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) | – | 77 | 30 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 640 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 812 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.5, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 1,298 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 3, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 812 total reviews in window · weighted 246.6 up / 11.7 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
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.
- 70
“Stonemachia is a game of contrasts. Its striking visual identity and accessible parry-focused combat make a strong first impression, but inconsistent level design, limited customization, and readability issues prevent it from reaching the heights of the genre’s best representatives. For fans of the genre, it will still provide hours of fun, and frustration, which is certainly inevitable in these games. For those approaching it for the first time, I simply say to be patient, because while the title isn’t perfect, it’s not a bad one either. In fact, Stonemachia could be an excellent entry-level game in its genre thanks to its simplicity and more relaxed pace. In conclusion, the game may not be a masterpiece, but whether you’re a veteran or a new player, it’s worth giving it a try.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Stonemachia is a very bold debut, which stands out not so much because it reinvents the soulslike genre, but because it filters it through a powerful cultural identity and truly memorable art direction. It boasts excellent ideas in its combat system, a fascinating world and a highly impactful soundtrack, but it still suffers from some stiffness in its level design, backtracking and technical polish. Overall, however, it remains a little Italian gem, imperfect but full of personality, which deserves attention from anyone looking for an out-of-the-ordinary dark fantasy action game.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Stonemachia is a game that immediately stands out for its identity. From the very beginning, it builds a surreal and unsettling world, blending dark fantasy elements with a distinctive cultural flavor that feels both familiar and distorted. The premise is strong, the visual direction is intriguing, and its core idea, a sentient chess piece evolving into different forms tied to gameplay, shows genuine creativity. Unfortunately, this promising opening does not evolve into a satisfying match. While the game offers a variety of combat options on paper, in practice the system lacks impact and depth. Attacks feel weightless, defensive mechanics are unclear, and the overall difficulty rarely pushes the player to adapt or improve. As a result, encounters can often be reduced to repetitive, low-effort strategies that undermine the potential complexity of the design. The same applies to progression and level design. The lack of meaningful customization and the predominantly linear maps limit player expression, creating an experience that feels guided rather than discovered. Even boss fights, despite their strong visual concepts, fail to deliver real tension once the underlying mechanics are understood. That said, Stonemachia is far from a failure. Its artistic vision, enemy design, and atmospheric consistency remain its strongest assets, and they are enough to keep the experience engaging on a surface level. There is clearly a solid foundation here, one that, with more refined gameplay systems and bolder design choices, could lead to something far more compelling. In the end, Stonemachia is not a checkmate, but a match that shows potential without ever fully realizing it.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“Stonemachia isn’t perfect. The lore can be difficult to follow, and the challenge level is definitely going to turn some people away. If you’re looking for a straightforward story or a casual experience, this probably isn’t the game for you. But if you enjoy difficult combat, mysterious worlds, and games that aren’t afraid to try something different, there’s a lot to like here. What I’ll remember most isn’t a specific fight or a specific location. It’s the feeling that the game had its own ideas and wasn’t afraid to build around them. The chess transformation system alone makes it worth paying attention to, and combined with the strong art direction, interesting lore, and satisfying combat, it creates an experience that stuck with me more than I expected.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Honestly, Stonemachia easily earns its massive 90 out of 100 because it’s a masterpiece that a tiny team of just nine people somehow made look and play better than most multi‑million‑dollar games. The only reasons it isn’t a perfect 100 are a few small annoyances, like a camera that gets a bit wonky in tight corners and some clunky menus, but those completely melt away the second you start playing. For an indie game, you’re getting incredible value with forty unique boss fights and a genius chess‑shapeshifting combat system that feels smooth and satisfying. It’s rare to find a game this polished, original, and fun nowadays, so if you love a good challenge, do yourself a favour and grab this immediately. It’s worth every penny.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Stonemachia transports us to a distorted version of Milan, a fantasy world inspired by Italian architecture and the world of chess. Crossfall Games’ concept is highly original, even as it builds upon the established foundations of the soulslike genre, though at times it reveals some rough edges and a lack of attention to detail. However, the foundations for building an excellent future title are all there, and we hope the studio will surprise us with their next project.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Stonemachia is a fun action-leaning souls-like to play, but it probably won’t become the next breakout indie sensation. It’s too rough technically and maybe too niche in its presentation to fully break through. Still, there’s enough gameplay creativity and beautifully gothic Italian atmosphere to demonstrate the genuine passion of this small team to make it worth paying attention to.”
read full review ↗ - 74
“Stonemachia works despite these issues because it's ambitious. It's a game that feels like it was made with a clear artistic vision in mind, not just following a list of trends in the genre. There's a lot to like about this game for people who like exciting action RPGs with moody settings.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Stonemachia stands out for its personality, atmosphere, and original ideas. Not technically flawless, yet it delivers a solid, engaging soulslike that leaves a lasting impression.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Stonemachia transports us to a distorted version of Milan, a fantasy world inspired by Italian architecture and the world of chess. Crossfall Games’ concept is highly original, even as it builds upon the established foundations of the soulslike genre, though at times it reveals some rough edges and a lack of attention to detail. However, the foundations for building an excellent future title are all there, and we hope the studio will surprise us with their next project!”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Stonemachia is a classic Soulslike distinguished by a chess-inspired aesthetic, combined with the more bizarre aspects of Christian cosmology and a truly sublime soundtrack, yet it unfortunately fails to deliver satisfying gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Minor rough edges aside, Crossfall Games has managed to craft a product that is impressive and solid in every respect. Stonemachia proves that hitting the mark doesn't necessarily require revolutionizing a genre, and that simplification doesn't mean a loss of depth. After all, just as in chess, even the humblest pawn can make it to the other side and even deliver checkmate to the king.”
read full review ↗
Indie Games Devel
STWGames Italia
Gamesource Italia
Gameffine
Life is Xbox
Checkpoint Gaming
NoobFeed
IGN
Uagna
ProGamers.life
Everyeye.it…and 5 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Steam Cloud is back. (Please help us)Jul 13, 2026
- Very Super Small Patch (Sorry)Jun 9, 2026
- Stonemachia Update 1.0.3Jun 8, 2026
- Stonemachia Update 1.0.2 (THE FAST TRAVEL!)Jun 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Stonemachia first small update!May 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Our last update?Feb 27, 2026
- Many new additions to the demo!Oct 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- More fixes to the demo!Jul 28, 2025
- New demo Bug Fix!Jul 24, 2025
- A NEW SUPER STONEMACHIA DEMO UPDATE!Jul 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- STONEMACHIA BIG UPDATE!Jan 31, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Post-Next Fest Bug Fix!Oct 24, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Bug fix!Oct 17, 2024
- Stonemachia Next Fest UpdateOct 10, 2024
- Bug Fix!Aug 11, 2024significant · resets scoring window