PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

This game's impressive just by virtue of it being Massive Work Studios' first. But it wouldn't be fair to only give it credit for that reason. Dolmen is a fun, and exciting cosmic horror-themed soulslike whose unique (and successful!) inclusion of ranged combat helps it to stand out from its peers. If this is just the beginning of what Massive Work Studios have to offer, I can't wait to see what's in store for us down the road.

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 to hide around corners, on the ceiling, or within the environment. A few jumpscares will lead to cautiously approaching every turn and inspecting all of the walls. Horror mixed with features like an intricate upgrade system, daunting combat encounters, and the ability to take on difficult bosses alongside some friends makes Dolmen an exciting title that delivers constant action and intense challenges.

Dolmen is one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the Brazilian gaming industry. The detailed world building, the challenging combats, as well as ability customization possibilities. You'll probably want to play some more even after you finish it for the first time. After years of working on the title, Massive Work can be proud of the result. There is no shortage of reasons to be excited about the future of the studio.

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.

Dolmen brings the Dark Souls experience to space, but the gameplay doesn´t include new mechanics, and feels outdated. We enjoyed the difficulty curve, on the hard side, but we also found several technical issues and generic design.

You don’t need me to tell you how much of a tough sell Dolmen is this year. Still, if you’re at all a fan of the Soulslike genre and willing to forgive a little jank that comes with slight overambition and a smaller budget, I recommend giving it a go. 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. Atmospherically enticing and fun to play, Dolmen is a game I won’t let you all forget. Even if I’m one of the few banging my drum, championing it.

Dolmen is a solid yet at times flawed Science-Fiction- Soulslike, that lacks the polish and the pure impact of Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. While it brings interesting gameplay-ideas to the tables, the overall experience is harmed by either bugs or strange design-decisions.

Another souls-like that doesn’t surprise beyond its setting, but that manages to offer an interesting adventure for the fans of the genre.

Soulslike veterans will whizz through most of this; but anybody wanting to test the waters will find a game that’s demanding, varied… and just a little wobbly. [Issue#16, p.137]

Passably charming Dark Souls copy, with which a small team has risen. Seen as an ode to the great role model and at a relatively low price, the Elden Blues has disappeared for at least a few hours.