Dollmare

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 711 reviews

story74 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique horror experience without relying on jump scares, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps players on edge.
Dollmare features engaging gameplay with a variety of random events and doll defects, enhancing replayability and keeping the experience fresh.
The story is intriguing and well-executed, with players expressing a desire for more lore and potential sequels or DLC.

Some players experienced technical issues, including crashes and bugs that affected gameplay, particularly during critical moments.
The game can feel repetitive over time, with some players noting that the mechanics may become tedious after multiple playthroughs.
While the game is marketed as having no jump scares, some players reported unexpected moments that could be considered jump scares, leading to disappointment.

story
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The game's story has received praise for its engaging and eerie narrative, with many players appreciating its compactness and atmospheric execution. While some found the story to be a bit short or predictable, it effectively keeps players invested and curious, often leaving them wanting more. Overall, the storytelling is considered a strong point, enhancing the horror experience and encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover all its secrets.
- “Being that immersed in such a well put together and original story was exciting and made me want to play multiple times and find all the endings.”
- “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.”
- “Pretty boring and slow, the story itself is cool but it is way too slow-paced.”
atmosphere
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
35%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and unease without relying on jump scares. Reviewers highlight the phenomenal sound design, unsettling visuals, and the creepy factory setting, which collectively enhance the psychological horror experience. Overall, the game excels in building a captivating ambiance that keeps players engaged and on edge throughout their experience.
- “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 managed to scare me; the concept is quite charming, and I also enjoyed the pacing of the game.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
gameplay
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop that combines elements of simulation and horror, reminiscent of titles like "Papers, Please." Players appreciate the addictive mechanics and the evolving challenges presented each day, although some feel the game could benefit from increased difficulty and depth. Overall, the experience is described as captivating and immersive, with a strong atmosphere that enhances the gameplay without relying on cheap jump scares.
- “This game has a very fun gameplay loop, and I adore the doll designs; they're both creepy and adorable.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it offers a diverse and engaging loop that keeps you invested throughout.”
- “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 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.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
30%
8%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their solid quality and effective design, contributing to an eerie and immersive atmosphere. While the visuals are well-executed, some players noted that certain graphical assets in the final section felt inconsistent with the rest of the game. Overall, the game's aesthetics, particularly the creepy doll designs, enhance the experience, making it visually appealing despite some minor criticisms.
- “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.”
- “The game has a rich atmosphere, great graphics, cool doll designs, and an interesting story.”
- “Excellent unsettling atmosphere, cute-but-uncanny-valley aesthetics, and addictive gameplay make for a fantastic horror experience that's pretty well suited for anyone.”
- “For indie games, this can be an issue as even if they are not system crushes 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.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
Overall, the game offers decent to high replayability, primarily due to its unique playthroughs, multiple endings, and randomization elements that introduce varied experiences. While some players appreciate the existing replay value, there are suggestions for enhancements like a New Game+ mode to further increase replayability. The presence of easter eggs and different outcomes encourages players to revisit the game for a fresh experience.
- “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).”
- “Easily comparable to FNAF but by far superior, it's more frightening and less annoying, has a far more engaging gameplay loop and has multiple endings for replayability.”
- “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.”
- “I could honestly see it being a full game mode in the future that could even add some extra replayability.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game successfully blends humor with horror, creating an experience that is both eerie and amusing. Players find the quirky dolls more silly than scary, leading to moments of unintentional comedy, especially during second playthroughs. The absence of jump scares enhances the humor, allowing for a relaxed atmosphere where players can enjoy the randomness and charm of their surroundings.
- “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.”
- “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.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a mix of anxiety and unease throughout the game, particularly in relation to the dolls, which evoke a sense of emotional trauma rather than outright fear. The experience can lead to feelings of sadness, especially when faced with frustrating gameplay mechanics that require repeating sections, contributing to an overall emotional impact that resonates with players.
- “I cried.”
- “I came for the spooky dolls, stayed for the emotional trauma.”
- “I had to repeat so many days and that made me feel sad.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
13%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance, with users reporting no significant stuttering, frame drops, or bugs during gameplay. However, some players experienced severe screen tearing and frame drops on high-end systems, indicating inconsistencies in optimization across different setups. While many enjoyed a seamless experience, the optimization issues on certain configurations suggest room for improvement.
- “Played on Linux using Proton Experimental, runs and plays great. I found no bugs or problems with my playthrough, performance was good, had no freezes or dropping FPS, micro stuttering; it just played and ran great.”
- “There is some clever gameplay, the graphics are good, the game runs smoothly, the voice acting is good.”
- “First playthrough took me 1.9 hours, which was a bonus. It's longer than the normal 10 to 30 minutes horror games at the same price or higher.”
- “Screen tearing, horrible frame drops on 14th gen and 4080 Super, so there's no excuse; this game is poorly optimized.”
- “For indie games, this can be an issue as even if they are not system crushes of graphics, if not coded well, it can cause stuttering or frame issues.”
- “For indie games, this can be an issue as even if they are not system crushes of graphics, if not coded well, it can cause stuttering or frame issues.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
75%
Overall, user experiences with stability vary significantly; while some players report smooth performance with no bugs or crashes, others encounter frequent freezes and crashes, particularly when interacting with specific game elements. The game shows potential for stability improvements, as some glitches have been addressed, but issues persist for certain users, especially on Linux with Proton.
- “Played on Linux using Proton Experimental, runs and plays great. I found no bugs or problems with my playthrough, performance was good, had no freezes or dropping FPS, micro stuttering; it just played and ran great.”
- “I cannot think of anything bad about this game. The performance was good, and I experienced no issues during my playthrough.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any technical issues, making for a seamless and enjoyable experience.”
- “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 unresponsive, so keep that in mind.”
- “It completely freezes whenever I click back over to the game.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly during repetitive tasks like checking dolls, which can lead to boredom. However, the variation in scares and doll defects helps to alleviate some of the monotony, keeping the experience engaging at times.
- “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.”
- “Good game, but doing quality assurance gets a little tedious; otherwise, it's good.”
- “The variation in scares and doll defects prevented it from getting too tedious.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users note that certain audio effects, particularly ambient music and delivery sounds, are fixed and cannot be adjusted through the game's audio settings, which limits customization options for players.
- “Some effects cannot be changed with specific audio settings, such as certain ambient music and delivery shoot sounds.”
- “Some effects cannot be adjusted with specific audio settings, including certain ambient music and delivery shoot sounds.”