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Stonefly

Stonefly is a beautiful work of art with an oddly but enchanting gameplay waiting to be experienced!
Stonefly Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
86% User Score Based on 93 reviews
Critic Score 64%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Stonefly Game Cover

About

Stonefly is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Flight School Studio and was released on June 1, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Stonefly is a single-player fantasy platformer RPG with a good plot, masterful visuals, and a memorable soundtrack. Pilot a unique wind-powered mech to traverse and battle across a magical forest, in a journey to recover a stolen family heirloom. Harness the power of the wind to outsmart and defeat various bugs in strategic combat."

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Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
Stonefly screenshot
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86%
Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews
story20 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a charming art style that creates an inviting atmosphere.
  • The unique combat system, which involves pushing enemies off platforms, offers a fresh take on gameplay mechanics.
  • Exploration is rewarding, with a variety of upgrades and a creative RPG system that enhances the player's experience.
  • Combat can be frustrating and chaotic, often leading to tedious encounters and a lack of clarity in controls.
  • The story and character development feel underwhelming, with dialogue pacing issues and a lack of voice acting that detracts from immersion.
  • Navigation can be difficult due to a fixed camera and unclear terrain, leading to instances of getting stuck or falling off the map.
  • story
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Stonefly" is generally described as simple and charming, with a heartwarming coming-of-age theme set in a beautifully crafted miniature world. While some players appreciated the emotional depth and engaging world-building, others criticized the narrative for being underdeveloped, lacking character depth, and suffering from awkward pacing and presentation through text bubbles. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable but could have benefited from more robust development and character interaction.

    • “The story, though short, is emotionally packed in a very natural way that's hard to explain.”
    • “One of the most gorgeous games I've ever played, really smart UX to make the perspective work super smoothly, incredibly unique world and gameplay, cute, heartfelt story, fantastic animation that really makes you feel like a bug on a leaf.”
    • “With unique controls, fun art, and a relatable story, Stonefly has been a delight to experience.”
    • “The story is so incredibly bad - the characters are underdeveloped, motivations are all over the shop, character arcs are jarring - but most insulting is how little the story links to the beautifully designed world.”
    • “I very rarely write reviews, but after the unbelievably clumsy and hamfisted twist/betrayal in the story, I felt that simply stopping and uninstalling was insufficient and needed to say something more.”
    • “The story of this game is serviceable but is hindered by abrupt scene transitions and awkward dialogue with odd pacing.”
  • gameplay
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Stonefly" is characterized by its innovative mechanics and unique design, offering a blend of exploration, combat, and resource gathering that many players find engaging. However, it suffers from issues such as repetitiveness, imprecise controls, and frustrating combat mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. While the game is visually stunning and has a charming atmosphere, some players feel that the gameplay can become tedious and lacks depth in certain areas.

    • “Gameplay centers around staying airborne and bouncing off the ground to evade the dangerous bugs lurking below.”
    • “Beautiful, unique, and fulfilling gameplay that embodies the emotions the narrative is communicating.”
    • “The core of the game is really good: explore the semi-open world, fight enemies, and complete linear missions. Player progression feels rewarding as you gain upgrades throughout your playthrough.”
    • “This is an awful mechanic, which at first seems like an original challenging approach, but it gets old very fast: it's very imprecise, has to be done in time, you can't use the most useful ability for that continuously because of a cooldown, and enemies get back on their feet, and you have to stun them again.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is just so repetitive, boring, and actually tedious.”
    • “Despite a gorgeous world, stunning sketchbook visuals, and fantastic music, Stonefly is actively dragged down because of its frustrating and cumbersome combat mechanics that create situations that are a pain to tackle.”
  • graphics
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, unique art style, and charming character designs, creating a beautiful and immersive atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the effective combination of art and music, contributing to a tranquil experience, although some note that the gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is a significant draw, making it a recommended title for those who appreciate artistic visuals.

    • “The visuals are great, with cool character design and cartoonish cut scenes featuring full 3D animation and dialogue.”
    • “The art style, animations, maps, and everything are incredibly beautiful.”
    • “The art style in this game is fantastic; every area you explore, enemies you find, and characters you meet are stunning, colorful, and well-designed.”
    • “So legit all the parts are just for aesthetic appeal as far as I can tell.”
    • “But nah, all customization is just aesthetics.”
    • “From the start you'll notice this studio's striking art style which while tending towards the beige still pleases the eye.”
  • music
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its unique and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of tranquil and upbeat tracks. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, particularly during intense gameplay moments. Overall, the combination of music and art style is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to a soothing and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is great, adds a lot to the immersion.”
    • “Top tier music and vibes, still trying to get a handle on the movement/combat.”
    • “This game is hella rad - the gameplay is highly addicting, the music is awesome (I've listened to the soundtrack multiple times by itself), and the art direction is beautiful.”
    • “Indeed, the music is unique (but sadly very repetitive), the story is very intriguing, and the art direction is amazing.”
    • “Scripted cutscenes would nearly be silent if music wasn't constantly playing in the background.”
    • “It's a shame, because the idea is a unique one, and the presentation is really something to marvel at, with an original soundtrack that occasionally reminded me of the terrific disasterpiece score for Hyper Light Drifter.”
  • grinding
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the availability of resources for upgrades, many express frustration with the combat mechanics and navigation, which can feel overwhelming and annoying. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, impacting enjoyment and pacing throughout the game.

    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is just so repetitive, boring, and actually tedious.”
    • “I got this game on the strength of having liked Creature in the Well a lot, then stuck it out through the awkward and annoying combat, the boring resource grinding, and getting punished for trying to explore the levels by constantly glitching outside the map and having to return to camp, only to be eventually treated to an absolutely horrendous final mission, a pointless boss fight, and a daft conclusion to the story.”
    • “In the end, Stonefly is a live demonstration of a saying 'to be like herding cats' - it's way more tedious and annoying than it should be.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and natural storytelling, which resonates deeply with players, creating a captivating experience that is both unique and visually stunning. While many reviewers praise the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its charming narrative and immersive world, some note that certain moments may lack the emotional impact expected. Overall, it is celebrated for its heartfelt themes and engaging gameplay that keeps players invested for hours.

    • “The story, though short, is emotionally packed in a very natural way that's hard to explain.”
    • “It's not a bad story by any means, and the ending is heartwarming to say the least.”
    • “A heartwarming coming-of-age story set in a fantastical world reminiscent of the microcosmos film.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive visuals and charming character designs, featuring unique quirks that enhance their appeal. The combination of engaging 3D animations and cartoonish cut scenes contributes to a vibrant and original aesthetic, although some players feel the gameplay itself falls short. Overall, the artistic elements significantly enrich the character experience.

    • “Additionally, character designs (and mech designs) all have little quirks that create all sorts of charming little flares that I can't help but smile at whenever I see.”
    • “This game is beautiful, original, fun and difficult combat, cute bug mechs, great character design.... get it!”
    • “The visuals are great, there is a cool character design and kind of cartoonish cut scenes with full 3D animation and dialogue.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that hinder maneuverability and exploration. These issues contribute to a frustrating experience, particularly during combat and traversal.

    • “As others have stated, this game is buggy.”
    • “Speaking of maneuverability, traversing the world is a confusing and buggy mess.”
    • “The combat simply isn’t much fun, and exploring runs the risk of glitches.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the presence of unlockable upgrades and multiple mech options contributes to a solid level of replayability, encouraging exploration of different strategies and playstyles.

    • “There are upgrades that can be unlocked for certain resources you acquire, and with several different mechs available, I imagine there is significant replayability here.”
    • “The variety of choices and paths you can take in the game makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting, encouraging you to dive back in for more.”
    • “With multiple endings and diverse character builds, the game offers a wealth of replayability that keeps you coming back for new experiences.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The limited variety in missions and objectives makes replaying the game feel tedious.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highlighted by its fantastic art style, intriguing lore, and captivating characters, creating a mesmerizing experience that many feel could have elevated the game to greatness.

    • “Fantastic art style, mysterious lore and characters, mesmerizing atmosphere.”
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64%Critics’ scoreBased on 17 critic reviews
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10h Median play time
10h Average play time
10-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Stonefly is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Stonefly is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing Stonefly.

Stonefly was released on June 1, 2021.

Stonefly was developed by Flight School Studio.

Stonefly has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Stonefly is a single player game.

Similar games include Vernal Edge, Greak: Memories of Azur, BLACKTAIL, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, Hob and others.