STASIS: BONE TOTEM

About

STASIS: BONE TOTEM is a single player arcade action adventure game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by THE BROTHERHOOD and was released on May 31, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Stasis: Bone Totem" is a suspenseful puzzle-adventure game set in a mysterious archaeological site. As the player, you'll delve into ancient ruins, uncovering secrets and solving intricate settings-based puzzles to progress through the story. The game's captivating atmosphere is enhanced by its unique stasis mechanic, allowing you to manipulate time and explore divergent timelines within the environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+13

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,186 reviews

story702 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

Incredibly well-written horror point-and-click adventure with a gripping story and engaging characters.
The puzzles are mostly logical and satisfying, with a unique inventory-sharing mechanic between three characters.
Stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design that enhance the overall experience.

Some puzzles can feel obtuse or frustrating, requiring trial and error or a walkthrough to solve.
The dialogue can be overly lengthy and repetitive, interrupting gameplay and immersion.
The use of AI-generated art in some areas detracts from the overall quality and immersion of the game.

story
1,478 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The story of "Stasis: Bone Totem" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich world-building, and emotional depth, often drawing players into its dark, atmospheric setting. Many reviewers highlight the strong character development and the intertwining of personal and cosmic horror themes, although some express frustration with pacing issues and the complexity of the plot. Overall, the game is recommended for its compelling storytelling, impressive voice acting, and the ability to evoke genuine emotional responses from players.
- “Fantastic setting, atmosphere, story and characters; a very gory, somber, and to my surprise, moving narrative.”
- “The story is better than many films and series nowadays.”
- “The story just keeps pulling you in more and more, and the buildup is very well done.”
- “The story is boring, uninteresting and just dumb.”
- “If I force myself to complete the game, and the story goes nowhere, I'll hate the game and it won't even be its fault - because it was just a puzzle simulator with scattered story all along.”
- “The story quality drops towards the last third.”
atmosphere
366 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
2%
The atmosphere of "Stasis: Bone Totem" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively blending dark sci-fi horror with intricate environmental design and compelling storytelling. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense, foreboding ambiance without relying on cheap jump scares, instead utilizing rich visuals, sound design, and character interactions to enhance the overall experience. Many players find themselves captivated by the game's unsettling atmosphere, which draws them into its narrative and keeps them engaged throughout.
- “The atmosphere and tension is expertly crafted, the setting takes clear inspiration from Alien with its grim future aesthetics, and Event Horizon with its visceral gothic horror.”
- “This game does a fantastic job of creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere while also creating fully fleshed characters that you can't help but care about.”
- “The atmosphere is stellar, the visuals evoke the unsettling, low-framerate horror games of the nineties, and it'll keep your brain tickled all the way through.”
- “I was here for the grimdark atmosphere of the original Stasis and not for some Aztec stuff.”
- “The game will appeal to fans of the first part and lovers of complex puzzles, but may disappoint those who expected a more complete disclosure of the horror atmosphere, which was unfortunately not fully realized here.”
- “If any atmosphere is there, I didn't note it; what I was experiencing so far was not encouraging.”
graphics
348 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and atmospheric design that enhance the horror experience. However, some players noted issues with darkness in the visuals, making navigation difficult, and criticized the use of AI-generated imagery that detracted from immersion. Overall, while the graphics show significant improvement from previous titles, they are not without their flaws, particularly in terms of lighting and clarity.
- “The graphics are incredible, the horror of the abandoned deepsea15 station and everything that lays beneath are heavy and scary.”
- “The visuals in Stasis: Bone Totem were beautifully crafted.”
- “Graphically this is a huge step forward, the scenery art, the character designs and animations are amazing and immerse you in the story.”
- “The only issue here is that it was very clear that a lot of AI-generated artwork and facial animations on the PDA logbooks, and I found those very distracting, which took me out of the experience a lot of times.”
- “Concerning the graphics/art, I think it's the worst part, not because of the art itself, but because the game is too dark. Even with the brightness at maximum, I feel like I'm missing a lot of cool art.”
- “Also, the graphics during the cutscenes are practically PS2 worthy; they are horrendous looking.”
gameplay
304 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
73%
5%
The gameplay of "Stasis: Bone Totem" is primarily a point-and-click adventure that incorporates a unique character-switching mechanic, allowing players to control three characters simultaneously and share items through a quantum storage device. While the game features logical puzzles and quality-of-life improvements that eliminate pixel hunting, some players found the gameplay clunky and the reliance on dialogue and item interactions could disrupt immersion. Overall, the gameplay is accessible and engaging, with a strong narrative that enhances the experience, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its genre conventions.
- “The gameplay is simple point and click adventure fare (pick up, combine/disassemble item, search everything) but the environmental puzzle solving is excellent with logical solutions for the patient, thorough players.”
- “The gameplay is improved over other classics of the genre, since the game points out interactable bits in every scene, sparing you the maddening pixel hunts of other titles.”
- “The gameplay loop here surrounds traditional point and click adventures, you must utilize the three characters and their unique skills to explore the nightmare environment with most puzzles being logical but somewhat challenging.”
- “My biggest gripe was probably that some of the gameplay interaction could have been fleshed out more.”
- “The gameplay and interface is clunky and revolves around walking from one interactive object to another and 'fiddling'.”
- “I even tried using a walkthrough for a bit, just to see more story, but found that half an hour of guided gameplay yielded nearly nothing in story, so that time felt even more empty than just brute forcing.”
emotional
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from heartwarming moments to deep sorrow. The narrative is described as a compelling emotional rollercoaster, featuring well-developed characters and impactful voice acting that enhance the story's emotional depth. Many players found themselves unexpectedly moved, with some even expressing that the game made them cry, highlighting its powerful storytelling and character arcs.
- “An emotional rollercoaster that I'd gladly re-experience.”
- “I was not expecting a point-and-click horror game to tell such a compelling and touching story.”
- “The evolving relationship between Mac, Charlie, and Moses creates an emotional depth that few games achieve.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many praising the soundtrack composed by Mark Morgan. Players noted that the music effectively sets the tone, complements the story, and varies depending on the character being controlled, although some mentioned occasional audio issues and repetitiveness in tracks. Overall, the sound design, including music and sound effects, is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The sound design and music are incredible, so thank you, Mark Morgan, for that.”
- “The music and sound design is brilliant; background ambience will keep you on edge and the musical scores fit perfectly, elevating the emotion of the story or building tension as you progress.”
- “The story and art direction are phenomenal, and Mark Morgan really did a great job with the soundtrack (that credit alone was a big part of why I decided to buy this game).”
- “Audio issues: some background sounds and music are completely out of place, disrupting the overall atmosphere.”
- “Music can be a bit repetitive due to reuse/looping of tracks, which is a shame because they got Mark Morgan (of Fallout 1 and 2) to do it.”
- “I however only really got stuck twice having to look up a solution - first more out of irritation at an emergency hatch locked by the dumbest puzzle possible while 'Sonic is drowning' music bleats in the background.”
optimization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly without crashes or bugs, and offering unlimited saves. Players appreciate the stellar voice acting, which significantly enhances character development and immersion, making the overall experience memorable. The combination of well-optimized performance and exceptional vocal performances contributes to a captivating narrative and engaging gameplay.
- “The game is also very well optimized and all characters are very likable.”
- “Very nice graphics, no crash, no bugs, well optimized in my opinion.”
- “It runs smoothly... it has unlimited saves.”
- “Few scenes drag too long, which is a blessing in some audio performances.”
- “I bought this game basically at random, I saw the image and went 'why not?', I am not a fan of point and click adventure games, heck I tend to avoid them due to things like moon logic puzzles and stories for the insane, but this, this was something special, the puzzles were relatively intuitive and the story was fantastic but the true selling point is the standout character writing and performances; the story is a conglomeration of sci-fi horror, have a spooky science place, chuck in some Lovecraft, add one very brave bear and you have an engaging story throughout with some genuine heartfelt moments and reveals.”
- “Don't let this criticism turn you off too much - at its core there's an engrossing horror premise here and a lot of cool world building alongside some likeable characters and endearing performances.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be overwhelmingly tedious, with repetitive dialogue, lengthy text, and frustrating puzzle mechanics contributing to a sense of monotony. While some players appreciate the challenging puzzles and engaging story, many find the overall experience requires excessive patience and can feel like a chore. Despite these criticisms, the game's atmosphere and character development are often praised, suggesting that the enjoyment may outweigh the grinding for some players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Game play also becomes tedious and lengthy dialogue overstays its welcome.”
- “Stasis: Bone Totem is an overwhelmingly tedious game.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
26%
12%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while many praise the depth and quality of writing, highlighting the characters' struggles and growth, others criticize the character designs as clichéd and lacking real evolution. The voice acting is noted as a strong point that enhances the overall experience, but some players feel that certain characters remain static throughout the story. Overall, the game excels in atmosphere and world-building, contributing to a rich narrative experience.
- “There is excellent character development as they try to grapple with their flaws and despair.”
- “This game has the best writing, character development, and world building of any game I've ever seen or played.”
- “The character development of all characters was perfectly handled.”
- “These characters are so cliché it's almost hazardous to the mind; there is no real character development in Bone Totem. Every person is, with the exception of your 'hacker', the same person at the end as when they started.”
- “The voice acting performance should be sufficient to make up for it and get many people satisfaction in certain character developments throughout the game.”
- “What impressed me the most was the quality of writing and the character development.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players noting that the twists often lean more towards being funny than shocking. The presence of a comically inappropriate bear character, along with humorous deaths and clever unspoken moments, adds to the overall comedic tone, even amidst the game's violent and disturbing themes. Players appreciate the sharp wit and the juxtaposition of humor with horror, creating a unique and engaging experience.
- “The bear won't stop laughing and humming away at the most inappropriate times though.”
- “The deaths are quite funny, so kudos to that.”
- “Even though the game is littered with violence and despair, there are still warm moments and funny jokes that legitimize their bonds from their past, carried into the present.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is marked by occasional graphical and control glitches, though they are generally not frequent or severe. Players may encounter some obtuse puzzle solutions that require troubleshooting, and while the linear progression provides clear options, the clunky controls on certain platforms like the Steam Deck can detract from the experience.
- “There are graphical and control glitches, but they're nothing major or too frequent.”
- “As with all these games, some of the puzzles make little logical sense, and the glitches that cause things to not trigger do not help that.”
- “Played on Steam Deck, and the controls were a little clunky and buggy.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers around 10-12 hours of gameplay, with minimal replayability primarily focused on collecting achievements related to unique deaths, which some players find akin to puzzles. However, many users express that once completed, especially with a guide, there is little incentive to replay the game.
- “Anyway, finished with a help of a guide and sure as hell I am not doing another playthrough; there is zero replay value.”
- “You can expect to get 10-12 hours out of the game, and there is some (very) limited replayability for collectibles and deaths. Finding ways to die are essentially puzzles unto themselves, and there's an achievement for getting each one, if you didn't use a guide to get them all on the first run through.”