New Soulslike Game is Bloodborne Meets Dante’s Inferno with a Unique Class System

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Environmental storytelling is central to the Soulslike genre, so games with typical dark fantasy settings often get overlooked – this is a major reason why Bloodborne remains so highly regarded. While games like Lies of P have come close, and many other unique Soulslike titles exist, a distinct atmosphere is crucial. Stonemachia truly stands out because its unique visuals and gameplay work together to create one of the most memorable experiences in the genre.

Mark your calendars! The PC game Stonemachia launches on Steam May 26, 2026. You can add it to your Steam wishlist or try the demo now. Players can expect a challenging journey inspired by Bloodborne, battling Angels in a world where Chess is central to both the story and how you play. The developers hope to bring the game to consoles in the future.

Stonemachia’s Worldbuilding Immediately Grabs Attention

In Stonemachia, you play as Zefiro, a chess pawn, on a journey through the land of Medhelan. Your goal is to reach Heaven by confronting the Plague of Angels—angels who have been turned to stone and now roam the land. The world of Stonemachia is deeply inspired by Italian art, architecture, and folklore, and emphasizes themes of creation and structure. Levels feature striking stone environments, from impressive cathedrals and towering structures to enemies reminiscent of the Mausoleums found in Elden Ring.

Crossfall Games, the creators of Stonemachia, have drawn inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. This epic poem follows Dante’s journey through Hell and Purgatory, ultimately aiming for Paradise, and is centered around themes of spiritual cleansing, overcoming sin, and finding connection with the divine. It’s currently unclear exactly how these themes will play out in Stonemachia, but it’s a fascinating source of inspiration for the game.

While Stonemachia isn’t the only Italian game inspired by the Souls series – Enotria: The Last Song came out in 2024 – they approach Italian themes differently. Enotria heavily features Italian culture in its world, while Stonemachia’s influences are more understated.

With its evocative worldbuilding, striking visual style inspired by Bloodborne, challenging Soulslike gameplay, and unique incorporation of Chess, this game offers a truly compelling experience.

Stonemachia’s Worldbuilding Translates to Gameplay

Look, if you’re still on the fence about whether this Soulslike is worth playing, let me tell you about the class system – it’s seriously cool. The whole game is built around this idea of structures, and you start as a Pawn named Zefiro. But here’s the kicker: Zefiro can turn into other chess pieces – a Knight, Rook, Bishop, the whole lot! Each piece plays totally differently, with its own strengths, weaknesses, and special moves, which really changes how you approach the bosses. Throw in everything you expect from a Soulslike – brutal fights, well-designed levels, and constant forward momentum – and honestly, Stonemachia is looking really promising.

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The “secrets of the Chess pieces” are involved in the narrative, the Dantean journey.

As a big fan of Soulslike games, I’ve been checking out Stonemachia, and honestly, it’s really grabbed my attention! It’s got that classic feel with a big focus on parrying, so anyone who loves the genre will feel right at home. It’s a shame more people haven’t heard about it yet, but the good news is there’s a demo on Steam if you want to try it out for yourself before it officially launches on May 26th. I think it has a lot of potential!

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2026-05-12 19:04