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Below the Stone

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2023

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Quick resume

Below the Stone is an extraction roguelike about dwarves on the quest for the deepest depths. A place where each and every descent will lead to new adventures -- and where only the most determined dwarves with many lost lives will be rewarded by the hidden world lying below the stone.

Global score

85/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Indie, Early Access

Similar games

    Pros

    • Addictive and engaging gameplay loop
    • Responsive and passionate developers
    • Strong mining and exploration mechanics
    • Cozy art style and excellent sound design
    • Promising foundation with regular updates

    Cons

    • Limited content and progression depth currently
    • Combat can feel basic and repetitive
    • Inventory management and ui need improvement
    • Lack of multiplayer or cooperative features
    • Some balancing and difficulty issues

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story, Value.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players choose their own missions, explore caves freely, and decide when to extract, showing strong control over actions and decisions."

    • Competence
      3

      "Players engage in combat and mining challenges with some skill required, though combat is described as somewhat basic and progression can become easy after initial runs."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and exploration rather than competing against others; no mention of leaderboards or ranked modes."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many reviews mention addictive gameplay and desire to keep playing despite limited content, indicating habitual and long sessions."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Game is primarily single-player focused with no current multiplayer or cooperative features mentioned."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Some crafting and equipment upgrading allow player customization, but limited content and lack of modding currently restrict creative expression."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a relaxing, immersive mining and exploration experience, escaping real life stress."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and enjoyment, with no pressure or obligation noted."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore randomized caves and try different equipment and strategies, though some find runs repetitive."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new cave areas, mining resources, and uncovering secrets."

    • Expression
      1

      "Some character appearance variation and equipment upgrades exist, but limited customization options currently."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Game features dwarves, fantasy creatures, and roguelike elements, providing an imaginative fictional setting."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Strongly single-player focused with minimal social or community interaction within gameplay."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players learn mechanics, improve skills, and progress through gear upgrades, though content is limited."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during runs; some players mention leaving game open but core gameplay demands engagement."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of close relationships or emotional social interactions."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles present."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on accumulating resources, upgrading gear, and unlocking new equipment tiers."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Many players describe the game as cozy, chill, and relaxing despite some combat tension."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Positive sensory feedback from art style, sound design, and combat impact enhances enjoyment."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social recognition or status systems; focus is on individual play."

    • Story
      -2

      "Minimal narrative currently; some desire for more story and quests but mostly context-free exploration."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Some tactical choices in combat and resource management, but combat is described as straightforward and repetitive."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Risk of death and loss of gear creates suspense and tension during runs."

    • Value
      2

      "Players feel the game offers reasonable value for price given early access state and ongoing updates."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat against monsters is a core mechanic involving destruction and fighting."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage health, avoid death, and strategically extract to survive and keep progress."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026