Dollmare
- October 24, 2024
- alxgrade
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
- The game offers a unique horror experience without relying on jump scares, focusing instead on atmosphere and unsettling elements.
- Players appreciate the engaging story and multiple endings, which encourage replayability and exploration of different outcomes.
- The graphics and design of the dolls are well-executed, contributing to the game's creepy ambiance and overall enjoyment.
- Some players found the gameplay repetitive and felt that the pacing could be improved, leading to moments of boredom.
- There are reports of technical issues, including crashes and bugs that can disrupt the gaming experience.
- The voice acting has been criticized for sounding artificial, which detracts from the immersion of the game.
- story17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story captivates players with its eerie atmosphere and intriguing secrets, encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover different endings and hidden details. While some found the gameplay repetitive, the narrative's execution and tension-building elements kept them engaged and invested. Many players expressed a desire for additional content to further explore the story's rich potential.
“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.”
“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.”
“The game keeps you on your toes and leaves you second guessing the true story at every turn.”
“The game appears to have some set story beats, but the majority of the game is spent checking the dolls at your station and verifying whether they need to be disposed of, repaired, or approved.”
“The task on paper sounds very dull and repetitive, but the actually occurring story could not be more of the opposite; the tension builds in all the right places and secrets are withheld from you at all the right times.”
“The dev definitely has opportunities to make additional content/story, so I will be looking forward to it if they decide to do so.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its perfect blend of creepiness and intrigue, effectively immersing players in a chilling environment without relying on jump scares. Reviewers highlight the use of sound and pacing to create a heavy, engaging atmosphere that keeps them on edge, making it ideal for fans of horror games focused on ambiance and mystery. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautifully crafted, enhancing the gameplay experience significantly.
“Just the right level of creepy and cool atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere and pacing were pretty much perfect and alongside with the mystery, kept me on the edge of my seat and engaged from beginning to end.”
“My thanks to the developers for creating such a creepy atmosphere without annoying loud jump scares or similar; the atmosphere was heavy even without those tropes.”
“The game uses spooky sounds and atmosphere to mess with your head more than anything.”
“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.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fun mechanics, engaging atmosphere, and random elements that enhance replayability. Many users appreciate the simulation aspects and the unique gameplay loop, drawing favorable comparisons to other titles like "The Mortuary Assistant." Overall, the combination of varied daily challenges and the potential for expanded gameplay keeps players invested and excited about future updates.
“I hope it gets an infinite mode later on because the gameplay loop is very fun.”
“Fantastic atmosphere and fun gameplay; I liked it a lot and the random aspect of things happening.”
“I *love* the concept and the gameplay loop with the variations to each day.”
“Too many horror games now use lazy chase mechanics or cheap jumps to 'scare'.”
“Implies certain things and then tells as little as possible about others, all that whilst the overall situation is degrading and new mechanics are added.”
“Overall love the story and the mechanics of finding the errors between the different dolls.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their quality and design, with users noting the impressive visuals and creepy doll aesthetics. The game runs smoothly across platforms, including Linux, and features solid performance without any technical issues. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, earning high marks from players.
“Very smart game design and perfect visuals.”
“Excellent graphics and design: the dolls are absolutely creepy and well designed.”
“The map graphics and map design are a 10/10; especially the design as it is consistently refreshing.”
- 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 using Proton. Despite these issues, some glitches have been addressed, suggesting ongoing improvements.
“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 the game freezes and 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.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability through its two distinct endings, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. Each playthrough presents unique experiences and events, enhancing the incentive to replay for those seeking alternative endings. Future updates could potentially expand this aspect further.
“I could honestly see it being a full game mode in the future that could even add extra replayability.”
“Each playthrough is unique with a variety of different events that can occur, which is great for replayability, especially if you're aiming for another ending.”
“The game has two endings that provide some replayability.”
“I could honestly see it being a full game mode in the future that could even add some extra replayability.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects in the game are well-integrated and enhance the overall experience, with many users appreciating the quality of the audio despite some limitations in customizable settings. The ambient music and interactive sounds contribute significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere, making the low price feel like a great value.
“The sounds and music, along with the interactive objects and amazing models, all feel so right in the context of the game. For the price, it really feels wrong to pay so little.”
“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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the repetitive nature of the gameplay evokes feelings of sadness, highlighting a strong emotional impact tied to the game's mechanics.
“I had to repeat so many days, and that made me feel sad.”
“The character's journey resonated with me on a personal level, evoking deep emotions.”
“The game's story left me in tears; it was beautifully crafted and incredibly moving.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its randomness and the quirky, cute dolls, which contribute to a lively and engaging experience that makes players feel like genuine employees in a factory setting.
“I felt like a real employee working in the factory, and I loved the idea of randomness. No day looked the same, and some dolls were funny and cute.”
“The humor in this game is spot on, with witty dialogue and hilarious situations that kept me laughing throughout.”
“I couldn't stop chuckling at the quirky characters and their absurd antics; it added a delightful layer of fun to the gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect occasionally tedious, expressing boredom during repetitive tasks like checking dolls, which can detract from the overall experience.
“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 mind-numbing; it feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real reward.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over again, which made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly on Linux with Proton Experimental, and users report no bugs or performance issues such as freezes or frame drops. The graphics and sound are praised, contributing to an overall positive gameplay experience. Players appreciate the game's length and variety of activities, enhancing its value compared to typical short horror games.
“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.”
