Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 72 | 65 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 79% | 74 | 139 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 81% | 75 | 119 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 24, 2025) · 119 reviews sampled · 93 total reviews in window · weighted 62.7 up / 14.7 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (42)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“A visually stunning and mechanically intriguing stealth game, The Stone of Madness delivers a fresh take on the genre but struggles with technical shortcomings and accessibility.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“The Stone of Madness has all the elements required for a fantastic stealth puzzle game, a gorgeous settng, an intriguing story, vibrant characters, but is sadly let down by bugs that cause it crash consistently in one place, leaving the otherwise absorbing story incomplete.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Stone of Madness is an exciting and maximally flexible adventure that allows you to solve problems in a variety of ways.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Stone of Madness is an original and challenging stealth strategy game that combines psychological elements with deep tactical gameplay. The player is constantly under pressure, whether due to strict survival rules or the characters’ growing madness. I like this combination because it makes the game truly unique. Plus, thanks to procedurally generated levels and a wide range of ways to handle situations, there’s always something to do, figure out, and discover. Despite occasional technical shortcomings, the game is fascinating for its atmosphere, story, and original mechanics. If you’re looking for an unconventional strategy game with a dark atmosphere and psychological elements, *The Stone of Madness* is a great choice that will draw you in and keep you hooked.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In an impressive feat of adapting an established format for a unique setting, The Stone of Madness is cleverly attuned to perseverance through incremental progress.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“For all its sins, there's the makings of a stealth-tactics classic in The Stone of Madness. Its grisly sensibility, rock-hard difficulty, and inconvenient bugs at launch mean it's not a game for the weak-hearted, but 20+ hours with its rich, system-driven drama produced many delightful escapades worth admiring - even if a good number ended with us back in our cell miserably plotting our next attempt.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Stone of Madness is an ambivalent experience, primarily aimed at a niche audience. The intriguing plot and well-characterized characters create a dark and engaging atmosphere, typical of The Game Kitchen's works. However, the cumbersome and sometimes frustrating gameplay partially ruins the immersion. If you are a fan of the stealth genre and are willing to compromise with the controls, you might appreciate the unique atmosphere of this game; otherwise, with some updates and a bit of patience, it could turn into a cult title even for those who are not fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Stone of Madness isn’t perfect by any means, but its successes readily outweigh its missteps. Its emphasis on real-time stealth and simultaneous control over three distinct characters at a time work to create some very hectic gameplay situations, naturally encouraging the player to learn and improve. Infusing this rewarding gameplay with a striking art style and a tinge of dark humor makes for a unique experience worth looking into, even if the controls can be clunky and the guards can be a little too good at catching up with you when you make a mistake.”
read full review ↗ - 76
“A distinctive, and sometimes dark, take on a stealth title that requires some patience with its quirks, but can be rewarding”
read full review ↗ - 88
“The Stone of Madness offers a fascinating journey through the madness, oppression and supernatural elements of the 18th century.”
read full review ↗ - 60
““The Stone of Madness” impresses with its intelligent gameplay and atmospheric visual presentation. Unfortunately, the controls are sometimes poorly thought out and caused me a lot of frustration. There are also bugs and glitches, as well as a sometimes confusing camera perspective. Too bad, with a little more fine-tuning “The Stone of Madness” could have been quite something.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“I wanted to enjoy The Stones of Madness because I really loved The Game Kitchen’s other game series; Blasphemous. Aside from the incredible hand-drawn art style in the Madness game, I wasn’t really a fan of this game.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Pure Nintendo
GameMAG
Gaming Professors
Slant Magazine
Nintendo Life
STWGames Italia
Gamer Escape
Nindie Spotlight
Pizza Fria
Digitec Magazine
ZTGD…and 30 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- The Stone Of Madness Update 1.0.3 is live!Apr 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- PC Hotfix to fix Eduardo's inventory bugMar 28, 2025
- The Stone of Madness Patch 1.0.2 is live!Mar 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Stone of Madness: The First HotfixFeb 11, 2025
- The Stone Of Madness Quality Of Life Update 1 is Live!Feb 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Stone of Madness Post Launch: Thank You & What's NextJan 31, 2025significant · resets scoring window