Deal | Steam: ASCII-style RPG now available at half price

Stone Story RPG takes place in a world overrun by monsters and shrouded in endless darkness. Light can only return once nine magical Soulstones are brought together. What truly sets the game apart is its visual style: the entire world is rendered in animated ASCII characters. While that may sound simple at first, the careful use of color highlights and a moody soundtrack creates a surprisingly rich and immersive atmosphere.

Players take on the role of a mysterious stone hero who awakens with no memory of the past. Unlike in traditional role-playing games, the character moves through the world and fights enemies automatically. Instead of relying on fast reflexes, the game emphasizes preparation, careful strategy, and choosing the right equipment.

Despite its automated combat, Stone Story RPG offers notable strategic depth. The hero has two active equipment slots that can be swapped even during combat, allowing players to intervene at key moments despite the idle mechanics. In addition, the game features various weapon types with elemental strengths and weaknesses. Choosing and combining them wisely becomes crucial, especially during challenging boss encounters.

On Steam, Stone Story RPG holds a 91% positive rating based on more than 970 user reviews. Players particularly praise the distinctive ASCII art style, the atmospheric soundtrack, and the interesting blend of genres. The progression system, which ties together several gameplay mechanics in a cohesive way, has also earned strong approval. Most criticism centers on the grind-heavy endgame and the somewhat repetitive flow in later stages. Some users recommend trying the free mobile version on Android or iOS first to see whether the gameplay loop is a good fit.

50% discount on Steam

Stone Story RPG was created by Brazilian solo developer Gabriel Santos under the Martian Rex label, with additional support brought in during development. The idle RPG launched in July 2023 and typically sells for around $30 on Steam. Until February 24, a 50% discount lowers the price to just under $15. According to SteamDB, this matches the previous all-time low, last seen during the Winter Sale. On the Steam Deck (available on Amazon for $680), the game is rated “Playable” and runs smoothly with only minor adjustments.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.