Dollmare

About

Dollmare is a single player shooter game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by alxgrade and was released on October 24, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,065 reviews

story115 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game offers a unique horror experience without relying on jump scares, creating a creepy atmosphere that keeps players on edge.
Multiple endings and randomized events provide replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.
The doll inspection mechanics are satisfying and add an interesting twist to the gameplay, allowing players to feel involved in the story.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under three hours, leading to concerns about replay value.
Some players experienced technical issues, including crashes and bugs that affected gameplay, particularly on the last day.
The AI voice acting received criticism for being flat and lacking emotional depth, detracting from the overall immersion of the game.

story
219 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The story of Dollmare is a blend of eerie atmosphere and engaging narrative, focusing on themes of identity loss and control within a creepy doll factory setting. While the plot is relatively simple and predictable, it features multiple endings and quirky events that enhance replayability, keeping players intrigued throughout the short gameplay experience. Overall, the storytelling is well-crafted, with a mix of unsettling elements and a unique twist that leaves players wanting more.
- “At its core, it’s a story about identity loss and control.”
- “The game has a rich atmosphere, great graphics, cool doll designs, and an interesting story.”
- “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 story is not up to the required level and is closer to non-story.”
- “The story is simple.”
- “The 'good' ending was a bit of a let down as there isn't really anything elaborated on about the story.”
atmosphere
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
2%
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 cheap jump scares. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environment, sound design, and subtle storytelling, which contribute to a haunting experience that keeps them engaged. However, some reviewers noted that while the atmosphere is strong, it could benefit from more varied scares and deeper exploration elements to enhance the overall experience.
- “I enjoyed the macabre atmosphere of the game.”
- “The atmosphere was kind of creepy as well, and I loved that many little things changed, such as room layouts and events, when you played for a second time to get the other ending.”
- “It keeps the tension through atmosphere and attention to detail instead of cheap scares, which makes it a refreshingly eerie and engaging experience.”
- “Creepy atmosphere but seemed like a lost opportunity to not make it a bit more scary.”
- “Unfortunately, I had some technical issues with the game which broke immersion and the atmosphere, pulling the game down quite a bit.”
- “The ending split feels a little underbaked and doesn't really fit the atmosphere.”
gameplay
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The gameplay is centered around inspecting dolls for defects, with a simple yet engaging mechanic that evolves daily through the introduction of new tasks and random events, preventing monotony. While some players noted a tendency for repetition, the overall experience is enhanced by a captivating atmosphere and satisfying gameplay loop, making it enjoyable for fans of methodical and observational gameplay. The game offers around 2-5 hours of content, including an endless mode for those who wish to continue the inspection gameplay.
- “The gameplay is fairly simple, but the introduction of new tasks each day keeps things engaging without becoming dull.”
- “The gameplay part of the game is enjoyable and pretty easy, which left me craving more difficulty and more in-depth analysis on the dolls.”
- “The mix of a creepy, immersive story with anomaly inspection gameplay kept me hooked!”
- “The gameplay became repetitive after the second day; there wasn't enough change between days.”
- “The gameplay loop can get a bit boring, but the random events that can happen keep the game interesting.”
- “The mechanics of this game are simple, maybe a bit too easy.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
26%
7%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the unique art style, solid visuals, and effective atmosphere that enhance the horror experience. While some noted that certain in-game assets appear less polished and the game may not deliver on high-impact scares, the overall aesthetic and design, particularly of the dolls, are considered creepy and well-executed. Performance is also highlighted as smooth, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “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.”
- “The graphics are solid.”
- “Was as expected, with graphics for a $5 game.”
- “Graphics: many, but certainly not all, in-game objects look as if they are modified versions of store-bought assets, and some (a very precious few) can be a little fuzzy at 1080p.”
- “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.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
72%
12%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the presence of multiple endings and random events that keep each playthrough fresh, others feel it lacks substantial replay value. Many suggest that additional content, such as an endless mode or a New Game+ feature, could enhance the experience further. Overall, it offers some replayability, particularly for those interested in uncovering all achievements and endings, but it may not be compelling enough for repeated plays without additional features.
- “The story was pretty interesting, and it has two endings with a bunch of achievements which adds some replayability.”
- “There's a lot of blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments, so if you want to catch everything be sure to look everywhere. There's also great replayability as scares do change each time you play.”
- “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).”
- “The game is fun to do once, but it has no replay value, I'd say.”
- “The only issue I have with it is the replayability factor of the game.”
- “That said, it has very little replay value, so I’d recommend picking it up on sale.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
16%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending comedic elements with horror to create a unique experience. Players often find themselves laughing at unexpected moments, such as quirky doll interactions and the game's intentionally poor voice acting. While some scares may elicit genuine fright, many players report that the overall atmosphere leans more towards humor, making it enjoyable to play, especially in a group setting.
- “By the end, I wasn’t just playing Dollmare—I was laughing, screaming, and regretting every jump scare in the most delightful way possible.”
- “Omg this game is hilarious and worth it!”
- “The game is occasionally eerie but also very humorous, as the dolls themselves are more silly than scary.”
- “The way the good ending highlights how bad the AI voice acting is... sorry, it's just not funny anymore.”
- “The jokes feel forced and fall flat, making the humor feel more like a chore than a delight.”
- “I expected clever wit, but instead, I got tired clichés that just didn't land.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and good graphics, some experience input lag, screen tearing, and frame drops, particularly on high-end systems. Despite these issues, several users commend the optimization efforts, noting that the game runs well on various platforms, including Linux. In general, the performance is above average, but there are notable areas that require improvement.
- “Your performance determines your daily wage and bonuses, rewarding accurate approval or rejection of flawed dolls.”
- “Whoever did the optimization; you're an absolute wizard.”
- “Played on Linux using Proton Experimental, runs and plays great, love this game, not scary unless you have a doll phobia, has an uneasy feeling to it and some spooky well-timed sound effects. Performance was good, had no freezes or dropping FPS, micro stuttering; it just played and ran great.”
- “Needs some optimization as there's input lag occasionally and it bugs out my camera when streaming.”
- “Screen tearing, horrible frame drop on 14th gen and 4080 super, so 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, can cause stuttering or frame issues.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
89%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs or crashes, others encounter significant issues such as freezing, minor glitches, and inconsistent detection of game elements. The performance can vary depending on the platform, with some users on Linux experiencing a stable gameplay, while others on different systems face frustrating technical hiccups that detract from the experience.
- “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 just played and ran great, with an uneasy feeling to it and some spooky well-timed sound effects. I can’t think of anything bad about this game.”
- “My first playthrough took me 1.9 hours, which is longer than the normal 10 to 30 minutes for horror games at the same price or higher.”
- “Some players may also find the slow walking speed, lack of a clear map or objective markers, and the occasional technical hiccup—such as minor glitches or inconsistent detection of anomalies—frustrating.”
- “Keeps crashing; I can't even get past the gate before it freezes and stops.”
- “On the last day, after the prison room, the game freezes in the hallway after where the K doll opens the door for you.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to feelings of boredom and loneliness. While the gameplay and achievements can be enjoyable, the prolonged nature of certain tasks detracts from the overall experience, making it feel uninspired at times. Some variation in gameplay helps alleviate the tedium, but it remains a common complaint among users.
- “But after a while it just felt lonely and almost tedious.”
- “Tedious and boring.”
- “The tediously long work days, stretched out to prevent steam refunders.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively blends horror and emotional depth, showcasing how indie developers can create impactful narratives with limited resources. Players report a mix of anxiety and emotional resonance, with some experiencing profound feelings, including sadness and trauma, despite the game's occasional frustrations. Overall, it elicits a strong emotional response, making it a memorable experience for those who connect with its themes.
- “It’s not a game for everyone, but it’s an excellent example of how indie developers can push narrative and emotional impact with limited tools.”
- “I cried.”
- “I came for the spooky dolls, stayed for the emotional trauma.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The music in the game is praised for its ability to create a tense atmosphere while remaining subtle and fitting, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the cute and whimsical elements of the soundtrack, which contribute to the game's ambiance without relying on jumpscares. However, some users noted limitations in audio settings that affect certain ambient music.
- “I will say this game is 9/10, simple gameplay, great atmosphere, good soundtrack and interesting storyline.”
- “Music is subtle, but fitting and helps create a very tense atmosphere.”
- “No jumpscares, the music was so cute and kawaii.”
- “- some effects cannot be changed with specific audio settings (some ambient music/ delivery shoot).”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The monetization model primarily relies on microtransactions for in-game purchases, with users noting a reduction in advertising on platforms like Twitch and TikTok.
- “Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
- “The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization model allows for fair play without forcing players to spend money.”