DOLLMAKER

About

DOLLMAKER is a single player arcade shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by STH and was released on May 7, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

DOLLMAKER is a first person shooter tower defense game where you, an anthropomorphic rat, traverse the town of Willoughby to harvest eggs for the purpose of creating the perfect doll

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

Unique hybrid gameplay combining first-person shooting, tower defense, and exploration, offering a fresh and engaging experience unlike traditional tower defense games.
Deep strategic elements with elemental tower interactions, mutator system, and roguelite progression that reward experimentation and adaptability.
Rich and distinctive atmosphere with surreal art style, bizarre characters, and an extensive world full of secrets, puzzles, and a fully fleshed out casino.

Steep learning curve and initially confusing mechanics, with some players struggling due to a lack of clear tutorial and guidance on progression.
Frustrating elements such as grenades that destroy towers requiring manual replacement, and the loss of resources and keys in outdoor exploration segments.
Certain mechanics and balance feel uneven, and the overall scope is relatively small, potentially leading to repetition after extended play.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay offers a fresh and engaging hybrid of first-person combat, tower defense, and roguelite elements, emphasizing strategic loadout balancing through elemental tower combinations and mutator customization. Its energetic, chaotic loop is enhanced by unique level mechanics and environmental storytelling, delivering a distinct experience that may surprise traditional tower defense fans but appeal to those seeking creative genre blends. However, some mechanics feel less polished, and the experience may not resonate with everyone.
- “The tower defense aspect feels delightfully fresh once you understand how it works: each tower has one of four elements with unique passive effects that stack on enemies. You need to combine two elements to cause a damaging sub-effect, requiring engaging balancing of your loadout and layout. This is further complicated by varied levels that include unique layouts, wonky tower projectile behaviors, and stage hazards like shifting platforms or a giant slot machine.”
- “The game combines elements of first-person shooting, trap-based defense systems, and roguelite progression into a single chaotic gameplay loop, merging active combat and strategic preparation to create an energetic and unpredictable experience.”
- “One of the most distinctive gameplay features is the mutator system, which allows players to modify the behavior of their traps and defensive tools. This mechanic reinforces the central theme of assembling the perfect doll while adding significant depth to the gameplay.”
- “Because it attempts to blend several genres together, some mechanics feel less refined than they might in a more focused game.”
- “I don't enjoy the gameplay too much, sadly, but the artistic direction and general atmosphere of the game is exactly the thing I love.”
- “Rather than presenting a traditional storyline through dialogue or cutscenes, the game relies on environmental details and gameplay progression to hint at the bizarre experiments and strange technologies that define the world of Willoughby.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics feature a bold, stylized, and surreal art style that effectively complements the game's unusual premise, creating a memorable and atmospheric experience despite modest graphical detail. Users appreciate the distinctive and striking aesthetic, often comparing it positively to similarly unique titles.
- “Visually, Dollmaker adopts a stylized and somewhat surreal aesthetic that matches its strange premise.”
- “While the graphical detail is modest compared to larger modern titles, the art direction succeeds in creating a memorable atmosphere that supports the game’s unusual concept.”
- “The visuals are very bold, and I think it works overall.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The story is subtly conveyed through environmental details and gameplay progression, revealing a mysterious world filled with secrets and puzzles. Rather than traditional cutscenes or dialogue, the narrative unfolds as players explore and advance, offering a richly layered experience reminiscent of games like Cruelty Squad.
- “Deeper still below all that there are plenty of secrets and puzzles that continue to unfurl and expand the game's world, story, and systems as you play. Examples of which I will keep tight lipped on as they are best experienced firsthand, but if you vibed with the later parts and secret levels of something like Cruelty Squad, this game is a must play.”
- “Rather than presenting a traditional storyline through dialogue or cutscenes, the game relies on environmental details and gameplay progression to hint at the bizarre experiments and strange technologies that define the world of Willoughby.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music effectively establishes an eerie atmosphere with environmental sounds and background tracks, though it remains understated during intense action scenes. However, some users highlight the soundtrack as a standout, contributing to their enjoyment of the game.
- “Environmental sounds and background music help establish the eerie tone of the setting, though the soundtrack remains relatively understated compared to the intensity of the action.”
- “Including it just has my favorite aspects in a game: 1) a tower defense with an actual unique feature(s), 2) FPS shooter, 3) awesome music!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its distinctive art direction, which effectively complements its unique concept despite modest graphical detail. Players find the ambiance memorable and engaging, even if gameplay enjoyment varies.
- “While the graphical detail is modest compared to larger modern titles, the art direction succeeds in creating a memorable atmosphere that supports the game’s unusual concept.”
- “I don't enjoy the gameplay too much, sadly, but the artistic direction and general atmosphere of the game is exactly the thing I love.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect allows players to invest resources outside of missions to upgrade weapons, improve trap effectiveness, increase inventory capacity, and unlock new abilities, enhancing overall gameplay customization and efficiency.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor is dark and unexpected, featuring quirky elements like a hanging victim who sells keys and jump scares players when approached, adding a unique comedic twist to the gameplay.
- “It's funny to buy keys for more levels from a hanging victim that jumpscares you when you walk up to his shop.”