Dolmen Reviews
Dolmen is yet another Soulslike that proves this formula is almost impossible to get right. It's a flat, boring experience with none of the spark and vigor it needs to transcend its many technical flaws.
Dolmen relies too much on the Soulslike playbook to be much of anything other than a middling iteration of the formula.
Dolmen is little but an average, derivative game with some serious balance issues. Now, this can be mended in time, and apart from that, it offers enjoyable exploration, decent gunplay, and pleasant stylistics. Still, for most players, that might not be enough.
Review in Polish | Read full review
For every frustration I had for not having quite as many “Aha!” moments when opening a door or discovering some lore, it’s equalled with other ways the game is working to impress. On offer is a solid nightmarish journey from the darkest depths to the dreadfully eerie conclusion at the world’s own horrific ground zero. This is held up by clever combat implementations and a rewarding sense of experimentation and exploration.
Dolmen is an interesting Soulslike experience that is troubled by clunky combat, and an outdated UI, which hurts the game's chances of standing out in a crowded market with games that does what it does, but better.
It’s just disappointing that a lack of polish and modern sensibilities hinder the product at all turns, leaving what could have been a chunky and ambitious slice of indie action horror down a path forgotten and overshadowed.
It can't compete with the brilliance of Elden Ring (no shame in that) but it also falls short of other AA sci-fi action-RPGs like The Surge and Hellpoint. Ultimately, it seems less like an offshoot of Dark Souls and more like a proof of concept launched before From Software birthed the sub-genre.
Dolmen bites far more than it can chew, trying to merge the melee combat of any From Software game with the gunplay of Remnant from The Ashes: the result is an average game that tries to accomplish too many things at once.
Review in Italian | Read full review
As far as sci-fi Souls-likes go, Dolmen sits somewhere between Hellpoint and The Surge in terms of quality. It can offer a rewarding experience to Souls-like fans, but it falls short of the bar set by the creators of the genre. Still, for those who have patience and persistence, and like the idea of exploring a new, futuristic setting while engaging in challenging combat, it’s worth checking out.
Dolmen isn’t a terrible game, but it definitely wasn’t ready to be released yet. Perhaps it can be improved by future patches, but as it stands, there’s no way this game is worth $20 in its current state, let alone $40. Pick up Dolmen if it shows up free on PS+ or Xbox Game Pass, but otherwise, go play Hellpoint or The Surge games if you want a futuristic Souls clone.
Dolmen manages to take the Souls formula by giving it a twist and incorporating it into a space environment, with very exciting action-rpg and exploration properties.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dolmen may not be a contender for the title of game of the year, but for soulslike fans it will provide some fun. It is a pity that it is often a bit stiff, lopsided and far too simple.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The sci-fi action RPG inspired by the Dark Souls series tries to bring players an engaging experience. But the rough hero fails.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Dolmen emerges as a good entry in the world of soulslike and has its value, mainly due to the risks taken by its developer. Even so, the title has positives and negatives points in almost the same proportion, with AI, visuals and interface falling short of what they could be.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A unique world with some fantastic environment designs and challenging combat, let down by often unfair enemies and a story that just wasn't that interesting.
Overall, Dolmen is a hastily assembled mess of a well-intentioned game. It is like a wannabe sports car. No matter how pretty it looks on the outside, if it’s running on a 2-cylinder engine underneath the hood, there are going to be awkward looks all around. But in the end, it’s going to depend on your millage. As much as I dislike the all-style, no substance presentation, I have to admit that some of the features are actually quite enjoyable. It may look pretty from afar. But its style over substance approach is what ultimately dulls the experience of this otherwise decent soul-like shooter.
Dolmen stands out as a bold and ambitious experiment, defined by a striking artistic identity and an atmosphere that genuinely conveys unease and tension. Despite its production limitations, Revion Prime leaves a lasting impression: alien landscapes, unsettling creatures, and meticulous sound design combine to create a world that lingers long after the game is turned off. What impresses most is Dolmen’s willingness to innovate within a familiar formula. The integration of ranged weapons into combat, the energy management system, and crafting mechanics demonstrate that Massive Work Studio sought not to replicate other soulslikes, but to create a game with its own distinctive identity. Imperfect though it may be, this ambition deserves recognition: the game doesn’t just imitate – it strives to do something different. That said, the game is not without flaws. Technical issues – stiff animations, frame rate drops, and recycled environments – diminish the sense of polish, especially in a genre that demands precision and fluidity. The narrative, while thematically intriguing, can feel opaque, leaving players seeking richer storylines or more memorable characters wanting more. Emotionally, the experience alternates between moments of deep immersion – particularly during boss fights and tense exploration – and frustration caused by balancing issues or technical hiccups. Dolmen demands skill, patience, and focus, and it does not always reward players proportionally to the effort required. Yet, despite these shortcomings, Dolmen offers something rare: a distinctive, intimate, and daring experience. It appeals to players who enjoy testing themselves in hostile worlds and who appreciate a sense of cosmic threat and alienation. It’s not for everyone, but for those who understand its approach and accept its limits, it can be surprisingly rewarding. Ultimately, Dolmen feels “imperfect but sincere.” It never pretends to be more than it is; instead, it reflects the passion and vision of a team willing to take risks. It is worth experiencing at least once – to immerse oneself in a uniquely alien world and to acknowledge its efforts to innovate within a genre that risks growing stale. Furthermore, given its low price and the improvements since launch, Dolmen is a title that soulslike enthusiasts should not miss.
While Dolmen offers fun, challenging, and rewarding gameplay and a rich crafting system, its other features are a bit of a hit-and-miss.
The phrase "has potential but doesn't apply itself" could be reversed to describe Dolmen's final result. Massive Work Studio's title showcases great effort and ideas that, while not groundbreaking, outline a game where undeniable commitment clashes with forgettable overall execution. Interesting ideas related to the combat system are limited by its execution, which feels too clunky and rudimentary. Combined with fairly anonymous design, Dolmen is hard to recommend for those who've already exhausted Elden Ring. It's a brave debut, perhaps too much so, but the talent is there. I'm personally curious to see the team at work again, maybe on a project more within their reach.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This is going to sound harsh, but when I played this game it felt like someone just used the ARPG pre-built blueprint/template from Unreal Engine 4 and then went to the Unreal Marketplace and bought a bunch of assets instead of creating their own. This is how uninspiring this game felt. If you are trying to sell a product to people that looks like a basic ARPG template straight out of a well-known engine, then I am not sure what the developer was expecting. It comes off lazy and cheap.