Info about Stonemachia:

Official game description:
Assume the role of **Zefiro**, a pawn capable of transforming into other **chess pieces**, as he embarks on a perilous **Dantesque journey** in a world ravaged by the **Plague of Angels**.
Venture into gloomy and forgotten lands and prepare to face armies of angels: statues and objects inspired by **Italian art and folklore!**
Discover and unlock all of the armour transformations and their unique abilities in a **dark action-adventure _soulslike_**, where the shield can truly change the outcome of every encounter.
Uncover the secret of the chess pieces and guide Zefiro through **Medhelan** on an **epic quest to return to Heaven.**

Release date: May 26, 2026

Categories: Soulslike Combat, Character Progression, Action RPG, Exploration, Multiple Endings, Dark Fantasy, Chess-based Gameplay, Parrying


- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game performs well on lower-end hardware with <8GB VRAM, showing strong optimization and positive feedback despite minor issues. Higher-end hardware with 12-15GB VRAM reports significant performance problems and negative experiences.
  - Sample size: 43 (23% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 18 reports): The game runs well with good optimization and minor bugs, even on lower-end hardware.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (negative, 11 reports): Users report constant stuttering, poor optimization, and performance issues.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 6 reports): The game is recommended with minor performance issues that are not significant.
  - Caveats: 43 of 186 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $18.00 - $22.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews indicate that users find the game worth its current price of $20, highlighting its artistic value and overall experience despite some control issues. There are no strong indications that the price should be higher or lower, suggesting that the community considers the current price fair.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 8.0h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: 6.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect indications of playtime metrics. The first quote suggests a long session length, implying that the game can be completed in a single sitting, which could be indicative of a shorter game completion time. The second quote mentions 30 hours of playtime, though it refers to the demo and other tests, it still gives an idea of potential long play sessions. The third quote directly states 8 hours of gameplay, which can be considered as a significant play session. The fourth quote mentions six hours of gameplay, which further supports the idea of extended play sessions.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game becomes highly engaging and fun once players get accustomed to the combat mechanics, particularly the parry-centric gameplay loop.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Combat mechanics understanding
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: Janky combat mechanics initially; Learning curve for parry-centric gameplay
  - Unlock drivers: Understanding and adapting to combat mechanics; Practice and familiarity with parry-centric gameplay
  - Conditions: Engaging gameplay loop; Rewarding combat flow; Forgiving combat system
- Player Archetypes:
  - Build-Crafter Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastery and customization
    - Playstyle: Grinding and optimizing builds
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Souls fans
    - Reference games: Souls-like games
  - Newcomer Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Exploration and novelty
    - Playstyle: Exploring new genres
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: New to Souls-like
    - Reference games: None specifically mentioned
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Story and strategy
    - Playstyle: Exploring narrative and strategic depth
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Strategy fans; Story lovers
    - Reference games: Chess


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Beautiful visuals and aesthetics (weight 0.64): The game is praised for its stunning visuals, beautiful atmosphere, and wonderful aesthetics. Players find the graphics and design to be top-notch.
- Rewarding parry system (weight 0.51): The parry system is highlighted as rewarding and fun. Players appreciate the satisfying feel and the strategic depth it adds to combat.
- Excellent soundtrack (weight 0.51): The soundtrack is frequently praised as excellent, insanely good, and epic. Players find the music to be a standout feature.
- Interesting and well-built universe (weight 0.45): The game's universe is described as interesting, original, and well-built. Players appreciate the unique world and story.
- Unique and challenging bosses (weight 0.35): Boss fights are noted for being unique, inspired, and challenging. Players enjoy the variety and complexity of boss encounters.
- Variety of enemies (weight 0.23): The game offers a variety of enemies, which players appreciate for adding depth and challenge to the gameplay.
- Good value for money (weight 0.23): Players feel that the game offers great value for its price, making it a worthwhile purchase.
- Neat and pleasant overall experience (weight 0.17): The game is described as neat, nice, and pleasant overall, indicating a positive experience.

Common complaints:
- UI and menu problems (weight 0.42): The UI is described as minimalistic, with issues such as keyboard inputs showing on the UI even while using a controller, and problems with screen resolution adaptation. There are also issues with dialogue boxes and sensitivity adjustments.
- Limited language support (weight 0.41): The game lacks translations for several languages, including German, Portuguese, French, and Chinese. This limits accessibility for non-English speaking players.
- Camera and control issues (weight 0.4): Players report problems with the camera, including wonky behavior, especially on mouse and keyboard, and issues with the vertical axis moving too fast. Controls are also noted to be wonky and disorienting.
- FPS and performance problems (weight 0.4): The unlimited FPS option is broken and locks the game to 60 FPS. Players also experience performance issues such as stuttering, freezes, and frame rate drops.
- Technical and optimization issues (weight 0.39): The game has various technical flaws, including bugs, poor optimization, and issues with the Unreal Engine. Players also report minor bugs with structures and NPCs.
- Sound and audio issues (weight 0.39): The sound design is criticized for being underwhelming, with missing sound effects, such as walking sounds and counter-attack sounds. There are also issues with music quality and audio compartmentalization.
- Lack of polish and quality (weight 0.25): The game is described as lacking polish, feeling rough around the edges, and sometimes feeling like a student project. The lack of budget is noticeable in various aspects of the game.

Gameplay feedback:
- Parry and dodge combat mechanics (weight 0.65): The combat system is heavily focused on parrying and dodging, with players emphasizing the importance of these mechanics in gameplay.
- Chess-inspired mechanics and themes (weight 0.48): The game incorporates chess pieces and themes into its mechanics, offering a unique twist on the Souls-like genre.
- Souls-like gameplay experience (weight 0.46): The game is frequently compared to Souls-like games, indicating a similar gameplay experience with challenging combat and exploration elements.
- Multiple fighting forms/styles (weight 0.25): The combat system includes different forms or styles, allowing for varied gameplay experiences.
- Healing tied to combat (weight 0.21): The healing system is based on successful parrying or killing enemies, adding a strategic layer to combat.
- Unique additions to Souls-like genre (weight 0.2): The game brings originality to the Souls-like genre with unique mechanics and themes.
- New leveling system (weight 0.16): The game introduces a new leveling system that upgrades all stats, providing a straightforward progression.
- Gothic and biblical themes (weight 0.1): The game incorporates Gothic and biblical themes, adding depth to its dark fantasy setting.
- Classes and playstyles (weight 0.09): The game offers different classes and playstyles, allowing players to choose their preferred way of playing.
- Game guides players in discovering mechanics (weight 0.08): The game does a good job of guiding players through the discovery of its mechanics, making it accessible yet deep.
- No stamina meter (weight 0.08): The game differentiates itself by not including a stamina meter, which can change the dynamics of combat.
- Chess piece transformation system (weight 0.07): The game features a system where chess pieces can transform, adding a layer of strategy and complexity.
- 3D chess action hack-and-slash (weight 0.07): The game combines 3D action with hack-and-slash elements, set within a chess-themed environment.
- References to Soulsborne and Berserk (weight 0.06): The game makes references to Soulsborne and Berserk, appealing to fans of these series with familiar elements.
- Dynamic switching between Angelic Armors (weight 0.06): Players can dynamically switch between different Angelic Armors, each with unique abilities and skills.
- Strategic synergies (weight 0.06): The game encourages strategic synergies between different mechanics and abilities, adding depth to combat.
- Special attacks (weight 0.06): The combat system includes special attacks that players can utilize, adding variety to the gameplay.
- Character abilities tied to chess pieces (weight 0.06): Character abilities are tied to different chess pieces, integrating the chess theme into the gameplay mechanics.
- Decent level design (weight 0.06): The level design is noted as decent, providing a good structure for gameplay.
- TON of secrets and side content (weight 0.06): The game is filled with secrets and side content, encouraging exploration and adding depth to the gameplay.
- Linear map design (weight 0.06): The map design is linear, providing a straightforward path through the game.
- Italian indie game (weight 0.06): The game is developed by an Italian indie team, adding a unique cultural touch to the gameplay.
- Ability to change class (weight 0.06): Players have the ability to change their class, allowing for flexibility in gameplay.
- Simplified exploration (weight 0.06): The exploration is simplified, making it easier for players to navigate and discover content.
- Exploration with Souls-like elements (weight 0.06): The exploration includes elements typical of Souls-like games, providing a familiar experience for fans of the genre.
- NPC dialogue (weight 0.06): The game features NPC dialogue, adding depth to the story and world.
- World design (weight 0.06): The world design is noted for its quality, providing an immersive environment for players.
- Story conveyed through gameplay (weight 0.06): The story is conveyed through gameplay, locations, and characters, integrating narrative with the player's experience.
- Complex and unclear pawn system (weight 0.06): The pawn system is described as complex and unclear, which may pose a challenge for players to understand.

Performance notes:
- Excellent performance on high settings (weight 0.46): The game runs smoothly on maximum graphics settings, including 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. Players report solid performance and good optimization.
- Frame rate drops and loading issues (weight 0.25): Players report significant frame rate drops, sometimes from nearly 100 FPS to around 40 or even 25. Additionally, there are issues with assets and textures loading in during gameplay.
- Minor bugs and issues (weight 0.21): Players have reported various minor bugs, including dialogue box bugs, soundtrack issues, and a specific issue with the first cutscene turning white but continuing normally.
- Occasional stuttering and micro stutters (weight 0.21): Some players experience occasional stuttering and micro stutters during gameplay, which can affect the overall smoothness of the experience.
- Unlimited FPS option is broken (weight 0.2): The unlimited FPS option does not work as intended and instead locks the game to 60 FPS. This issue affects players who want to achieve higher frame rates.
- Controller and camera issues (weight 0.13): There are issues with controller button mapping and camera movements, which can affect the gameplay experience.
- Optimization on low-end hardware (weight 0.08): The game is well-optimized for low-end hardware, providing a good experience even on less powerful systems.
- Runs well on Steam Deck (weight 0.08): The game runs well on the Steam Deck, indicating good compatibility and performance on this handheld device.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.37): The game is strongly recommended by many players, with some stating it is a must-buy and others giving it a 100 percent recommendation.
- Recommended for Souls-like fans (weight 0.15): Players who enjoy Souls-like games are particularly encouraged to try this game, as it is described as a must-buy for fans of the genre.
- High replay value (weight 0.09): The game has high replay value, with players expressing their intention to replay the game multiple times.
- Exploration for hidden content (weight 0.08): Players are encouraged to explore the game world to find hidden content, adding to the game's depth and replayability.
- Italian voice acting praised (weight 0.08): The Italian voice acting in the game is highly recommended by players, suggesting it adds significantly to the gaming experience.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Excitement (weight 0.19): Players are thrilled by the game's unique mechanics, art style, and creativity, which blend elements from Chess 2 and souls-like games. The combination of engaging combat, exploration, and the game's indie charm, along with its affordable price, contributes to the excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players are satisfied with the game's combat mechanics, artistic direction, and overall performance. The simplified leveling system, class switching mechanics, and well-balanced difficulty level also contribute to a positive experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the gameplay, graphics, and music, as well as the combat system and boss fights. The atmosphere, soundtrack, and visuals enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.09): Players admire the game's unique visual style, beautiful music, and detailed combat system. The appreciation for the indie project, its development, and the blend of historical moments with Italian art also contribute to this admiration.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players find joy in the fluid combat, unique boss encounters, and beautiful game design. The high-quality gameplay and enjoyable music contribute to a super fun and not too tedious experience.
- Excited (weight 0.08): Players are excited about the game's original visuals and setting, as well as the personalized gaming experience. The positive impressions after several hours of playing contribute to this excitement.
- Surprise (weight 0.05): Players are surprised by the different attack patterns of bosses and enemies, and how well each piece of the game works together. The overall gameplay experience exceeds expectations, leading to a positive surprise.
- Love (weight 0.05): Players love the game's unique art style, story, and combat mechanics. The Italian setting, architecture, and voice acting, along with the game's worth and detail, contribute to this love.
- Frustration (weight 0.05): Players are frustrated by issues with controller button mapping, camera visibility, and lack of certain language translations. Bugs and lack of polish, such as dialogue box issues and camera problems, also contribute to this frustration.
- Support (weight 0.03): Players express encouragement for supporting the developers and the game. The desire for the game and its developer to succeed leads to recommendations for financial support.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Players are disappointed by issues with sound design, polish, and bugs. The plain dialogue text font and lack of improvements in the full version also contribute to this disappointment.
- Happy (weight 0.03): Players are happy with the overall gaming experience, enjoying various aspects of the game. Even those not typically fans of the genre find enjoyment and happiness in the gameplay.
- Pride (weight 0.02): Players feel pride in the game's Italian development team and being among the first players. The unique qualities and development of the indie project contribute to this pride.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the gameplay, ambiance, music, lore, and Italian dubbing. The unique visual style and beautiful music enhance the overall appreciation for the game.
- Satisfied (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied with the game's challenging yet balanced difficulty level. The overall high quality and enjoyable experience contribute to this satisfaction.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players have a positive overall impression of the game and its unique features. Comparisons to other games and the game's distinct qualities contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): Players are curious about how a chess souls-like game would work and are intrigued by the well-developed lore. The unique concept and gameplay mechanics pique their interest.}