Heavy as Stone is a surreal horror investigation game developed by jøy and published by CRITICAL REFLEX. The game takes place in the decaying underworld of Terminal, a city with memories, cults, and some ancient force afflicting those that reside there. A sickness has infected the city residence, including the player.
The sickness started off small, a cough or a tremor that could be easily written off, until something about it didn’t feel quite right. It is called the Yellow Wound. As players progress through the story, their symptoms will change and it is up to the player to adapt to it.
They will experience blurred vision and rooms shifting around, but most hauntingly of all is the sounds they hallucinate. To survive, players need to study their afflictions and learn how to weaponize them. Adaptation is key to their survival…or not.
An interesting mechanic in Heavy as Stone centers around the player’s deaths and how it ties back to their sickness. One symptom is known as clairvoyance, where the player remembers too many past versions of themselves that have died. Their character will display signs of their pervious death, retaining memories and physical wounds.
The investigation portion of the game sends players into the underground world of Terminal. A place where bootleggers, cultists, and other infected live. The players must try to survive alongside them while piecing together cases through dream logic and decaying facts. These investigations do not have a linear format to follow.
One thing players should note is there is no cure for their sickness. There is only what the sickness gives them: symptoms, obsessions, and patterns. Something greater is at work and it is calling to them.
A release date for Heavy as Stone has yet to be announced, but players can start wishlisting the game on Steam. It will be a singleplayer experience and it is unclear whether the game will be available for console players in the future.