Hand and Stone

About

Hand and Stone casts you as a hired gun tracking a valuable relic through perilous Southern badlands. The game mixes dungeon crawling with survival mechanics as you scavenge resources and manage a shrinking party after an ambush leaves you as the sole survivor. Combat emphasizes positioning and weapon durability while exploring crumbling castles teeming with threats. Each decision impacts your odds of reaching the relic intact with allies you recruit along the way. The game stands out for its punishing difficulty and emphasis on tactical choices. Players report a steep learning curve with rewarding late-game progression as they unlock abilities and optimize gear. While not graphically ambitious, the focus on grit and survival creates a tense atmosphere. Released in 2020, it maintains a dedicated following among fans of old-school RPGs with a harsh edge.

Storyline

You play as a Mercenary — one of those brave enough to venture to places other people are afraid of… at least for a price. Once you find out that someone is more than willing to pay you generously for some old dusty book you realize that you should definitely be the one to find it. Together with allies you venture forth to the Southern regions — wild and dangerous badlands to explore dungeons of an old castle where the book you’re seeking is rumored to be. However, your squad is ambushed along the way. You are the only one who made it out alive. All you need to do now is to get to the ruins, find the book and survive. Or share the fate of your fallen brethren.