[EXCLUSIVE] The Stone of Madness Unveils Stealth Gameplay Featuring Crafty Elderly Characters

The anticipation builds for fans of tactical stealth games as more details about The Stone of Madness have surfaced, particularly focusing on one of its intriguing characters, Agnes Santos. Recently, fresh gameplay footage provided a glimpse into how Agnes, despite her age, will navigate the challenges within the game. Known for her magical abilities, Agnes can cast spells, control light, and even utilize stone statues for surveillance purposes. However, her old age comes with limitations, making stealthy moves a bit of a struggle despite her wide-ranging skills. Set to release on January 28, 2025, The Stone of Madness will be available on PC and consoles.

In an exclusive preview, Game Rant revealed how this upcoming game will handle stealth sequences with Agnes Santos, one of its fascinating characters. As players embark on this adventure, they will get to control various characters, each bringing unique abilities to the table. This tactical stealth game is the brainchild of The Game Kitchen, a Spanish development team. Set in an 18th-century Jesuit monastery, the game unfolds with players toggling between five distinct characters, all aiming to assist each other in navigating through dangerous scenarios. The plot moves through nighttime preparation and daytime exploration and stealth. Though it was first announced back in August 2020, the game is slated for a January 2025 launch.

As the release date approaches, publisher Tripwire Interactive has revealed a promotional video focusing on Agnes Santos. Despite being portrayed as an elderly woman, Agnes promises to contribute significantly with her enchanting abilities, casting various spells to confuse foes. One of her stand-out skills is using the stone statues scattered throughout the game as a form of surveillance, offering significant scouting advantages without exposing herself to danger.

Navigating the world as Agnes presents its own set of challenges. Each character in The Stone of Madness comes equipped with psychological baggage akin to those seen in Darkest Dungeon, with fears and traumas that, if not managed, could lead to mental breakdowns of varying severity. While specifics of Agnes’s fears are not detailed, her character profile mentions limited mobility due to her age and frequent back pain. Encounters that other characters might handle with ease, like scaling heights or evading guards, could prove quite taxing for Agnes.

To make the best use of what Agnes has to offer, players need to think strategically about her movements, optimizing her interactions with other characters. Beyond her scouting prowess and spellcasting, she can manipulate light, either to shield her friends or light up areas for those with a fear of the dark. Plus, her nighttime potion-making can help rejuvenate the team’s health. Through such imaginative gameplay possibilities, Agnes could very well add a fresh dimension to stealth tactics in The Stone of Madness.

As it stands, The Stone of Madness is set to hit the market on January 28, 2025. Fans can dive into the action on PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and the latest Xbox consoles. For a sneak peek, the demo is already available on Steam since mid-October 2024, giving players a taste of what’s to come.

The Stone of Madness invites players to escape the confines of an 18th-century Spanish monastery. Within its walls, five prisoners—Agnes, Leonora, Eduardo, Amelia, and Alfredo—must confront their phobias and uncover the many secrets it holds. Players will control these five distinct characters, each with upgradeable skills, to navigate this intricate and perilous setting, blending magic, stealth, and strategy to achieve their escape.