Dolmen

"Extremely derivative on a playful level and technically insufficient even by the standards of the last generation (and beyond), Dolmen is an experiment that has only minimally succeeded."

"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, …"

"Dolmen provides fans of SciFi and Souls games with another daunting adventure full of defeat and satisfaction. The game isn’t without faults, having a few bugs as well as some inconsistencies with some combat mechanics, but the team at Massive …"

"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 …"

"‎Although he bets on a different setting, Dolmen does not risk in the development, and repeats the mechanics that we have already seen in the Souls saga. The Massive Works RPG is a challenging game that has been entertaining, but …"

"Dolmen arrives to the crowded soulslikes field with some valid ideas, but failing in the execution of each of its sections. If you&s;re a fan of the FromSoftware formula, you&s;ll find a few things to rescue, otherwise, I don&s;t think …"

"Dolmen is a solid sci-fi spin on the Soulslike formula, even if there are some places where it falls short. Not being able to jump is a simple but detrimental design flaw, and the mediocre cinematics bog down what could …"

"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 …"

"Dolmen is a brutal but ok action RPG that feels part space opera part action movie. The challenging gameplay and detailed customisation are fully welcome allowing for a lot of strategic thinking."

"It can&s;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 …"

"‎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.‎"

"Dolmen, in its current state, is a game that seldomly works. Not very consistent and with poorly conceived mechanics. Frankly, what was published looks more like an early build that still needs months of optimization and polish."

"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 …"

"I had a lot of high expectations for Dolmen, considering the premise and gameplay genre. Unfortunately, it botches just about every aspect of being a Souls-like game. There were many concerns that I could look past in the demo, but …"

"For a genre that is now getting even more popular and perhaps even saturated, getting the basics right is the least we can expect if a game hopes to make an impression. However, with all these issues plaguing the game, …"

"One of the most thrilling parts of Dolmen is the horror element that grows exponentially as the monsters become more difficult and much better at hiding. At first, most enemies can be seen from a distance, but they quickly begin …"

"Clunky combat, boring progression, threadbare plot, unrewarding exploration, and a laughably bad healing mechanic. All of these lead to a soulless Souls-like that is Dolmen."

"Dolmen relies too much on the Soulslike playbook to be much of anything other than a middling iteration of the formula."

"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 …"

"Dolmen is yet another Soulslike that proves this formula is almost impossible to get right. It&s;s a flat, boring experience with none of the spark and vigor it needs to transcend its many technical flaws."

"Dolmen innovates the Soulslike genre with how it handles Energy and ranged combat but lacks a clear vision of what makes these games enjoyable beyond just some interesting mechanics."

"Dolmen is an interesting Soulslike experience that is troubled by clunky combat, and an outdated UI, which hurts the game&s;s chances of standing out in a crowded market with games that does what it does, but better."

"There is multiplayer for those finding the game too hard, but I found it harder to find a partner to play with than the game itself so that is likely off the table for most players. Dolmen just feels like …"

"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 …"

"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 …"

"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."

"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."

"Despite its sci-fi setting, Dolmen is less a Soulslike than a Dark Souls clone, with very few original ideas. The biggest issue, beyond the overall familiarity of just about everything, is that it brings back annoying mechanics that games like …"

"The demo I got to play certainly didn’t reveal all the wonders the developers have in store for us. But I can already say that if you’re a fan of the Souls games, Dolmen is a must-play for you. The …"

"There are dozens of alternatives out there either for Dark Souls fans or sci-fi nuts, and Dolmen is just too riddled with issues to recommend."

"A unique world with some fantastic environment designs and challenging combat, let down by often unfair enemies and a story that just wasn&s;t that interesting."

"You probably could have guessed this by now, but Dolmen should have released before Elden Ring. All Soulslike games from here on out will constantly be in that game’s gigantic shadow. It’s not that there’s not enough room in this …"

"Dolmen is a good game and has fun without any doubt, but it does not raise passions like the «souls-like» that it is."

"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 …"

"The phrase "has potential but doesn&s;t apply itself" could be reversed to describe Dolmen&s;s final result. Massive Work Studio&s;s title showcases great effort and ideas that, while not groundbreaking, outline a game where undeniable commitment clashes with forgettable overall execution. …"

"Dolmen surely has its flaws and is nowhere the quality displayed by From Software in its Souls series, but if you enjoy that formula you can still have some fun hacking and slashing through hordes of enemies."

"Dolmen attempts to add some potentially good ideas into the Soulsborne formula. Unfortunately, it misses the mark far too many times in important areas to make it worth the effort you need to play it. Great level aesthetic and enemy …"

"The sci-fi action RPG inspired by the Dark Souls series tries to bring players an engaging experience. But the rough hero fails."