Some announcements get lost in the deluge of samey indie reveals, but Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream genuinely stopped me in my tracks. The idea of a Commandos-inspired stealth strategy adventure, dripping with grim early 1900s Scandinavian atmosphere and built by ex-Battlefield and Mirror’s Edge devs? That’s the kind of pitch that actually means something to core PC gamers, especially when the market’s so starved for tactical stealth done right.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | River End Games |
| Release Date | July 15, 2025 |
| Genres | Stealth, Strategy, Narrative |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) |
Let’s get this out of the way: tactical stealth games with real teeth are rare these days. For every triple-A “cinematic” adventure, there are a dozen indie projects promising tactical depth but delivering shallow systems. That’s why Eriksholm caught my attention-it’s not just the Commandos and Shadow Tactics comparisons, but the dev pedigree and the choice to focus on evasion, not combat, that give this game real promise.
Set in the disease-stricken city of Eriksholm (a fictional but very Scandinavian locale), the game puts you in control of three distinct protagonists. The premise is classic but effective: Hanna’s brother vanishes, and she’s forced into the city’s underbelly, assembling an unlikely crew to navigate an outbreak of “Heartpox” and untangle the city’s dark secrets. If you’re burnt out on rote stealth where violence is always the answer, Eriksholm’s emphasis on non-lethal solutions and creative problem-solving is a refreshing throwback-and a challenge. You’re not a super-soldier; you’re just people surviving a city that doesn’t want you alive.
The gameplay loop leans hard into isometric, multi-character stealth strategy. Think Commandos, Desperados, or the criminally underrated Shadow Tactics. Each character-Hanna, Alva, and their missing companion—brings unique skills. Hanna sneaks through ducts and disables guards with a sleep-dart blowpipe. Alva clambers up drainpipes and creates distractions with tossed pebbles. It’s the kind of toolkit that rewards experimentation and persistence. As Lauren mentioned in her hands-on preview, you’ll likely need several attempts for each level, and the “aha” moments when you finally nail a tough section are what keep this genre alive.
Importantly, being caught means a restart, but River End promises the punishment isn’t so severe as to feel unfair—a crucial balance for keeping tension high without slipping into frustration territory. From what’s been shown, Eriksholm also refuses to hold your hand. It expects you to think, to watch patrol routes, to learn from mistakes, and to push your own creativity to get through the city in one piece. It’s the antithesis of modern “guided stealth” games cluttered with glowing waypoints and forgiving AI.
The narrative ambitions here shouldn’t be understated. With a setting inspired by early 1900s Scandinavia and a mysterious plague as the backdrop, there’s serious potential for worldbuilding and thematic depth. The “dark powers at play” line has my eyebrow cocked in cautious curiosity—will this veer into supernatural twists, or keep its threats grounded in human cruelty? Either way, the grimy, lived-in world is a welcome change of pace from the usual medieval or cyberpunk tropes dominating indie strategy.
We’re living in a weird time for stealth strategy. The genre saw a mini-renaissance with Shadow Tactics and Desperados 3, but most studios have either pivoted to more action-heavy hybrids or gone the puzzle route. Eriksholm’s dedication to pure, intense stealth with narrative weight feels like a return to the roots—made by devs with the technical and artistic chops to actually pull it off. I’m especially curious how River End balances difficulty and accessibility, and whether their Scandinavian setting can support a story that’ll stick with us beyond clever level design.
Plus, there’s something authentic about a team of ex-DICE devs (Battlefield, Mirror’s Edge) going indie to make the sort of tense, slow-burn strategy game that the big publishers have almost entirely abandoned. If you grew up on PC classics and still mourn the lack of true successor to Commandos, Eriksholm deserves a spot on your wishlist—even if I’m not wholly convinced the narrative will land. If this thing comes together, it could be a sleeper hit and a new standard-bearer for the genre.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is shaping up to be a stealth strategy game for gamers who’ve been let down by watered-down “stealth lite” experiences. With its July 2025 launch on Steam and Epic, there’s finally a Commandos-style PC title on the horizon that demands patience, planning, and experimentation. If you’ve been waiting for a game that doesn’t treat you like an idiot—or just want to see what a Scandinavian plague city can do for narrative-driven stealth—this is one to watch closely. I’ll be keeping my eyes on it all the way to launch.