The Stone of Madness Demo Now Live on Steam: Dive into 18th Century Mayhem

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The talented team behind Blasphemous, The Game Kitchen, is back with a brand-new experience that promises a special fusion of psychological intrigue and tactical stealth. The Stone of Madness, set to release on January 28th, 2025, takes us into the eerie world of an 18th-century Spanish madhouse.

For those eager to get an early taste of the madness, the demo is now live on Steam as part of Next Fest, which kicked off on October 14th.

The idea behind this one fascinates me, I must say. Five inmates, each with their own phobias and traumas, are under your control as they try to break out of an old Jesuit monastery. It's a stealth game with the added twist that you have to manage the characters' delicate mental states in addition to trying to elude guards.

Attempting to escape prison with a group of emotionally unstable friends sounds both exciting and nerve-racking, now that I think about it.

The game's visual aesthetic is yet another attractive factor. The Stone of Madness draws inspiration from Francisco de Goya's paintings, which is a brave choice, to be honest. It's quite thrilling to see Goya's haunting and powerful artwork come to life in this hand-painted, isometric world. The Game Kitchen is obviously meticulous, and I anticipate that the atmosphere of the game will be just as eerie as its concept.

Players can immerse themselves in the game's multi-hour prologue during the demo, which gives you ample opportunity to grow fond of the flawed and, well, most likely doomed characters. You wouldn't want to spend a lot of time in the setting, which is a combination of a madhouse and an inquisitorial prison, but I suppose that's the idea. There’s something deeply unsettling about trying to escape while your own mind might be turning against you.

I can't wait to see how the day-night cycle unfolds. The majority of the action appears to take place during the day when the Inquisition is on patrol, but if you're bold (or desperate) enough to venture out at night, there may be some sly opportunities. It's going to be one of those games where you have to keep balancing the risks and rewards of every move.

With The Stone of Madness, it looks like we’re in for a dark, moody, and deeply strategic experience that blends stealth and psychological horror in a fresh way. And with a demo available now, there’s no better time to start losing your mind!

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