Night Stones

About

Night Stones is a cozy adventure game filled with vibrant characters, fun puzzles, and a heartfelt story. Awakening in a world you once dreamed of, you’re met with a portal that suddenly explodes, leaving you stranded. Your main quest: rebuild the portal and find your way back home. Create your own character and unveil the secrets of Mythica as well as your own character's past in this wholesome j…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 170 reviews

story38 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Night Stones features a charming art style and engaging music that create a cozy atmosphere, making it a delightful experience for players.
The game offers a fun mix of exploration and puzzle-solving, with a straightforward story that is both touching and enjoyable.
Players appreciate the game's accessibility, making it suitable for all ages, and the fluid controls enhance the overall gameplay experience.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in around 3 to 5 hours, leading to concerns about its value at the current price point.
Camera controls can be frustrating, with issues such as awkward angles and lack of a map, making navigation challenging at times.
Some players feel that the game lacks depth in its mechanics and puzzles, with missed opportunities for more complex gameplay elements.

story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The game's story is generally described as simple yet engaging, with many players finding it heartwarming and charming despite its predictability. The narrative intertwines well with gameplay mechanics, enhancing the overall experience, though some reviewers wished for more depth and exploration of lore. Overall, it offers a cozy atmosphere with delightful characters and visuals, making it a pleasant short adventure.
- “The story, while simplistic, is engaging and heartwarming.”
- “Nightstones delivers an enchanting blend of gameplay, storytelling, and engaging interplay between day and night, that feels both familiar and fresh.”
- “The engaging gameplay and heartfelt story add depth to the experience, making each moment enjoyable.”
- “The story is simple, the dialogue is very brief, and every aspect of the game is pleasant.”
- “My only real 'hmm' moment for this game was that the story was very predictable.”
- “The story is quite simple—I found myself wishing it had taken a different direction entirely, but I can’t say much without giving spoilers.”
gameplay
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The gameplay of "Night Stones" is characterized by its charming blend of exploration, puzzles, and a unique day/night mechanic that enhances the overall experience. While the mechanics are engaging and well-designed, many players feel that the game is too short, limiting the potential for deeper puzzle integration and exploration of its various mechanics. Overall, it offers a relaxing adventure with a heartfelt story, though some players wish for more content to fully utilize its creative gameplay elements.
- “The dungeon puzzle mechanics stand out, and the story is more ambitious than it might seem at first.”
- “The gameplay is well-designed, mixing exploring and puzzles in a way that’s exciting and never boring.”
- “The engaging gameplay and heartfelt story add depth to the experience, making each moment enjoyable.”
- “This game has so much room for improvement in the way of showing more of its lore, side quests that use more of the upgrades, and solid combat mechanics.”
- “On the negative side, the entire game being very short means the mechanics don't get a ton of time to shine - it would have been nice to have a few more puzzles in the dungeons.”
- “The world is just too small to gain the full benefits of all these items/mechanics.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
23%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its calming and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere and emotional connection to the story. While many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack and its ability to complement gameplay, some have noted that it can become repetitive, suggesting a desire for more varied tracks. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music is also incredible—calm and emotional, it matches every part of the game perfectly and helps you connect with the story.”
- “The music is honestly some of the best I’ve heard in a game—it’s calming yet adventurous, a perfect soundtrack that really amplifies the cozy vibe.”
- “Night stones imparts a wonderful cozy feeling between its beautiful aesthetic and lovely soundtrack.”
- “The music got a bit repetitive, so I'm hoping that the developers can maybe make it play a few more tracks so that they rotate around.”
- “If the camera/mouse issue can be fixed, a music rotation put in, and maybe some hints for folks that are lost, Night Stones can become one heck of an enjoyable cozy adventure.”
- “Sitting AFK and the music adjusts by a slower tempo and fewer instruments.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
30%
11%
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising the stunning art style, vibrant landscapes, and charming visuals that create an immersive and cozy atmosphere. While some critiques mention a low poly style that feels off, the overall consensus highlights the beautiful aesthetics and effective use of light and shadow, contributing to a delightful gaming experience. The combination of cute graphics and engaging music enhances the enjoyment for players of all ages.
- “The graphics are stunning, with gorgeous landscapes and great use of light and shadow that make the world feel real.”
- “The graphics are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive world that's a joy to explore.”
- “From the first moments, I was drawn in by the vibrant colorful landscape and enchanting art style.”
- “The graphics could be improved; maybe that's for Nightstones 2. I really wasn't a fan of this low poly style, as it just felt off when looking at it. The environments looked better than the characters.”
- “The graphics are pretty but not demanding, which makes it really difficult to decide if I want to play the game on my TV or Steam Deck.”
- “---{ graphics }---”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming story, touching side quests, and engaging music that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the simplicity and depth of the narrative, which explores themes of hope and bravery, making it a wholesome and memorable journey. The dedication of the solo developer further adds to the game's charm, creating a strong connection with the audience.
- “The main character’s journey is full of touching moments, meaningful choices, and themes like hope and bravery.”
- “The music is also incredible—calm and emotional, it matches every part of the game perfectly and helps you connect with the story.”
- “The story, while simplistic, is engaging and heartwarming.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the witty dialogue and quirky character interactions that encourage exploration and engagement with NPCs. Many find the jokes to be genuinely funny and well-written, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience without veering into cringeworthy territory. The combination of clever writing, amusing visuals, and charming themes enhances the game's comedic appeal.
- “Funny enough that it prompted me to speak with every NPC, even ones that did not have quest markers, to make sure I heard all the quips this game had to offer.”
- “He loves reading all of the character conversations and finds the jokes hilarious!”
- “The writing is cute but also seems to have a great sense of humor; I got a chuckle out of the passive-aggressive road sign encountered early on.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game exhibits some stability issues, including bugs related to camera control and inconsistent controller support, which may lead to motion sickness for some players. However, it performs well on platforms like Steam Deck and Linux, showcasing impressive potential for a first-time solo developer.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck/Linux.”
- “And it runs great on a Steam Deck!”
- “The constant automatically adjusting camera angle can cause some motion sickness, and being able to move it with the mouse was kind of buggy.”
- “Controller support is buggy... it looks really pretty!”
- “A little buggy, and sometimes the forced perspective can work against you, but this is a sincerely impressive first game for a single dev.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of "Night Stones" is consistently praised for its cozy and charming qualities, reminiscent of "A Short Hike." Players appreciate the beautiful details and relaxing vibe, making it an ideal experience for those looking to unwind and enjoy a well-crafted story with engaging dialogue.
- “Night Stones is a delightful experience reminiscent of 'A Short Hike.' This charming game is brimming with beautiful little details that create a truly cozy atmosphere.”
- “A great atmosphere and vibe if you just want to relax and enjoy a nice story with better dialogue than most AAA games.”
- “Achieves the same cozy and relaxing atmosphere as 'A Short Hike.'”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort, likening it to needing a second life to manage it. While some appreciate the gameplay mechanics, such as the camera angles, the lack of a map contributes to a tedious experience. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some expressing a desire for a more streamlined or farming-sim-like approach.
- “I would love it if it was turned into a farming sim, lol. Ahem... anyway, get it, it's amazing and I will definitely play it again.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Without a map, it's just too tedious; the camera is revolving around the character, which is a great feature for general gameplay, but it makes grinding feel even more frustrating.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is primarily optimized for controller use, providing a fun and visually appealing experience; however, players have reported occasional stuttering issues, particularly on the Steam Deck, where the game seems to pause briefly during loading.
- “Basically, only play this game with a controller as it seems to be optimized for that.”
- “It's fun to play and looks good, but it has some weird stuttering (not a reduction in frame rate, but it feels like the game pauses for a quarter or half second here and there while things load), which is especially noticeable on my Steam Deck.”