause and effect- find ways to manipulate your targets, and achieve your goals. The boss says no wine? No problem!

Players enjoying collectables will absolutely find some enjoyment here, though you can find them just by observation and through coverage. Most of the collectables also serve to set the backdrop of the city, giving you additional flavor text to an already vivid city. This somewhat is an overarching theme to Eriksholm: Not difficult, but fluidly enjoyable. As long as you pay attention, and are aware of what is going on around you- the game in itself really is NOT a difficult one. And to be honest, there's no need for it to be. The game scratches this odd little itch of puzzles that require just enough thought without stumping you, and dissuading you from the game entirely. Taking a moment to step back and assess your situation, in combination with good timing will usually be more than enough to solve most puzzles, and I honestly found it a very enjoyable and leisurely pace.

Stay undetected in the dark, and make note of discussions- it may help you in the long run.

I found a great sense of enjoyment at the natural progression I made through the levels, and the bits of story that were breadcrumbed throughout. You are being constantly fed, and that is a large part of the draw. However, as the title draws to a close, I also found it could be one of the weaker elements, as well. With a game of this nature, the gameplay is there to accentuate the story. It's unique, and impressive- and so strong that at time, the weaker aspects stick out glaringly. Armed with an AMAZING use of motion capture and cast, cutscenes are amazing, capturing heaps of emotion and really pulling you in to this story River End Games has woven. However, as it started to conclude, I found myself really wanting MORE. I wanted to know more about Hannas origins, and the work other supporting characters like Alva did. I wanted to know how Herman got caught up in the situations that he did, and what all transpired post game. I felt like there were points that could have been really highlighted and built on to make a truly immersive story were skirted, in some sense, and upon conclusion, just left me hungry.

The darkness is your friend. And sometimes, there's nothing a well placed rock can't accomplish.

Ultimately Eriksholm: The Stolen dream is a phenomenal introductory title by the developers at River End Games, and while not perfect, it honestly showed me what lengths they were willing to go, and what kind of narratives they can craft. It's struck a fun balance that I think few titles have hit with me- which is refreshing. While not an insanely lengthy game (you can easily play through in under 10 hours, and that's including sitting through all the dialogue and cutscenes) I think it has a more-than-fair asking price. Oozing with heart and heaps of talent, it's absolutely a title not to miss. Of note, it will not be everyone's cup of tea, but fans of more historical geared fiction, stealth mechanics, and narrative-driven play: buckle up! You're in for a fantastic ride.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is available for purchase on the Steam Marketplace for $39.99 USD.