In a genre often polished to a gleaming sheen, Stoneshard opts for a raw, gritty aesthetic, promising a brutal and unforgiving experience. This title blends elements of roguelikes and RPGs, forging a unique, and often punishing, gameplay loop. Does Stoneshard truly live up to the hype, or is it merely a shard of what it could have been?

Tales of the Old Kingdom

Stoneshard puts you in the role of a medieval mercenary in a war-torn kingdom. The narrative is primarily driven by contracts and quests you undertake, with an overarching plot involving ancient secrets and powerful artefacts. The storytelling is delivered through dialogue, environmental details, and lore scattered throughout the fascinating, randomly-generated world.

While there isn’t an overarching, heavily scripted narrative, the world itself tells a story of decline and conflict and this is clear to see within minutes of starting the game. The various factions, from desperate villagers to ruthless mercenaries, each have their own motivations and agendas, adding depth to Stoneshard’s lore.

On the Bloody Road

Stoneshard is a hard game, and death will come to players frequently. Players explore the open world, taking on quests, looting, and fighting enemies. A strong emphasis is placed on survival mechanics, with players needing to manage hunger, thirst, injuries, and mental state while keeping their wits about them in relation to any nasty surprises that may be lurking. Permadeath is a core feature, though there are options for less punishing experiences.

Given the open world, exploration is a key element of Stoneshard. The world map is divided into regions, each with its own unique environments and challenges. As you travel, you’ll encounter random events, such as ambushes, wandering merchants, and points of interest that can lead to new quests or discoveries. After spending a short time with the game, it quickly becomes apparent that very few “bad” choices won’t have heinous consequences attached to them should you be caught in the act (which you probably will).

Systems of Survival

Stoneshard‘s combat is turn-based and takes place on a grid. As with combat in the majority of turn-based games, positioning, timing, and utilising abilities are crucial for success. Each weapon type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and understanding these nuances is vital for survival.

Injuries can also impact combat effectiveness, with broken bones or bleeding wounds hindering your character’s abilities. As already mentioned and alluded to, survival is a constant struggle in Stoneshard, with players needing to manage a multitude of needs. Hunger, thirst, injuries, pain, and psychological trauma are all factors that can significantly impact your character’s performance and well-being and if you neglect any of these aspects for too long, the inevitable will happen sooner than you would like! These systems are all deeply intertwined, with a good example being as follows: untreated injuries can lead to pain, which in turn can negatively affect your character’s mental state, which will eventually lead you to do something silly and then die. Blunt, yes, but consider it a lesson should it ever happen to you! Finding food and water, bandaging wounds, and managing pain through rest or medication are constant concerns, but if you play strategically enough, you should be able to manage without too many problems.

Character progression in Stoneshard is classless, allowing you to create unique builds by investing in various skill trees. This flexibility encourages experimentation and allows you to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle. Levelling up allows you to allocate skill points and acquire new abilities.

Looting and crafting are integral parts of the Stoneshard experience. You’ll find and utilise equipment, craft items, and manage your inventory. The inventory system is realistic, with weight and encumbrance affecting your character’s movement and stamina. You’ll need to carefully manage it, prioritising essential items and deciding what to leave behind. The trouble is that most things that you find are useful in some way or another, so striking that balance between necessity and nice-to-haves will always be the key to success.

Despite being optional, permadeath is a defining feature of Stoneshard, adding a high-stakes element to each playthrough. This feature significantly increases the tension and makes every decision matter even more than normal! However, for those who prefer a less punishing experience, there are options to disable permadeath or enable saving, which is great for those of you who want a less brutal experience.

The Art of the Harsh

Stoneshard employs a beautiful, detailed pixel art style, creating a highly convincing dark and gritty atmosphere. Environments are varied, from forests and swamps to dungeons and towns. The attention to detail in the pixel art is impressive, with each environment and character being carefully crafted.

The sound design further enhances the atmosphere, with realistic sound effects for combat, weather, and environmental interactions.

A Thousand Different Paths

The combination of permadeath, varied character builds, and a vast number of procedurally generated elements gives Stoneshard significant replay value. Each playthrough can offer a unique experience, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies and approaches whilst giving them the confidence that no two experiences will be alike.

Conclusion

Stoneshard is a highly challenging yet highly rewarding RPG that emphasises realism and strategic gameplay. Its deep mechanics, gritty atmosphere, and high replay value make it stand out in the genre. However, its difficulty and unforgiving nature may not appeal to all players. The learning curve is steep, and mastering its intricacies requires patience and dedication. For those who persevere, however, Stoneshard offers a unique and immersive RPG experience which can be incredibly immersive and highly rewarding.

Grade: 8.5/10