Beyond a Steel Sky

A worthy 3D follow-up of one of the best 2D adventure games around.

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Beyond a Steel Sky - a cyberpunk thriller game by Charles Cecil and Dave Gibbons - puts you in the role of Robert Foster, searching for a kidnapped child in Union City, a utopian metropolis with a dark secret. This game features a dynamic world with responsive characters and puzzles that drive the story, offering a mix of humor, drama, and intrigue. Explore the political underbelly of this AI-controlled city and unravel its twisted mysteries.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 847 reviews

story279 positive mentions

stability55 negative mentions

Great continuation of the story from Beneath a Steel Sky with engaging characters and witty dialogue.
Beautiful graphics and a unique comic book art style that enhances the overall experience.
Innovative hacking mechanic that adds depth to puzzle-solving and keeps gameplay interesting.

Some bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including NPC pathfinding issues and camera angles during dialogues.
Puzzles can be overly simplistic and lack challenge, making the game feel short and linear.
The ending feels rushed and doesn't deliver the emotional weight expected from the buildup throughout the game.

story
678 mentions
41 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Beyond a Steel Sky" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative and strong character development, particularly as a continuation of the original game. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the rich world-building, some criticize the plot for being predictable, simplistic, or containing plot holes, especially towards the end. Overall, it offers a compelling mix of humor, social commentary, and adventure, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games, though familiarity with the predecessor enhances the experience.
- “The story is captivating from start to finish, but make no mistake, you absolutely need to know 'Beneath a Steel Sky'.”
- “The story harmonizes very well with a comic book style aesthetic, including panels and speech bubbles, retrofitted in a 3D space through cel shading.”
- “The story is great and has the same sort of witty cynicism found in the original.”
- “Frequently it felt like things were being said or done as an excuse to get to the next part of the story.”
- “The story is pretty linear, with no meaningful choices and consequences.”
- “The story tries to save it all in the end but it's not strong enough to carry this mess to the finish; it gets an 'okay' but that's it.”
graphics
289 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Beyond a Steel Sky" have received mixed feedback, with many praising the vibrant cel-shaded art style and comic book aesthetics that effectively capture the game's atmosphere. While some players appreciate the modern 3D visuals and detailed environments, others criticize the occasional graphical glitches, clunky animations, and underwhelming character models. Overall, the visuals are generally considered appealing, though they may not meet the highest standards of graphical fidelity.
- “I really enjoyed the stylized graphics and I felt the city design was cool.”
- “The graphics in Beyond a Steel Sky are nothing less than breathtaking.”
- “The art style, a perfect blend of futuristic aesthetics and post-apocalyptic grit, adds a unique charm to the game.”
- “Cheap, poorly made 3D graphics made with no budget don't age well.”
- “Lackluster presentation, abysmal graphical fidelity, a story that still didn't hook me an hour and a half in, and very little to no gameplay.”
- “While the animations and character models are often clunky, they are admittedly quite nice to look at, and this game being co-written by Dave Gibbons (of Watchmen fame), it makes sense that there's a sort of comic book-style aesthetic to it.”
gameplay
206 mentions
31 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Beyond a Steel Sky" is primarily centered around classic point-and-click mechanics, featuring a new hacking system that adds a unique twist to puzzle-solving. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and engaging narrative, others criticize the simplicity of the puzzles and the repetitive nature of the hacking mechanic, which can lead to a lack of challenge and occasional bugs. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable interactions and innovative mechanics, but it may not satisfy those seeking deeper gameplay complexity.
- “Gameplay-wise, it’s a classic puzzle-solving, 'work with whatever is around you' type of game.”
- “The combination of inventory-based puzzles, dialogue choices, and environmental interactions keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “The hacking mechanic is fun, though it also feels a little contrived; once you've had some limited fun setting off alarms, changing soda flavors, mangling speaker bot announcements, and swapping holo-ads around, the actual puzzles that rely on it are not dynamic or challenging.”
- “Lackluster presentation, abysmal graphical fidelity, a story that still didn't hook me an hour and a half in, and very little to no gameplay.”
- “The gameplay had serious issues in how the information was released; you could talk about things that you still didn't know and solve puzzles that you didn't even know what they were for.”
- “The end-game 'puzzles' come out of nowhere and are unrelated to any other puzzle in the game - this is jarring and felt unnecessary.”
humor
114 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending witty dialogue, quirky characters, and dark comedic moments that enhance the overall experience. While some players appreciate the clever banter and nostalgic references to the original game, others feel that the humor is less impactful or overly reliant on clichés. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with its narrative, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “The humor is spot-on, making even the most challenging moments enjoyable.”
- “The dialogue is great and the characters are particularly funny, especially Tarquin and Chipworth.”
- “This game is hilarious and there are a lot of details that you can stumble upon, miss the first playthrough and discover the second time, and ones that act as funny references.”
music
81 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its orchestral quality and cinematic feel, enhancing the overall experience. While some players find the soundtrack to be engaging and well-produced, others feel it lacks memorability or fails to match the game's tone at times. Overall, the music is generally considered good, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The soundtrack and ambient sound design also deserve a special mention.”
- “The music is fantastic too.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing.”
- “To do this you have to put the most annoying, loud, blaring music through the coffee shop's loudspeaker so that he is so annoyed he has to leave.”
- “As for the soundtrack, it does its job finely, but there are no compositions I would remember or even wanted to hear again.”
- “Not that it is bad at all, it just doesn't have the character like the music in Beneath a Steel Sky had.”
stability
57 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as NPC pathing issues, graphical anomalies, and occasional crashes. While some users experienced minor glitches that did not hinder their enjoyment, others faced more severe problems, including save corruption and freezing. Despite these issues, many players still found the game enjoyable, noting improvements in stability since its initial release, but cautioning potential players to save frequently to mitigate the impact of these bugs.
- “This review is based on the release code, and the experience hasn't been completely bug-free.”
- “Even though the game looks and runs great, there does seem to be a general lack of polish, at least on the PC version.”
- “Glitches, disappearing hotspots, and weird camera angles hinder the player’s experience and gameplay, and very often NPCs fail to get out of your way or get stuck in the environment.”
- “The most frustrating problem, though, is that the mouse handling gets weird with a multi-monitor setup; if the mouse ends up on a different screen when the game enters a menu state, everything freezes for about a minute, and then the game ends up in the background of whatever other windows are present.”
- “Don't buy this game in its current state; it is a buggy mess.”
atmosphere
33 mentions
45 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively blending humor, rich storytelling, and a vibrant cyberpunk setting. While some players miss the darker tones of the original, many appreciate the colorful and cheerful ambiance that enhances the overall experience. The sound design, voice acting, and world-building contribute significantly to creating a captivating atmosphere that draws players into the narrative.
- “Its engaging storyline and atmospheric setting make it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven adventures.”
- “Beautiful graphics, immersive atmosphere, sense of humor of the characters, and especially little Joey's jokes :) a rich and quite exciting story that makes you empathize with the characters and feel emotion.”
- “The creators make it possible to learn a lot of interesting facts about the life of the city, adding a huge number of dialogue options, reference museum materials, which allows the player to irrevocably plunge into the atmosphere of the future.”
- “It does not have any semblance of atmosphere.”
- “I must add that up until the second half of the game, I was kind of away from the Beneath a Steel Sky atmosphere; I felt different with all the glory and colorful views of Union City.”
- “I am also kind of disappointed that this game lacks the dreary atmosphere that the first game had.”
optimization
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is described as decent, with smooth performance for many players, though some report issues like slow character movement and minor bugs that can disrupt immersion. While some users experienced performance problems and animation errors, others found these complaints exaggerated, suggesting that the game runs well on modest systems. The voice acting and art style received praise, indicating that despite optimization concerns, the game's narrative and character performances are strong.
- “Performance for me was good although I had to use the ultrawide fix.”
- “Game is decently optimized.”
- “Minor immersion break = sometimes the background characters just get in between your conversation with the unique NPCs, but other than this, the game runs smoothly and bug-free.”
- “Walking and running is very slow; if they were optimized, we would soon realize that the maps are very small as is the game.”
- “The performance is sub-par; there are many unfortunate animation and pathfinding errors that will break the illusion.”
- “Edit: I just thought I'd mention that I notice other reviews talking about performance issues and bugs.”
emotional
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its heartfelt interactions and rich narrative that fosters a genuine connection to the characters, while others find it lacking in memorable moments and emotional depth compared to earlier titles. The balance between dark humor and serious themes is noted as effective, yet some feel that character reactions are inconsistent, undermining the emotional weight of key moments. Overall, the game's emotional impact seems to depend heavily on players' familiarity with the original game, leading to varied experiences.
- “The game's narrative is rich, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant, making you genuinely care about the characters and the world they inhabit.”
- “This time, they found the perfect balance to the dark/comic elements so I was constantly amused, but when the serious moments came, they hit you with the correct emotional weight.”
- “And speaking a dialogue, the back and forth between Foster and Joey is the real heart of the game, funny, witty, and very touching at times.”
grinding
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly with the hacking minigame and puzzle-solving elements. While some mechanics start off engaging, they quickly become monotonous, leading to frustration and the use of hints or walkthroughs. The game's narrative and art style provide some relief, but many reviewers feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Challenges - no tedious challenges.”
- “Honestly, the game is boring and tedious; it starts promising, quite mysterious and engaging, but quickly loses its appeal.”
- “The hacking mechanic that is introduced is fun at first but gets tedious quickly as you just have to figure out where to stand to link up the right objects.”
- “As a stand-alone adventure game, it's not interesting and gets tedious halfway through.”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and limited player agency. While some mention minor elements that could encourage a second playthrough, such as developer commentary, the consensus is that the game offers little incentive to replay, making it feel short and potentially unsatisfying for those seeking varied experiences.
- “There's some replayability, without being bombarded with an infinite amount of endings, and the added developer commentary is a nice touch as long as you took in the story and conversations the first time around.”
- “It just seems like there was a whole lot of potential for alternate solutions and replayability that were missed here.”
- “However, $35 for an 11-hour game is only going to be worth it to those who really enjoy its story, especially since Beyond a Steel Sky doesn't offer much replayability.”
- “Pretty short game, though, with little replay value.”
- “There is zero replayability.”
- “Overall, a game I am glad I played, but with zero replayability as it is entirely linear.”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a mix of opinions on character development; while some praise the excellent writing and character design, others note the lack of traditional character growth, as the gameplay focuses primarily on puzzle-solving without combat or deep character arcs. Overall, the artistic style is well-received, but the depth of character development varies significantly among players.
- “Brilliant adventure, excellent writing, and character development.”
- “In general, the character design and comic book style cell shading are pretty fantastic.”
- “Just like its predecessor, this is similar to a 'point and click' type adventure game where gameplay is relatively simple, composed almost exclusively of puzzle-solving, with no combat, no character development, and a simple inventory.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of "Beyond a Steel Sky" has sparked debate among users, with some viewing it as a cynical cash grab exploiting nostalgia, while others see it as a genuine effort to revive the series with good intentions and modern enhancements. Despite some graphical issues, there is acknowledgment of improvements since the initial release, suggesting a mixed reception regarding its financial approach.
- “You can debate me on whether Beyond a Steel Sky (BASS2) is a cynical cash grab made by talentless hacks cashing in on the goodwill and nostalgia of Beneath a Steel Sky (BASS1), while carving up its premise and setting in a savage butchery of its material for parts, or a loving attempt to bring the series back from the dead with goodwill, good intentions, and a respectful follow-up to the original story set in a carefully reimagined world using modern technology to improve on the foundations left behind.”