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The Stone of Madness

The Stone of Madness

PCPlayStationXboxNintendo
Released

Release Date: January 28, 2025

Strategy, Stealth, Isometric View, Tactics, Indie Games, 18th Century, Xbox Play Anywhere, Singleplayer

A tactical stealth game from the authors of Blasphemous series. The Stone of Madness is about escaping from the 18th-century Spanish monastery. We have to deal with the clergy and guards, as well as supernatural beings and mental breakdowns of playable characters.

7.2

OpenCritic

8.1

Steam

Rate It!
Ratings
[2:25] - Launch Trailer Videos: 8
Screenshot Images: 20
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

The Stone of Madness is a tactical stealth game that falls into the category originated by the Commandos series. The game was developed by The Game Kitchen studio, known for the Blasphemous series.

Plot

The game tells the story of a group of five characters imprisoned in an 18th-century Spanish monastery, where clergy use brutal methods supposedly to cure mental illnesses.

Only through close cooperation will the prisoners have a chance to escape. On our way we will face not only fanatical clergy, brutal guards, but also supernatural beings. We also have to deal with our own mental problems.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X/S

Xbox Series X/S

Developer: The Game Kitchen

Publisher: Tripwire Interactive

Age restrictions: 16+

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for The Stone of Madness Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i3-9100F / AMD Ryzen 3 2300X, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1650 / Radeon RX 580 or better, 14 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-10400F / AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 1650 Super / Radeon RX 5500 XT or better, 14 GB SSD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Stone of Madness Video Game.

7.2

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 48% of Critics. There are 34 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Gamer Escape: 8 / 10 by Justin Mercer

The Stone of Madness isn’t perfect by any means, but its successes readily outweigh its missteps. Its emphasis on real-time stealth and simultaneous control over three distinct characters at a time work to create some very hectic gameplay situations, naturally encouraging the player to learn and improve. Infusing this rewarding gameplay with a striking art style and a tinge of dark humor makes for a unique experience worth looking into, even if the controls can be clunky and the guards can be a little too good at catching up with you when you make a mistake.

Full Review

COGconnected: 80 / 100 by Lillian King

Quote not yet available

Full Review

Slant Magazine: 4 / 5 by Steven Scaife

In an impressive feat of adapting an established format for a unique setting, The Stone of Madness is cleverly attuned to perseverance through incremental progress.

Full Review
81%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (225)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Art and Atmosphere: Players consistently praised the game's striking art style, which is hand-drawn and reminiscent of classic animation, creating a haunting and immersive environment that enhances the overall experience.
  • Unique Characters and Abilities: Each of the five playable characters has distinct skills and weaknesses, which encourages strategic planning and diverse gameplay approaches.
  • Engaging Story and Setting: The narrative set in an 18th-century Spanish monastery adds depth, with themes of mental health and personal fears that resonate throughout the gameplay.
  • Tactical Gameplay: The real-time tactical stealth mechanics are appreciated, with players enjoying the challenge of navigating the environment and avoiding detection.
  • Innovative Mechanics: The game incorporates elements like managing character sanity and a day/night cycle, adding layers of strategy.

The main cons of the game

  • Lack of Save Options: A significant point of frustration among players is the absence of manual saves or frequent checkpoints, which leads to lost progress and increased frustration, especially when encountering bugs or failing missions.
  • Technical Issues: Many players reported bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder the gameplay experience, including character pathing issues and inconsistent AI behavior.
  • Control Scheme Problems: The controls, particularly on non-controller setups, were criticized for being clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage multiple characters effectively.
  • Difficulty Balance: Some players felt the game could swing from challenging to frustrating due to its mechanics, particularly when managing character fears and sanity.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Improved Save System: Players expressed a strong desire for a more flexible save system, such as quick saves or manual saves, to alleviate frustration when dealing with challenges or bugs.
  • Better UI and Controls: Many reviews called for improvements in the user interface and control schemes, particularly for mouse and keyboard users, to enhance gameplay fluidity.
  • More Exploration and Freedom: While the game is praised for its strategic elements, some players wished for more open-ended exploration and less linearity in mission structure.
  • Expanded Character Interaction: A desire for deeper character development and interactions was noted, as some players felt the characters' backstories and relationships could be better explored.

Summary

  • In summary, The Stone of Madness presents a compelling blend of art, story, and tactical gameplay but is currently hindered by technical issues and design choices that affect player experience. Players are hopeful that future updates will address these concerns, particularly regarding save functionality and overall polish.

Summary generated on: