Sunless Skies Reviews

Sunless Skies is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Jan 30, 2019

The comparison to Joss Whedon’s short-lived television series is apt, with similarities extending beyond the music to the genre-bending space adventure and focus on stories that explore humanity in straits. Imperialism, the value of time, the tenuous nature of reality, and the mysteries of the cosmos are just some of the themes that emerge in the strange world of Sunless Skies, contributing to a tapestry of a richness almost unparalleled in the world of video games. The overall pace of the game is staid, but its brilliant simplicity is to be commended, and, come year’s end, it could prove enough to make Sunless Skies a strong Game of the Year contender.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2019

Sunless Skies is a game with such an intense and complex story that it might have been better applied in a book. The game as a whole would be mediocre at best, if not for that part. Its gameplay is slow and hard; its art direction is good, but has no identity of its own; its soundtrack is just average. Playing it can be worth it, however, if you have the patience to follow an amazing story.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Geeks Under Grace
Andrew Borck
9 / 10.0
Feb 1, 2019

If you're a fan of Sunless Sea, Lovecraftian Horror, or Firefly, you'll probably love this game. If you don't like reading, dying in-game, or making new characters, you might enjoy it less.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2019

Above everything else, Sunless Skies is a unique experience. It may be similar to its predecessor, Sunless Seas, but it is wholly a game of its own. It feels remarkably smooth to control and it reads like a more adult Pratchett novel albeit roided up to beefcake levels of literary strength.

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80%
Feb 15, 2019

Beautiful and terrifying journey through stars. If you believe that videogames can be art, you shouldn't miss Sunless Skies. For others, the game might be totally impenetrable.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

Unscored
Feb 12, 2019

Whether it's the joy of reaching port, the excitement of engaging with a marauder, or the wonderment of the creatively-written fantasy, Sunless Skies filled my head with adventure and took me on a tour of marvels and monstrosities such as I'm glad to have encountered. It still has me itching to return to the High Wilderness for another go.

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4.5 / 5.0
Apr 16, 2020

Like many powerful, unique titles, Sunless Skies leaves the player with the desire for more, not because it’s lacking but because it appeals to the mania to solve every mystery, plumb every depth.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 13, 2019

Just like the other two titles developed by Failbetter, Sunless Skies is not a game for everybody. It has a very slow rhythm and demands that you read a lot in order to understand the story. So if you are not into reading or patient enough, you'll probably get bored in the first few hours. But if you give it time and get along with its rhythm, you'll definitely have a wonderful experience.

Review in Persian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2019

Sunless Skies is a fun romp with enough plot variety to keep you entertained. While the writing lacks the sharpness of previous installments, this is a good series introduction for beginners.

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GameSpace
Brandedwolf
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Feb 8, 2019

Overall Sunless Skies is another well-written story from Failbetter Games. The story and setting carry the game, but the combat mechanics can take some getting used to and may feel limiting. If you like your stories thick in the dark and strange ways of things like H.P. Lovecraft than this could very well be your cup of maddening tea. And you do like tea, don't you? Of course you do, the Queen wouldn't allow it to be otherwise and She is watching, always watching...

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9 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2019

With impeccable world-building and compelling exploration, Sunless Skies is a haunting journey that is worth traversing time and time again.

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7 / 10
Feb 1, 2019

Looking past its flaws, if you're a fan of narrative storytelling, steampunk and weird wobbly Lovecraftian things – this game is worth your cash.

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95%
Feb 24, 2019

Sunless Skies is one of the most interesting and well-written games ever made.

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Jan 31, 2019

The world the game shares with its predecessors is detailed and bizarre in equal measure.

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PCGamesN
Top Critic
9 / 10
Feb 5, 2019

Failbetter continues to revolutionise the RPG - not by burning it all down, but by slipping pages of prose into every crevice it can.Jeremy Peel

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Jan 31, 2019

At times serene and at times unnerving, Sunless Skies epitomizes an atmospheric narrative-driven exploration into strange and unknown locales, only marred by the tedium that grows as the novelty eventually wears off after a few hours.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2019

Sunless Skies delivers in ways you don't even expect it to. The atmosphere is incredible, and the stories almost addictive. The world is beautiful and the danger is tantalizing. It might be deadly, but it's well worth the trip.

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88 / 100
Mar 29, 2019

Despite being loads more forgiving than the first brutal installment, Sunless Skies is wicked hard.

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Jan 31, 2019

Sunless Skies is a wild, mysterious RPG that blends together a plethora of traits from multiple genres. The result is something unique, engaging, and incredibly fun.

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Guardian
Top Critic
Jan 31, 2019

This imaginative and darkly humorous sci-fi survival game has you fearfully chart a vast, hostile universe

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