Occult Folk Horror Deckbuilder Game ‘The Killing Stone’ Launches February 18 [Trailer]

Independent game dev Question will have players vying to beat the Devil at his own game in The Killing Stone, which will launch on Steam on February 18. A demo is available for the deckbuilding card battler wrapped in a 17th century occult horror narrative.

Set in a remote region of the Arctic circle, The Killing Stone invites players to use their wits to save a cursed family from their dark inheritance by beating a series of demons – and the Devil himself. You play as the Maven, who must uncover the haunting truth behind Mariken Svangård’s death (and life) as you engage family members and animal familiars in search of clues. The game sports a unique first-person perspective centered around a game within the game – a battle for souls.

To win the family’s souls, you engage in ritual combat with various demons. Every contract is signed in blood, then the bargaining begins. Forge, swap, negotiate, and battle through a series of rituals, the outcome of which are permanent banes (or boons) carried to your final reckoning.

The ceremonial game board centered around the Fanghella, the eponymous Killing Stone, featuring a collection of magical creature figurines, spells, and incantations that allow for a variety of  tactics. The Killing Stone sports a unique Reserve mechanic, which lets players stack units and buff incantations above the battle line for later deployment. Creature placement, spellcasting, and bargaining add the aforementioned banes and boons to your deck, affecting your chances of success.