Dollmare
- October 24, 2024
- alxgrade
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Dollmare" is a horror game where you work at a doll factory to make money, but it's not the typical horror experience. There are no monsters or fighting, but the atmosphere is still oppressive and unpredictable. Every playthrough is unique, with many events shaped by the moment, providing a distinct and suspenseful journey. The game aims to create a sense of unease and fear, making it a psychological horror experience for players who are looking for something different.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and unique gameplay that combines doll inspection with a creepy atmosphere, providing a fresh take on horror.
- Great story and character design, with multiple endings that encourage replayability and exploration of different scenarios.
- Well-crafted sound design and visuals that enhance the unsettling experience without relying on jump scares.
- The game can feel repetitive at times, with some players finding the doll inspection tasks tedious after a while.
- Some bugs and crashes have been reported, particularly towards the end of the game, which can disrupt the experience.
- While marketed as having no jump scares, some players experienced unexpected scares that contradicted this claim.
- story59 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story has received praise for its engaging and eerie narrative, with many players finding it immersive and reminiscent of childhood tales. While some reviews noted that the story is relatively short and could benefit from additional content, the overall atmosphere and unique twists kept players invested and eager for multiple playthroughs. Despite a few criticisms regarding pacing and depth, the storytelling is generally regarded as a highlight, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of horror and narrative-driven games.
“After playing the demo, I had to finish the entire game. I really enjoyed every moment and found the overall story fantastic.”
“Beneath the surface, the story slowly reveals eerie secrets about the factory’s past and the strange behavior of the dolls, keeping you on edge as you explore.”
“These guys have obviously put in so much hard work and great detailing; the story is an experience in itself, vintage vibes and that constant feeling of apprehension, different endings too, worth a couple of replays so you don't miss anything.”
“The 'good' ending was a bit of a letdown as there isn't really anything elaborated on about the story.”
“The story is not up to the required level and is closer to non-story.”
“I just wish it was a bit longer and had more to offer, like more objectives and more to the story.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and unsettling qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and immersion without relying on jump scares. Players appreciate the combination of phenomenal sound design, creepy visuals, and a mysterious factory setting that keeps them engaged and on edge throughout the experience. Overall, the game excels in delivering a rich, atmospheric horror experience that is both captivating and chilling.
“The atmosphere is absolutely top notch, with phenomenal sound effects that are very satisfying, and all of the voice acting is very well done.”
“One of the biggest things I love in any horror game is a solid sense of tension and ambiance to create that scary atmosphere, and this game has it in droves.”
“The atmosphere and pacing were pretty much perfect, and alongside the mystery, kept me on the edge of my seat and engaged from beginning to end.”
“The atmosphere is creepy and the factory setting adds to the tension.”
“The first ending is over, I was on edge the whole time, the atmosphere is very suspicious and mysterious. I have always hated cheap games that scream in your face to be scared, but on the other hand, this game scared me without any screaming or any scaring in your face; it wins first place for me in psychological horror.”
“Description does not lie: instead of startling with jump scares, this game focuses on chilling you with atmosphere, and I think it does this job quite well.”
- gameplay33 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop that combines elements of sorting and simulation, reminiscent of titles like "Papers, Please." Players appreciate the captivating atmosphere and the absence of cheap jump scares, with many enjoying the introduction of new mechanics that keep the experience fresh. While some find the gameplay linear and wish for more depth, the overall consensus is that it offers a fun and addictive experience, particularly for fans of horror and simulation genres.
“The gameplay is immensely satisfying; I want to sort like 100 dolls without having to leave the room. I wish I could work here in real life.”
“Excellent unsettling atmosphere, cute-but-uncanny-valley aesthetics, and addictive gameplay make for a fantastic horror experience that's pretty well suited for anyone.”
“Overall, I love the story and the mechanics of finding the errors between the different dolls.”
“The gameplay is simple, maybe a bit too easy.”
“New mechanics are introduced and are irrelevant the next day.”
“The gameplay is also strikingly linear, and there was never a point where I felt unsure about what to do next.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their solid quality and effective design, contributing to an eerie and immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the unsettling yet appealing visuals, particularly the well-crafted doll designs, although some note that certain graphical assets in the final section feel inconsistent with the rest of the game. Overall, the game runs smoothly without performance issues, enhancing the overall experience.
“The story is a little short but great in concept and value, the visuals are perfect for the theme, and the atmosphere is eerie and spooky. I can see myself returning to this game even after I finished it.”
“Excellent unsettling atmosphere, cute-but-uncanny-valley aesthetics, and addictive gameplay make for a fantastic horror experience that's pretty well suited for anyone.”
“The game has a rich atmosphere, great graphics, cool doll designs, and an interesting story.”
“For indie games, this can be an issue as even if they are not system-crushing in terms of graphics, if not coded well, it can cause stuttering or frame issues.”
“I feel like the last section of the game could've been a little longer, and the graphical assets in this area do not really fit the rest of the game. I don't know if this game was made in Unity, but it has that 'cheap Unity game' feel at the end.”
“There's no two ways about it, the designs are unnerving and capture your eye, but they're also nothing too graphic or grotesque - in a few words: you wouldn't find this game scary if you're a frequent horror player.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers decent replayability, primarily through its unique playthroughs and multiple endings, which encourage players to explore different outcomes. While some users appreciate the randomization and the discovery of easter eggs, others suggest that implementing a New Game+ mode could enhance replay value further. The consensus indicates that while replayability is present, it may not be exceptional without additional features.
“There's a lot of replayability there and I love it.”
“Admittedly, the randomization is a bit of a double-edged sword - on one hand, it adds a lot of replayability, and there's tons of easter eggs and creepy defects to be found.”
“Each playthrough is unique with a variety of different things that can happen, which is great for replayability (if you're going for another ending).”
“It has a little bit of replay value in the random moments and to get all endings.”
“I understand the replay value is exactly average for a game with unique playthroughs, but you should implement New Game+ to raise the replay value.”
“The game has two endings that give some replayability to the game.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively balances humor and horror, with players finding unintentional comedy in their interactions with quirky dolls and the absurdity of the situation. The blend of eerie atmosphere and silly elements creates a unique experience, making the gameplay feel both entertaining and engaging without relying on jump scares. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise spooky setting.
“On the second playthrough, it got unintentionally funny as I just went about my business amongst the spooks and started taking some of the weird dolls home with me at the end of the day.”
“It's the perfect blend of hilarious and scary. I'm glad that there aren't jump scares or chase scenes, but the feeling of being watched made it even more terrifying while playing the game and finding out what was going on.”
“The game is occasionally eerie but also very humorous, as the dolls themselves are more silly than scary.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a mix of anxiety and unease when interacting with the dolls, noting that while the experience can be surprising, it doesn't evoke true fear. Additionally, the game's mechanics, such as softlocking and the need to repeat days, contribute to feelings of frustration and sadness.
“Most of the time, I found it very easy to tell a normal doll from a defective doll, but overall, each doll made me feel more anxious each time they came out of the conveyor belt.”
“It still surprised me and made me feel uneasy at some points, but I wouldn't say I felt really scared.”
“I had to repeat so many days, and that made me feel sad.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews indicate mixed stability for the game. While some players report smooth performance with no bugs or crashes, others experience freezing and crashes, particularly on certain platforms like Linux. Despite some glitches, recent updates have addressed some issues, suggesting ongoing improvements in stability.
“Played on Linux using Proton Experimental, runs and plays great. I found no bugs or problems during my playthrough, and performance was good with no freezes or dropped FPS.”
“It's longer than the normal 10 to 30 minutes horror games at the same price or higher, and I can not think of anything bad about this game.”
“The graphics are great, the sound is great, and the gameplay is hard to explain, but it just played and ran great.”
“I can't even open the gate before it freezes and then crashes.”
“As it stands right now, the game is a bit buggy and unpolished, so keep that in mind.”
“Some glitches were addressed, which is a positive step.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, with users reporting smooth performance and no noticeable stuttering or frame rate drops, even on Linux using Proton Experimental. Players have experienced a bug-free environment, highlighting that the game runs well despite being an indie title, which often struggles with optimization issues. Overall, the performance is described as reliable and enjoyable, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“Played on Linux using Proton Experimental, runs and plays great. Performance was good; I had no freezes or dropped FPS, micro stuttering, it just played and ran great.”
“First playthrough took me 1.9 hours, which is longer than the normal 10 to 30 minutes horror games at the same price or higher. I found no bugs or problems with my playthrough.”
“Graphics are great, sound is great, and gameplay is hard to explain, but there's quite a bit to do, including checking dolls, fixing dolls, reading notes and instructions, and object and doll finding.”
“For indie games, this can be an issue as even if they are not system-crushing in terms of graphics, if not coded well, it can cause stuttering or frame rate issues.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect occasionally tedious, noting moments of boredom while waiting for new developments, particularly when checking on dolls.
“However, there were a few times where it felt a bit tedious to check the dolls, and I was just bored waiting for something new to happen.”
“The grinding in this game is relentless; it feels like I'm just repeating the same tasks over and over without any real reward.”
“I found myself spending hours on grinding, but it quickly became monotonous and uninspiring.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users note that certain audio effects in the game are fixed and cannot be adjusted through the audio settings, which can limit the customization of the ambient music and sound effects during gameplay.
“Some effects cannot be changed with specific audio settings, such as certain ambient music and delivery sounds.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The audio mixing is off, with music often drowning out important sound effects.”
