Pointless Games has announced that its strategic deckbuilder Stones of Power is entering closed beta, a milestone that comes alongside the reveal of the game's first gameplay trailer and players' first in-depth look at how it all works.
If you love a good roguelite that makes you actually think, this one is worth a look. Rather than dealing cards from your hand each turn, Stones of Power has you construct your deck by trading magical stones, buying, selling and managing coins to build synergies that let you manipulate the board and outsmart enemies through positioning and strategy.
So what is Stones of Power?
It is a "thinky" deckbuilder that leans on smart choices over pure luck. Between enemy encounters, you reshape your collection of stones, choosing from what is offered in shops and hunting down powerful items. The idea is to learn each enemy's mechanics and turn their strengths against them, so every run becomes an experiment where unexpected synergies and careful decisions can completely change how you approach the board.
The developer also cheekily calls out a familiar deckbuilder frustration - having to pay to remove a card from your deck - positioning the stone-trading system as a fresh spin on deck construction.
What makes it different from other deckbuilders?
The big hook is persistence. In many deckbuilders, cards are played in isolation and then gone. In Stones of Power, each stone you play stays on the board, creating ever-increasing complexity over the course of a match. Every turn opens up more possibilities than the last, which is where the creative decision-making comes in.
Key features
Think your way through every turn - Carefully position stones, manage your energy, and decide when to activate your stones to turn difficult situations to your advantage.
Find unexpected synergies - Experiment with stones, bags, and items to discover powerful interactions and create game-breaking builds that crush enemy encounters.
Take control of the board - Push, pull, and position stones to create opportunities, disrupt enemy plans, and turn the board state to your advantage.
What does the developer say?
Creator Mattias Selin explained the philosophy behind the game's escalating turns:
Quote From Mattias Selin I wanted to create a game where each turn incrementally evolved from something simple into something more complex [twirls mustache]. Every new stone the player places gives more possibilities to explore, rewarding careful planning, clever positioning, and creative thinking. I've always loved games that make experimenting with systems feel rewarding, and that sense of tinkering and discovery is something I wanted to capture in Stones of Power.
How can you play it?
With the first gameplay trailer out and the game now in beta, development is ongoing. Players who want to follow along, hear about future playtests and demos, and share feedback can wishlist Stones of Power on Steam and join the Pointless Games Discord.
For the record, Pointless Games is an independent studio based in Stockholm that makes tinkery, sandboxy experiences. Since founding in 2021 the team has released Walkbot, Fancy Block Builder, and Lab Escape, and it is led by developers whose previous experience includes Minecraft, Stellaris, Crusader Kings, and Cities: Skylines.
Stones of Power fact sheet
Developer & Publisher: Pointless Games AB
Genre: Deckbuilding, Roguelite, Strategy
Platform: PC, Linux
Players: Singleplayer
Release Date: TBA
Game Engine: Custom Java engine built on top of LibGDX
Will you be putting your strategic brain to the test when the beta stones roll out? Let us know in the comments.
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