During gamescom 2024's Future Games Show, Tripwire Presents announced their partnership with indie developers The Game Kitchen to publish The Stone of Madness. This tactical stealth adventure game is set to launch in early 2025 on multiple platforms, including PC via Steam and Epic Games, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
The Game Kitchen is responsible for the creation of the Blasphemous series, the single-player Metroidvania franchise which has garnered high marks on PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.
In this new IP, The Stone of Madness transports players to an 18th-century Spanish asylum where five flawed prisoners are trapped within the walls of a timeworn Jesuit monastery.
The devs describe the game as a unique blend of stealth, strategy, and psychological tension.
Gameplay involves players controlling all five characters independently in an attempt to escape the asylum while managing each character’s sanity.
The mental health of each character plays a crucial role in their escape, with traumas and phobias influencing their actions. Failure to maintain sanity could lead to negative traits like paranoia, dementia, or violent outbursts. Fans of Red Hook Studios’ Darkest Dungeon will find similarities between their game’s mental meters.
Similar to Team17’s indie strategy game, The Escapists, players must navigate the corridors, uncover useful tools, and avoid detection from the jailers. With its dynamic day-night cycle, there are different opportunities and challenges depending on the time of day. Players can choose between two different escape plans, each with its unique storylines and objectives, making every playthrough distinct.
Instead of Blasphemous’ 2D side-scrolling camera, The Stone of Madness is presented in an isometric perspective with stunning hand-drawn artwork inspired by the legendary artist Francisco de Goya.
The Stone of Madness is now available for wishlisting on all platforms. For more information, visit The Game Kitchen’s official website and follow them on social media.