Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror Review – A Haunting Descent into Madness

Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror Review

Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror is a psychological horror game that mixes creepy, twisted memories with eerie puzzles, making it a wild ride from start to finish. You play as Eliza de Moor, a famous singer. During one of her performances, she collapses. Fast forward to years later, and Eliza wakes up in a sanatorium with no memory of her past. The only person she has to rely on is Dr. Stern, a mysterious doctor who’s been looking after her. Apparently Eliza has amnesia, and that’s where things get weird. Apparently, Dr. Stern and Eliza have had the same conversation many times before—but she never remembers any of it. This time, though, he’s offering her an experimental drug that could help her regain her memories. For the low cost of experiencing some pretty wild hallucinations.

Together, you and Dr. Stern head back to Eliza’s house to uncover the truth behind her past, and, of course, everything is far from normal. The game takes you on a trip between reality and hallucination, by looking into the many mirrors and reliving Eliza’s past.

Tell Me a Story

The story in Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror is honestly the main draw, conceptually. It’s dark, mysterious, and full of unexpected twists that keep you hooked. If only it was told properly, instead of being exposition-dumped in your lap. The whole memory-loss plotline is a classic one, but the way it’s executed here—blending reality with disturbing hallucinations—keeps things interesting. As Eliza uncovers her past, including that of her family, you’ll piece together clues scattered throughout the environment. Old documents, as well as other forgotten fragments, contain crucial pieces of the plot. Slipping between two realities adds this extra layer of suspense as you try to figure out what’s real and what’s in Eliza’s mind.

Now, the game is full of creepy vibes, thanks to the dolls that seem to be everywhere in Eliza’s house. If you’re not a fan of creepy dolls, this game might just make you rethink that fear. There’s something inherently unsettling about dolls, and the game makes full use of that classic horror prop. Visually, the environment is amazing—dark and decaying in all the right ways. The attention to detail really makes Eliza’s home feel alive, even if it’s a bit… off. The variety in the dolls and designs is a plus.

Look Unto the Mirror 

The sound design in Dollhouse is top-notch, and it does a great job of enhancing the creepy atmosphere. This game has some really solid scares. From the quiet whispers that follow you around the house to the haunting background noises, it really pulls you into Eliza’s disorienting world. The voice acting is solid, too. Dr. Stern’s performances stand out, with that “unreliable voice in your ear” thing that horror games enjoy doing. One downside here, though, is that the character models aren’t exactly mind-blowing. There are a few moments where the animation feels a little stiff, especially in cutscenes, which can pull you out of the experience. But honestly, if you’re not nitpicking too much, it’s not a huge deal, especially with how immersive the rest of the game is.

Dollhouse also shines in the puzzle department. They’re creative and a lot of fun, often requiring you to switch between real and hallucinated realities to solve them. Though buggy at times, these puzzles feel tied into the story, so it’s satisfying to figure them out. It’s not all straightforward, either; you’ll need to pay attention to your surroundings and the documents you find scattered throughout the house.

It works, I suppose

Another cool feature is the crafting system. Unlike a lot of survival horror games, where ammo is limited and crafting is practically non-existent, Dollhouse lets you craft your own supplies. Ammo crafting is especially neat since it gives you a little more control over your resources—something that’s rare in horror games. It adds an extra layer of strategy and gives the game a nice survival element.

Now, onto the combat. It’s… okay. Dollhouse shines more in its psychological horror atmosphere than its action. Gun handling didn’t feel as impactful as I would have liked. The shooting mechanics feel a little stiff and don’t quite pack the punch you’d expect from a horror game. It’s serviceable, honestly.

A major gripe with the game is the camera work, especially during cutscenes. The camera constantly moves around during certain moments, and it can be pretty dizzying. I did not appreciate that. This artistic choice may have been intentional, but it can be a bit much at times. This is a personal nitpick but I really could have done without that. Aside from that, the game runs smoothly for the most part.

Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror is a really solid psychological horror experience. It has a captivating story, a haunting atmosphere, and clever puzzles that make it stand out from other horror games. While the gunplay feels a bit off and the camera work is really odd, the game’s occasional strengths really make up for some of these issues. It’s not the best horror game you’ll ever play, but it’s an interesting experience.

***PC code provided by the publisher for review***