No Stone Unturned has Hints of Undertale's DNA
Is it blasphemous to make such a lofty comparison?
TL;DR
If you like…
The humor and randomness of Undertale
Fully-voiced dialogue
Engaging murder mysteries
Extremely varied gameplay
Then No Stone Unturned might be for you
But keep in mind…
The game still needs polishing on some of the gameplay
It’s more about puzzle-solving and story than fast-paced action
A Rare Trait
It’s very rare that I click with a game’s comedic writing. So rare that I can actually list off the games that stand out to me as having genuinely clever and witty experiences:
Now, I’m sure I’m excluding dozens of titles that coaxed a chuckle out of me, but the ones above are truly the only experiences that stuck with me well past the credits. I don’t know what it is about video games specifically, but it often feels like dev teams treat humor as an afterthought. Instead of taking the time to craft timeless, creative jokes that play to the strengths of the medium, too many games take the easy path—relying on short-lived memes and MCU-like quips.
It’s because of my ridiculously—let’s call it “unique”— sense of humor that I can’t help but get excited about games that feel like they might have a shot at making it onto that ever-so-exclusive mental list of mine.
Behold: An Undertale-like
That’s where No Stone Unturned comes in. I stumbled upon this title during my time on PAX West show floor, and I was not prepared for just how much I would love the hands-on demo (which is available on Steam right now).
The simple pitch is that No Stone Unturned is a murder mystery about why the chicken crossed the road. That alone grabbed me, but within minutes, it became clear the game is way more than that. At first glance, it looked like a run-of-the-mill point-and-click game. I actually got nervous that I’d be stuck in a demo full of slow dialogue cycles and tedious investigation mechanics. But just as quickly as that fear crept in, it disappeared. Before you even have time to judge, the game starts throwing curveballs. Whether it’s a fantastic voice performance, an overly detailed plank of wood, or the nonstop repetition of the name “Detective Cox,” this game is relentless in its efforts to catch you off guard.
So now that you’re familiar with No Stone Unturned, let’s circle back to the Undertale aspect of it all. While I know that comparison comes with a heavy burden, and the team over at Wise Monkey might even want to avoid it, I can’t help but draw connections. Many people, including myself, love Undertale because of how charming and unexpected the game is. It constantly shifts tone, gameplay, location, and dialogue in a way that showcases how well gameplay and comedy can blend. It’s not leaning on any specific game or genre as a touchstone; it’s pulling together dozens of influences to create something utterly unique. In recent years, the not-so-indie Dave the Diver wisely did something similar to catch fire among a specific audience of players. And now, No Stone Unturned seems to be vying for the next spot in line.
The game boasts a cast of wacky characters, unexpected twists and turns, a boatload of laughs, and gameplay meant to keep you surprised and engaged. It’s a tall order that many have attempted to take on, but it seems that for this game, all the pieces are there.
Room for Work
Now this demo was not without its flaws. I really did love most of the bits. The staring contest, the floor stain Pokemon battle, and even the character that looked like the meatball from Aqua Teen Hunger Force were all awesome. But the last mini-game of the demo drove me nuts (no pun intended). It’s essentially a platforming challenge without jumping. That alone is not the issue; the issue is that the controls made it very frustrating and clunky to navigate, and the game makes you endure this not once but twice in what seemed like an extension of the gag. It’s certainly possible frustrations like this could end up being the Achilles’ heel of the game, but I have to imagine after seeing countless people struggle with it all weekend, the lead developer will revisit that section of the game and any others that could cause unnecessary friction.
Keep Your Eyes Glued to This Game
As someone who appreciates new and surprising experiences in games, No Stone Unturned shot way up my most-anticipated list for 2026. Any game that can get me softly chuckling in the middle of a crowded PAX event has earned my respect. I do think the game will be for a specific audience with a specific type of humor, but if it comes out polished and streamlined, it has a lot of potential to make a big splash and stand tall among the competition.
