Beneath a Steel Sky

About

Beneath a Steel Sky is a single player puzzle game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Revolution Software Ltd and was released on July 27, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

"Beneath a Steel Sky" is a cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game where you play as Robert Foster, who was raised in a society of outcasts after being orphaned in a helicopter crash. When authorities kidnap Robert and take him back to the city, he embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind his past and escape the confines of the city. Along the way, you'll solve puzzles, interact with characters, and explore a dystopian future.

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Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 355 reviews

story93 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Beneath a Steel Sky features a captivating story set in a richly detailed dystopian world, with well-written characters and sharp humor that keeps players engaged.
The game's hand-drawn art style and atmospheric music create a unique and immersive experience that still resonates with players today.
As a classic point-and-click adventure, it offers challenging puzzles that encourage exploration and critical thinking, making it a rewarding experience for fans of the genre.

The game suffers from some outdated mechanics, including pixel hunting and obtuse puzzle solutions that can lead to frustration without a guide.
Players may find the controls clunky and the character movement slow, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some aspects of the story and tone can feel inconsistent, with abrupt shifts between dark themes and lighthearted humor that may not resonate with all players.

story
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The story of "Beneath a Steel Sky" is a compelling blend of dystopian themes and personal journey, following Robert Foster's arrival in Union City after a helicopter crash. While the narrative is engaging and features well-developed characters, some players find it occasionally disjointed and simplistic, with predictable twists and a mix of humor and darker tones. Overall, the game is praised for its rich storytelling and atmosphere, making it a notable classic in the point-and-click adventure genre.
- “The story is engaging, the writing is extremely good: all dialogues are rather short, but witty and have a lot of puns.”
- “The characters are well-developed, and their interactions add depth to the story, making it one of the best examples of storytelling in point-and-click adventures.”
- “The story was interesting and there is definitely enough lore to make me excited about Beyond a Steel Sky and the possibilities of this fictional universe.”
- “But believe me when I say that the worst part of the game isn't the dated gameplay, it's the overall story and writing.”
- “But the only way I can describe this game's story and setting without getting into detail/spoilers is unambitious and generic.”
- “Overall, the story is not that good; it is confusing and simple at the same time, and leaps from one point to the other quite considerably, most apparent in the latter stages of the game.”
music
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy, nostalgic qualities and atmospheric fit, while others find it repetitive, loud, and poorly balanced, often leading to frustration. Many appreciate the retro vibe and unique tracks for different spaces, but the frequent volume resets and occasional mismatch with the game's tone detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the music enhances the game's charm for some, it can also become a source of irritation for others.
- “The atmospheric music and ambient sound effects pull you deeper into this world.”
- “Music and atmosphere are the best parts of this game, minor points for character interactions.”
- “Gorgeous, detailed pixelated visuals, imaginative puzzles, great story, unique characters, awesome music and a fantastic, cyberpunk atmosphere.”
- “The background sound effects and music were okay for the most part; however, if you get stuck in the game (and don't want to cheat your way out), you'll probably be forced to turn them off for a considerable amount of time as they will drive you insane.”
- “Unfortunately, the bass did not win me over, and I could not relate to its story, disjointed writing, cringy jokes (seriously, eww), and out-of-place music.”
- “I'm unable to continue playing the game because the music is too loud and annoying.”
graphics
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia for the 90s, though they are considered dated by modern standards. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and the atmosphere it creates, others find the visuals can hinder gameplay due to pixel hunting and lack of detail. Overall, the visuals are seen as a blend of old-school charm and limitations, with many reviewers noting that the engaging story and characters compensate for any graphical shortcomings.
- “The pixel art style is beautiful and has aged well.”
- “The city’s oppressive atmosphere is captured perfectly through its visuals, designed by Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen.”
- “Gorgeous, detailed pixelated visuals, imaginative puzzles, great story, unique characters, awesome music, and a fantastic, cyberpunk atmosphere.”
- “The pixel-art visuals (and the retro soundtrack) are at the level you’d expect from a 90’s adventure game, but not as detailed and rich as others from the same generation.”
- “The graphics remain the exact same (320x200 VGA) since this is not a 'remaster' or remake of any sort, just the good ol' game from the '90s emulated via ScummVM.”
- “And the visuals aren’t problematic because they’re pixelated; they’re problematic because the game expects you to detect which nondescript pixels are actually vital interactive objects.”
humor
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark and lighthearted elements effectively, often through witty dialogue and the antics of the robot companion, Joey. Players appreciate the sharp writing and clever jokes that provide levity amidst the game's grim themes, although some find the humor inconsistent or misplaced at times. Overall, the game successfully balances serious storytelling with comedic moments, making for an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “The humor woven throughout the narrative is not just for laughs; it’s a form of defiance.”
- “The game's grimy charm is balanced with the dry and witty humor of Joey, your robot companion, making for an engaging and entertaining journey.”
- “I couldn’t help but burst out laughing during an unexpected court sequence, hosted by a judge more hilariously incompetent than any Phoenix Wright character.”
- “The story is incomprehensible and only slowly reveals itself to be boring; the end-game dialogue was the only one bearing any weight. The characters and world-building have no depth, and the occasional sexual innuendo tends to be misplaced and unfunny.”
gameplay
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
Gameplay in this point-and-click adventure is characterized by traditional mechanics that reward patience and exploration, though it can be marred by occasional illogical puzzles and a reliance on trial-and-error. While some players appreciate the engaging story and character depth, others find the gameplay dated and frustrating, often requiring guides to navigate. Overall, the experience is a mix of nostalgia and challenge, appealing to fans of the genre despite its flaws.
- “You have to piece the story together yourself by listening, reading, and interacting with everything and everyone around you; it's definitely not up to everyone's taste, but I absolutely love the slow-paced gameplay inherent in the genre.”
- “It’s the kind of gameplay that rewards patience and curiosity, even if you occasionally feel stuck.”
- “Despite its dated graphics, the game's creative plot, compelling characters, and engaging gameplay make it a gem among point-and-click adventures.”
- “Not my thing personally, most of the puzzles make me go 'oh, come on!' instead of 'ooh, that's clever,' and to me, point-and-clicks just don't really have substantial enough gameplay.”
- “Gameplay isn't always logical and frequently resorts to trying every inventory item on every object and every person to progress.”
- “There's a few amusing moments to be had, but it's rife with walking around, never knowing what to do, since the writer never felt like foreshadowing any conceivable aspect to gameplay or plot for the player to ascertain what to do next or why.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
39%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of a cyberpunk future, characterized by corporate greed and class division. Users highlight the effective combination of detailed pixel art, atmospheric music, and ambient sound effects that draw players into its bleak yet charming world. The contrast between the dark themes and humorous elements adds depth, making the overall experience engaging and memorable.
- “Set in a bleak, industrial future ruled by corporate greed and class division, this classic point-and-click adventure captures the gritty atmosphere of cyberpunk Britain like few others of its time.”
- “The city’s oppressive atmosphere is captured perfectly through its visuals, designed by Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen.”
- “The game’s futuristic world is beautifully grim, with an atmosphere that keeps you glued to your screen, eager to uncover its secrets.”
- “They capture the atmosphere of the different levels of the city, from bleak and sterile industrial level to the carefree life of the rich class.”
- “The jokes completely contrast against the game’s dystopian and dark atmosphere, but that makes them all the more amusing with how unfitting they feel.”
- “While the graphics are dated by today's standards, they possess a certain charm that adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting that it can run well on older hardware, especially with community-provided tweaks for better performance. However, there are criticisms regarding its initial optimization, particularly when run on emulators, which some players found lacking. Overall, while the game offers a great story and voice performances, its optimization may require additional adjustments for an optimal experience.
- “Note: I would recommend that you scout the guides section under the community tab. There's a well-written line of code in one of the guides that you could put in your game's ini file that makes you play it in a more optimized, and more importantly, minimized custom window mode.”
- “But don't let these shortcomings put you off; this is a brilliant game with a great story and vocal performances. If you can find an old monitor or TV from the 90s, it would look amazing. My old ThinkPad, which now runs Ubuntu, did nicely.”
- “Porting it into an unoptimized emulator and calling it release-worthy is a joke.”
- “I would recommend that you scout the guides section under the community tab; there's a well-written line of code in one of the guides that you could put in your game's ini file to play it in a more optimized, and more importantly, minimized custom window mode.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by superb storytelling that evokes strong feelings, though some users feel that a comedic tone detracts from key emotional moments. Additionally, character arcs are noted for their depth, reflecting significant emotional growth alongside physical transformations.
- “Superb storytelling and emotionally charged.”
- “He’s gone through interesting emotional arcs mirroring his physical transformations.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of traveling between distant areas, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “It's rather tedious going between different areas, especially ones that are far apart.”
- “The grinding can get quite tedious.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been criticized for being poor, with users reporting frequent glitches, such as characters not following the player, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, the game is described as "bad and incredibly buggy."
- “I appreciated the VT technique, even though I experienced several glitches where Joey would not follow me, and I would just lose him who knows where.”
- “Bad and incredibly buggy.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
100%
The game offers a high level of playability, surpassing that of the classic *Neuromancer (1988)*; however, many players feel that watching a play-through may provide a similar experience to actually playing it.
- “The game offers a wealth of choices and paths, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and varied character interactions, the replayability is off the charts!”
- “Every time I play, I discover something new, which keeps me coming back for more.”
- “It's very playable -- far more playable than the neuromancer (1988) game -- but I think most folks could get as much out of watching a play-through as they would from playing it.”

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10h Median play time

10h Average play time

6h Main story

7h Completionist

10-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Beneath a Steel Sky is a puzzle game with science fiction theme.

Beneath a Steel Sky is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 7 hours to finish. On average players spend around 10 hours playing Beneath a Steel Sky.

Beneath a Steel Sky was released on July 27, 2020.

Beneath a Steel Sky was developed by Revolution Software Ltd.

Beneath a Steel Sky has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Beneath a Steel Sky is a single player game.

Similar games include Beyond a Steel Sky, Primordia, Sanitarium, The Longest Journey, Gemini Rue and others.

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