Dolls Nest

About

Dolls Nest is a single player shooter game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by NITRO PLUS and was released on April 23, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Dolls Nest is a 3D action game where you control a mecha girl as she explores the gigantic factory world of Hod on her journey to uncover the truth. Hod, the world which you inhabit, is a massive crater crawling with armored units. Broken machines and ruined buildings are strewn across its landscape. But fate can be cruel. You must scavenge the land for resources if you wish to survive in this rui…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 727 reviews

gameplay64 positive mentions

optimization27 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of Armored Core combat and Dark Souls exploration, creating an engaging gameplay experience.
Customization options for both the mech and the character are extensive, allowing for a wide variety of builds and playstyles.
The atmosphere and level design are impressive, with sprawling megastructures that evoke a sense of scale and mystery.

The weapon balance is poor, with many weapons feeling underpowered or ineffective compared to a few standout options.
The game suffers from performance issues, including frame drops and crashes, particularly when accessing the customization menu.
The lack of a map and clear direction can lead to confusion and frustration during exploration.

gameplay
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The gameplay of "Dolls Nest" is a unique blend of classic Armored Core mechanics and Souls-like exploration, offering a satisfying loop of customization, combat, and exploration. Players appreciate the fluid movement and combat mechanics, though some find the controls and hitboxes occasionally unpolished, leading to a mix of enjoyable and frustrating moments. While the game features a rich variety of weapons and parts, it also suffers from balancing issues and a lack of clear guidance, which may deter those unfamiliar with exploration-heavy gameplay.
- “The movement and combat feel very good, just enough clunkiness and restrictions starting out to feel the weight of your frame, but with enough mechanics and room for mastery, and reason for customization.”
- “Gameplay is phenomenal, with obvious Armored Core lineage, plus some minor souls-like elements, and a heavy dose of exploration.”
- “It's old-school Armored Core gameplay with Dark Souls level exploration, and cute girls as a cherry on top.”
- “Maybe the gameplay hook was just around the corner, but there wasn't really anything at the start of the game that pulled me in. The starting weapons feel weak and lack feedback, the movement is a more clunky version of Armored Core, and the level design was just a big ruin.”
- “The actual 3D models (character and area), the combat, the movement, the parts picking, the weapon balance, the UI explanation for weapon stats, the enemy mechanics and behavior, are all raw and unpolished.”
- “The execution of how the gameplay works is just not fun, though.”
story
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
79%
5%
The game's story is largely conveyed through environmental storytelling, item descriptions, and cryptic NPC interactions, reminiscent of the Soulslike genre. While some players appreciate the depth and atmosphere of the lore, many find the narrative vague and challenging to follow without extensive exploration and research. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a rewarding but often obscure experience that requires player investment to fully appreciate.
- “The story and lore are great rewards in and of themselves.”
- “It's not pushing you to feel sad; it shows you things, and with context you get from item descriptions, environmental storytelling, and paying attention to what characters tell you, the realization hits you straight in your core.”
- “The atmosphere of the zones feels souls-like, same for the cryptic storytelling.”
- “The story is thin, and while there are interesting quests, there are really only three of them.”
- “The lore exposition is there, but aside from short snippets on every topic from Nehma (the main quest giver, if you will), it is mostly 'show, don't tell', and is more about giving you a glimpse here and there than telling a cohesive story.”
- “The story is just too vague to fully sink your teeth into.”
music
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The music in the game is largely limited to boss fights and the hub area, with minimal ambient tracks during exploration, which some players find enhances the atmosphere of desolation. While the boss themes are generally praised for their quality and emotional impact, many reviewers express a desire for more ambient music to accompany the game's environments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered impressive when present, but its sparse use leaves a significant portion of gameplay devoid of musical accompaniment.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and is mainly present during boss fights.”
- “The music is stellar, my favorite track being 'Breath of Steel'.”
- “Accompanied by a unique and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, the music enriches the overall atmosphere and enhances the gameplay experience significantly.”
- “There is no music in this game except during boss fights.”
- “The lack of music outside of bosses and hub areas does irk me a little personally, but if you like ambiance you’ll have plenty of time to soak it in.”
- “The game doesn't have much of a soundtrack until it comes time for a boss fight, during which you'll get to enjoy one of the game's impressive tracks; it really is a shame you don't get to hear much of it outside these battles.”
graphics
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique aesthetic that blends mecha and anime styles, reminiscent of works like "Blame!" and "Nier: Automata." However, several players noted performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on capable hardware, and described the visuals as somewhat dated, comparable to PS3-era graphics. Overall, while the art direction and atmosphere are appreciated, there is a consensus that optimization and polish are needed to enhance the visual experience.
- “The visuals are solid, with some great, if derivative mechanical design.”
- “Dolls Nest has a beautiful sense of aesthetic - 3D artists at Nitro Plus have done an incredible job at capturing a sense of futuristic dilapidated cityscapes and rusty factories.”
- “Overall, the art style is just pretty nice as it blends anime with a dystopian setting.”
- “For a game with such mid-level graphics, I had some FPS drops on my 5070 Ti at FHD.”
- “The biggest problem is the performance; turn the graphics down and beware of prop particles.”
- “Graphically, I found it okay; Unreal Engine 4 can handle large levels well, but I could honestly feel the game struggle a little in some fights when particle effects were rampant.”
optimization
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
60%
31%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues across various hardware setups, including frequent frame drops and stuttering, particularly in areas with heavy particle effects, water, and fog. Many users noted that even high-end rigs struggle to maintain stable frame rates, suggesting that the game is poorly optimized for Unreal Engine 4. While some patches have improved performance slightly, the consensus is that further optimization is necessary to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “The optimization is subpar (4070 super and it still can drop down to 30 fps lol) but the level design is incredible and it plays really well.”
- “Dolls nest is largely free of any major flaws, although it ostensibly has issues with performance optimization in some areas.”
- “Some areas definitely could use an optimization pass, and it's absolutely not a AAA release on par with heavyweight games, but for the price and the amount of content, I'm fully comfortable giving it a strong recommendation.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is very poorly optimized, very consistently stuttering really badly at certain parts of the map and sometimes deloading the floor and getting you stuck, possibly permanently bricking your save depending on how it happens.”
- “My biggest issue is the awful optimization; the game will stutter on a capable machine even on the lowest graphics.”
- “The performance is honestly downright awful.”
atmosphere
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique, melancholic, and eerie qualities, reminiscent of both Dark Souls and the manga "Blame!" Players appreciate the minimalistic use of music, which enhances the sense of mystery and exploration within its expansive, industrial environments. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, effectively immersing players in a haunting, post-apocalyptic world filled with cryptic storytelling and a strong sense of ambiance.
- “The game has a very unique atmosphere, quiet and hollow.”
- “The rattle of iron grates as you rush over them... the screams of some poor tortured soul echoing from leagues away... the breath-like hum of a dark, endless chasm underfoot... suffice it to say, if atmosphere is something you can find enjoyable, the game has it in spades.”
- “It's a shame; some ambient music would have helped the game's atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is highly melancholic and industrial, and the world is sizable.”
- “The world feels slightly empty at times, but it does kind of add to the atmosphere.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical tone, featuring cute and funny mecha designs, amusing character interactions, and quirky gameplay elements. Players appreciate the blend of classic armored core mechanics with a humorous twist, despite some minor technical issues that add to the comedic experience. Overall, the game successfully combines charm and humor, making it a delightful experience for players.
- “There's a skill point system (or rather a 'bonus stat' allocation system); I won't blame you if you don't notice it, it's so hilariously inconsequential.”
- “I also can't think of many games on the market that are really doing what they're attempting with the nice blend of classic style Armored Core and souls-like exploration, all wrapped up in a unique, cute and funny mecha musume aesthetic.”
- “It's also kind of funny that the enemy nymphs are straddled with the same limitations as you, as I'm pretty sure I saw the bosses chowing down on supplements mid-fight before going back into the fray.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Character development in the game is criticized for its imbalance, favoring speed and damage-per-second (DPS) builds while rendering melee combat awkward and less effective. Despite this, the game excels in storytelling, lore, and aesthetic elements, with character designs that may not appeal to all audiences but are well-crafted and visually engaging. Overall, while the character designs and narrative aspects are praised, the gameplay mechanics related to character development leave much to be desired.
- “The story, lore, aesthetic, character design, area design, writing (including English), UI, music, are all very very good.”
- “The character designs, lore, and music are all great.”
- “What happens if you combine mecha musume such as Busou Shinki, Frame Arms Girls, and Megami Device for the character designs, old Armored Core gameplay, and Soulsborne exploration?”
- “Bad balance; the game has a ton of weapons and frames but favors speed and DPS builds. Melee is kind of ineffective and awkward to use, but at least it scales with character development. Whole other categories of guns are completely useless, and long-range combat is barely viable. You wanted to snipe enemies from across the map with your sci-fi sniper rifle?”
- “The character designs are a turn-off for western audiences, I'm sure.”
- “Doll's Nest uses the mecha musume/gundam girl style of character designs.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits some stability issues, including occasional visual glitches, freezing, and crashes, particularly in large areas or when loading distant objects. While these bugs can be distracting, many players feel they do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- “The game sometimes has some small visual glitches, like a stutter when entering a particularly large area or far away objects loading a bit too late when turning the camera.”
- “It's a bit buggy; the game crashes somewhat often, and large chunks of the map just seem to have been forgotten mid-development.”
- “It frequently freezes and stutters.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse mech builds, multiple quest routes, and two different endings, making it worthwhile for players seeking varied experiences. With endless customization options and engaging combat, players can enjoy numerous playthroughs, especially with new game plus features. Overall, it provides significant value for its price, encouraging exploration of its deep lore and character interactions.
- “Having a variety of mech builds, this game is highly replayable.”
- “Good amounts of replayability, and different routes for different quests, on top of two endings for the main game. At the very minimum, it's worth a look.”
- “For $20, you get a game that has endless customization, endless replayability, endlessly enjoyable combat, and a deep lore with plenty of interesting NPCs that have their own goals and ambitions, which you can play a part in.”
- “To me, that is a good price for the amount of game to be played (and replayed because there is some replay value, especially with different builds and NG+ shenanigans), but that means tempering your expectations.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while customization and farming for weapons and frames can be engaging, the combat often feels tedious due to weak weapon feedback. However, the game mitigates frustration by allowing players to return to checkpoints easily, making the overall farming process less burdensome.
- “Weapons hit like wet noodles, making combat boring and tedious.”
- “Although you won't have to do any extra farming, you'll typically find your way back to a checkpoint before you ever run out of uses.”
- “Farming is not much of a pain in the ass.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, likening its immersive exploration and challenging mechanics to the experience of playing Dark Souls for the first time. However, frustrations with combat mechanics, such as limited melee range and awkward hit detection, can detract from the overall emotional engagement, leading to moments of irritation amidst the otherwise captivating experience.
- “Exploring the ruins of once great civilizations, exhausting an NPC's dialogue so that they can move to the next stage of their convoluted quest conditions, aggressive autosaves, and every combat being tactical forces you to always pay attention. It all serves to create an experience that made me feel like I was playing Dark Souls 1 for the first time all over again.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for feeling exploitative, with players expressing frustration over excessive ads and a lack of engaging gameplay. Some reviewers question the game's authenticity, suggesting it may be a cash grab rather than a genuine effort.
- “Great concept overall, very unique looking, but the gameplay feels lethargic and often involves doing nothing for multiple seconds, while the monetization aspect feels like nothing other than 'run away from the ads while shooting a node for 5 entire minutes.'”
- “I can't even tell if the developer is serious or if this is just another clone bad game cash grab, maybe even money laundering?”