Stoneshard

About

Stoneshard is a single player open world role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Ink Stains Games and was released on February 6, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Stoneshard is a challenging turn-based RPG set in a war-torn medieval kingdom. Explore an open world filled with ruins, monsters, and opportunities, while awaiting no hand-holding and bracing for unforgiving consequences. Plan carefully, weigh risks, and adapt to survive, as saving is limited and mistakes can be lethal."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,308 reviews

gameplay1.1k positive mentions

grinding972 negative mentions

gameplay
3,636 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The gameplay of "Stoneshard" is characterized by its deep mechanics and challenging survival elements, requiring players to manage hunger, thirst, injuries, and other status effects. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and engaging combat, the game is often criticized for its punishing save system, which can lead to significant loss of progress after deaths, making the experience feel tedious and frustrating. Overall, the game shows promise with its unique mechanics and potential for future content, but it currently struggles with balance and accessibility, particularly for those less inclined towards hardcore gameplay.
- “The gameplay is deep with lots to learn and try out.”
- “From the graphics to gameplay, this is one of those games that's really satisfying to play - from going in blind and stumbling around, to having a good idea of the world and mechanics... and still able to find something new.”
- “I recently spent the last two weeks diving in and out of Stoneshard, and I have to say, it’s a very innovative game that kept me engaged with its unique mechanics and atmosphere.”
- “Game mechanics are way too stacked against the player and need re-balancing for it to be more fair.”
- “The gameplay loop is tedious, awfully streamlined and unexciting.”
- “The save mechanic really ruins this game for me.”
story
3,064 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
83%
4%
The story in "Stoneshard" is currently limited, with players reporting that the main quest can be completed in about 2-4 hours, primarily consisting of a few missions that often feel repetitive and lack depth. While the prologue offers an engaging introduction with voice acting and a compelling setup, many players express frustration over the lack of substantial content and narrative progression in the early access version, leading to a sense of emptiness and a desire for more story-driven quests and character development. Overall, while the game shows potential for a rich narrative, it remains unfinished, prompting players to recommend waiting for further updates before diving in.
- “The story is captivating, combat may seem like point and click but there is so much more under the surface of it, music is soothing and also unsettling when you're in the dungeons, and the pixel art, ohhhhhhhhh i love it.”
- “The story unfolds in a medieval/renaissance, low-fantasy universe (think Game of Thrones) that allows for a charming degree of realism, presenting historically inspired locations, equipment, and lore.”
- “The story, characters, items, world, etc all seem to be building to something great.”
- “After investing over 20 hours and completing only a handful of quests, it’s hard not to feel let down, especially when the main story leaves you on a cliffhanger.”
- “The main quest is practically nonexistent, basically just an excuse to guide you from a main area to the other without significant contents.”
- “After 4 years in early access, we didn't get any meaningful story; half of the mechanics are not working, and essentially all you get is some unfinished playground.”
graphics
1,152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics of "Stoneshard" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, which is described as both beautiful and immersive, effectively capturing a nostalgic yet captivating atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the artwork and animations, noting that the visuals contribute significantly to the game's overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding the simplicity of the graphics and occasional performance issues. Overall, the game's aesthetic is seen as a strong point, appealing to fans of retro-style graphics and enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “Stoneshard's graphics were probably what got me interested in the game in the first place: gorgeous high-resolution pixel art, smooth animations, visible equipment changes, and consistent UI.”
- “The graphics showcase the commitment and effort put in by the art team, as nothing feels out of place, and everything is polished to the smallest detail.”
- “The pixel art style creates a nostalgic yet captivating atmosphere, perfectly complemented by an immersive soundtrack.”
- “There is no excuse for keeping a pixel graphic game like this in early access for 4 years.”
- “My only other complaint, and it's not a game stopper, is that I find the graphics to be quite poor for a game in this day and age.”
- “The 1992 game mechanics and graphics really ruin this game for me.”
grinding
986 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often overshadowing the enjoyable elements of gameplay. Players frequently express frustration over the slow travel times, repetitive tasks, and a lack of meaningful rewards for their efforts, leading to a sense of wasted time and effort. While some appreciate the challenge and potential for character development, many feel that the current design choices make the game more of a chore than a rewarding experience.
- “The game is fun, if not tedious and punishing.”
- “Changes should be made to the game to make it more enjoyable, not tedious and infuriating.”
- “The intro/demo story alone is amazing enough to make me want to play even after all the garbage mentioned above, if it either wasn't grindy as hell and balanced or if my progress would actually keep long enough for me to get to the second main campaign quest.”
- “Tl;dr: this game is extremely tedious and not worth your money, let alone your time.”
- “The developers and a huge chunk of the player base think it's 'hardcore' or 'difficult', when in reality the only difficult and hardcore about the game is the tediousness and boredom from walking back and forth tile per tile; the game barely has any quality of life systems in place.”
- “The game has a lot going for it, but ultimately the tedious design choices make you want to stop playing it after you die.”
music
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and atmospheric integration, enhancing the overall experience with engaging soundtracks that complement the pixel art and gameplay. Many players noted that the music effectively sets the mood for various scenarios, from intense combat to exploration, although some expressed a desire for more variety and volume. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive environment.
- “The pixel art style creates a nostalgic yet captivating atmosphere, perfectly complemented by an immersive soundtrack.”
- “Musically, the game punches well above its weight; the tracks wouldn't sound out of place in a Game of the Year AAA title.”
- “The music is absolutely atmospheric and sets the tone and mood just right for every situation.”
- “The change of music breaks the immersion.”
- “Soundtrack is bad.”
- “Only the same song on repeat with the single combat tune, the combat tune is nice.”
atmosphere
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The atmosphere of "Stoneshard" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty medieval setting, enhanced by stunning pixel art, atmospheric sound design, and a captivating soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of tension and realism, making players feel as though they are truly navigating a harsh, unforgiving world. Overall, the combination of detailed graphics, engaging lore, and a dark ambiance contributes to a compelling and memorable gaming experience.
- “The pixel art style creates a nostalgic yet captivating atmosphere, perfectly complemented by an immersive soundtrack.”
- “Stoneshard captivated me with its gritty and grimdark atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, it doesn't feel like a game I'm playing on my computer but a medieval world where opportunity can be grasped by the boldest men.”
- “The atmosphere is kind of weary but cautious optimism.”
- “This game is great fun, it's awfully unforgiving but that adds to the atmosphere.”
- “The dark gritty atmosphere, the constant on-the-move survival cycle, the slow progression of skills, the complexity of the injury/illness system, and the underlying brutality.”
replayability
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The game exhibits high replayability primarily through its diverse character builds, skill trees, and procedurally generated maps, allowing players to explore various strategies and playstyles. While currently in early access, many users express optimism for future content that will further enhance replay value, despite some concerns about the game's pacing and save system. Overall, players find the potential for nearly infinite replayability appealing, especially as new updates are released.
- “A ton of replayability with their randomized maps and skill combinations.”
- “With 20 entirely separate skill trees (with more to come) and the characters having unique passive traits, this game has almost infinite replayability.”
- “The procedural generation makes unlimited replayability even as is.”
- “The lack of custom characters and no fleshed out skill trees definitely hurts the replayability of the game.”
- “Let me say, however, that the replay value is significantly diminished because it effectively becomes a 'walking simulator'.”
- “This game also has zero replayability right now, which makes the problem of restarting every time they update far worse.”
humor
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is a mix of gallows humor and situational comedy, often stemming from the game's challenging mechanics and the absurdity of certain scenarios, such as dying unexpectedly or encountering humorous character traits. Players appreciate the blend of dark humor with the game's gritty atmosphere, although some feel that the lack of consistent comedic elements can detract from the experience. Overall, while the game can be frustrating, many find the humor in its challenges to be a redeeming quality that enhances their enjoyment.
- “The carnage and damage sustained by your avatar is gruesome and hilarious.”
- “Eventually I stopped quitting when I died, and started laughing at myself.”
- “The game is challenging, but in a fun and sometimes humorous way.”
- “Wasting a huge amount of time without any real progress is not funny; it does not entertain at all.”
- “So many times I ran out of supplies in the first or second dungeon... it's not funny.”
- “Please, stop this nonsense. I don't want to waste so much time retrying the same thing; it's not funny and offers no real replay value at all.”
stability
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the lack of updates and the unfinished state of the game, leading to a challenging experience that often feels more tedious than enjoyable. While some users note that the game shows potential, the overwhelming consensus is that it remains a buggy mess in its current early access form.
- “The roadmap looks good and gameplay isn't buggy or filled with issues like most early access titles.”
- “What is in the game already is solidly designed and bug free.”
- “Basically bug free.”
- “Extraordinarily buggy and grindy, and every update makes this problem worse.”
- “As it is, it's a horrible tragedy that the guys making the sound/sprites have put so much heart into this game and whoever is implementing the mechanics is churning out ill-conceived and buggy garbage that does nothing but make the game unpleasant to play.”
- “3 times in a row after I exited from the dungeon, my character got stuck at new side maps in this latest patch. You can only save at the inn or camp, and if it freezes after you win the dungeon, all your progress is gone. It happened three times in a row at the same spot. Change your save menu, otherwise don't bother with this game.”
character development
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
Character development in the game is noted for its depth and variety, allowing players to create diverse builds and engage in strategic planning of skills. However, some players find the initial learning curve steep and criticize the lack of customization options for character appearance. Overall, while the character development system is praised for its complexity and potential, it is marred by issues such as sparse procedural generation and restrictions that can hinder progression after the tutorial.
- “The character development is deep and the world is interesting.”
- “Early character development is a blast, and anyone who enjoys the slow-paced skill upgrades of games like Kenshi will enjoy this tremendously.”
- “Character development is a mix between Diablo 2 and Divinity: Original Sin 2; you can mix your skills and there are tons of possibilities.”
- “The heavily advertised in-trailer procedural generation actually seems very sparse, and the 'complete freedom of character development,' while already very vague marketing-speak, does not feel accurate either.”
- “You can't really customize class looks, etc. It's a big pitfall for this game, and there's a lot more wrong with this game, but honestly, just like the devs of this game, I'm too lazy to do the work on this review just like they didn't put in the work for the character design in their game.”
- “After beating the tutorial, you run into instant restrictions on character development.”
optimization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
56%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues such as lag, long loading times, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Many feel that the lack of character creation limits build optimization, which detracts from the experience. While some players have noted acceptable performance without crashes, the consensus is that substantial improvements are needed for a smoother and more balanced experience.
- “The lack of character creation really sucks for build optimization, which overcoming odds with a fun build is the main reason to play games like this.”
- “But there are a lot of optimizations needed to make this thing playable.”
- “This game runs smoothly.”
- “Poorly optimized, pixel graphics start to slow down in certain areas and when coming close to the edge of the map.”
- “Their engine would make a fantastic foundation for other RPGs, but it is unoptimized and buggy.”
- “At first there was almost no content (10h playtime max), now bugs all over the place (broken town people and no chance to reset, missing main story person and wagon, ...), bad AI, extremely long loading times (for not really sophisticated graphics, just really bad optimization), slow movement in game (and really long ways to walk).”
monetization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with many users feeling misled by its advertising and claiming the game is incomplete. Players express frustration over the slow progression and clunky mechanics, suggesting that the early access version feels more like a promotional tool than a legitimate beta release. Overall, there is a strong sentiment that the developers are prioritizing profit over delivering a polished gaming experience.
- “Honestly calling it for what it was, a cash grab.”
- “The early access is very brief, more like an interactive advertisement than an alpha release.”
- “This developer released a half-ass game to cash grab with promises of implementing stuff in the future if you pay for it all now.”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of frustration and emotional investment in the game, highlighting its potential but also its unforgiving nature. Many report feeling claustrophobic and anxious due to the game's mechanics, leading to moments of heartbreak, such as dying unexpectedly after significant progress. While some find the experience emotionally taxing, others feel a lack of a compelling narrative to deepen their engagement.
- “I cried myself to sleep after dying from bleeding out because I forgot a bandage.”
- “This game made me feel afraid of traveling far, made me suspicious of walking on a road, and taught me the true value of supplies over loot.”
- “Yes, it can be unforgiving, unfair, and heart-breakingly harsh: at times it can treat you like dirt.”