Soul Dossier

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Soul Dossier is a multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by （Hong Kong）GKD and was released on March 29, 2021. It received neutral reviews from players.

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49%

Audience ScoreBased on 470 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

optimization7 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of detective and supernatural elements, creating an engaging storyline that keeps players hooked.
The visual style and character designs are praised for their detail and aesthetic appeal, contributing to an immersive atmosphere.
Gameplay mechanics offer a mix of strategy and action, with various character abilities that enhance the overall experience.

The game suffers from significant language barriers, with most text remaining in Chinese even when English is selected, making it difficult for non-Chinese players to understand gameplay mechanics.
There are numerous performance issues, including high ping, lag, and frequent disconnections, which detract from the overall gaming experience.
Gameplay balance is heavily skewed in favor of survivors, making it frustrating for players who choose to play as killers, leading to a lack of enjoyment in that role.

gameplay
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
59%
15%
The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and cultural elements, while others criticize its clunky controls, repetitive tasks, and steep learning curve for newcomers. Although the game offers an interesting blend of horror and bluffing mechanics, many users report issues with lag, bugs, and a lack of clear guidance on gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential and engaging story, the execution leaves much to be desired, making it a challenging recommendation for players.
- “It’s been 9 hours now and I’m still enjoying the gameplay.”
- “The investigation mechanics are well-developed, and the story keeps you hooked.”
- “The game separates itself from the dull repetitiveness of Dead by Daylight and its clones since it adds new mechanics and abilities which end up getting rather addicting.”
- “Disappointing game with clunky mechanics and repetitive tasks.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive, and while it tries to combine horror elements with team-based mechanics, it never really delivers anything fresh.”
- “The game is too difficult for new players, the game does not guide gameplay mechanics, I failed 20/20 matches, I quit this game, the default characters for humans and zombies are too weak, you are forced to buy strong characters to win.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming art style and high-quality visuals that enhance the overall experience, while others criticize them as outdated or lacking polish. Many players appreciate the detailed environments and character designs, but there are complaints about performance issues and animation quality. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point for some, but not enough to compensate for gameplay shortcomings.
- “Stunning graphics: the visual quality is top-notch, with detailed environments and character designs that enhance the overall experience.”
- “The game boasts optimized performance and high-quality graphics, making it a tech marvel.”
- “For a free game, the graphics are something you would usually have to pay for but that isn't to say the game is completely polished.”
- “The story fell flat, and the graphics looked outdated.”
- “Graphics and gameplay are... meh.”
- “Awful game with terrible graphics, trash.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
52%
16%
The reviews present a mixed perspective on the game's story, with some players finding it engaging and well-developed, while others criticize it for lacking depth or clarity. Many highlight the compelling investigation mechanics and unique perspectives, but several users express disappointment over the absence of a substantial narrative or coherent storytelling, particularly noting issues with translations and outdated graphics. Overall, the story aspect appears to be a significant point of contention, with some players feeling it enhances the experience and others deeming it insufficient.
- “The investigation mechanics are well-developed, and the story keeps you hooked.”
- “The storyline is engaging and offers a unique perspective.”
- “Engaging topic: the game’s storyline is captivating and keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “English translations and storytelling can feel rough or confusing.”
- “The story fell flat, and the graphics looked outdated.”
- “There is none [only character story but that's only text. no cutscenes].”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
50%
39%
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates and significant lag. While some praise its high-quality graphics, the overall consensus highlights a lack of effective optimization and numerous bugs, detracting from the gameplay experience. Players express frustration over the developers' focus on monetization rather than addressing these critical performance problems.
- “The game boasts optimized performance and high-quality graphics, making it a tech marvel.”
- “Instead of making the game more optimized and fixing the known bugs that are so painfully obvious, they keep adding more in-game purchase content, loot boxes, and skins, clearly just trying to make some quick cash.”
- “The 'enter your name' window might potentially be the hardest boss of all time; if you can get past it, however, all you'll be granted is a buggy 10-15 fps slideshow as the game is horribly optimized.”
- “I do understand that game development is difficult and I'm willing to give this a second chance if the optimization is ironed out, but for now, this is a no-go zone game.”
- “Horrible game, incredibly bad fps optimization and the world even reloads things in-game which causes huge lag spikes. There is no tutorial; you need to look up on YouTube how to change the language to English. The survivors are way too overpowered; do not recommend.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
94%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including frame rate drops and unresponsive interfaces. While some players noted that certain common bugs have been addressed, many still experience a range of problems that detract from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the game appears to be poorly optimized and in need of further refinement.
- “Runs great.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
- “Whenever I want to move, time freezes for half a second every other half second.”
- “The 'enter your name' window might potentially be the hardest boss of all time. If you can get past it, however, all you'll be granted is a buggy 10-15fps slideshow as the game is horribly optimized.”
- “This game has potential, but the only problem with it is the lack of explanation, buggy gameplay, and messiness.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its distinct and eerie qualities, deeply rooted in traditional numerology and Chinese folklore, which creates a compelling and immersive experience. While the graphics and mechanics may not match those of leading titles, the tension and character design effectively contribute to a memorable horror ambiance. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as a key strength, enhancing the storytelling and player engagement.
- “Deeply atmospheric setting rooted in Chinese culture and folklore.”
- “It was tense, atmospheric, and I never really saw the killer or heard them.”
- “Don't expect AAA graphics, but the atmosphere and characters more than make up for it.”
- “Props, characters, and world design all reflect traditional numerology and folklore — producing a distinct and eerie atmosphere that stands apart from other horror games.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key element that enhances the overall experience, adding depth to gameplay and creating engaging moments during matches. Players appreciate the blend of humor with stylish graphics and character outfits, while some find the mix of humor and tension particularly effective, making the game both funny and scary. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience.
- “These tools offer varied strategies across both roles, adding both depth and humor to the tension-filled matches.”
- “Overall, Soul Dossier combines humor, good graphics, and lots of stylish character outfits for an engaging experience.”
- “Update: I played some more and I have to say it's extremely funny and scary at the same time.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lackluster and reminiscent of royalty-free tracks. While it may not stand out, it contributes to the overall quirky and cringe-worthy atmosphere of the game, which some players seem to appreciate despite its flaws.
- “Environment, music, accessories, especially characters.”
- “♬ music ♬”
- “The soundtrack is just meh.”
- “The music choice is questionable; it feels like royalty-free tracks.”
- “The music is so cringe-worthy, it detracts from the overall experience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its haunting originality and cultural depth, offering a variety of replayable scares that enhance its replayability, earning a solid 8/10 rating.
- “8/10 – hauntingly original, culturally rich, and full of replayable scares.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh, with new challenges and surprises waiting around every corner.”
- “The branching storylines and multiple endings make it impossible to experience everything in just one run.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game features stunning graphics and detailed character designs that enhance the overall experience, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development, focusing instead on visual appeal. Overall, the character design is rated 8/10, indicating a strong appreciation for aesthetics but lacking in narrative or growth elements.
- “The game is good, and I like the character designs.”
- “Stunning graphics: the visual quality is top-notch, with detailed environments and character designs that enhance the overall experience.”
- “8/10 character design.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for prioritizing in-game purchases, loot boxes, and cosmetic skins over necessary optimizations and bug fixes. Players feel that the focus is on generating quick revenue rather than improving the overall gaming experience, and support responses have been unhelpful, primarily directing users towards making purchases.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel overly aggressive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers cosmetic items for purchase, but they don't impact gameplay, which keeps the experience balanced.”
- “The developers have done a great job of providing optional content that enhances the game without forcing players to spend money to enjoy it.”
- “Instead of making the game more optimized and fixing the known bugs that are so painfully obvious, they keep adding more in-game purchase content, loot boxes, and skins. Clearly, they are just trying to make some quick cash with all the skins and loot boxes.”
- “I reached out to support about this in English and Chinese, and all they did was email me back with instructions on how to make in-game purchases by adding to my Steam wallet balance.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players often find grinding in games to be a time-consuming endeavor, likening it to needing a second life to achieve desired rewards, such as unlocking specific skins in titles like Mortal Kombat 9.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I remember grinding the crap out of Mortal Kombat 9 just to get Mileena's bandage wrap skin, lmao.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional response from users indicates a strong negative sentiment towards Chinese products, suggesting feelings of disappointment or betrayal that have led to a firm decision to avoid them in the future.