False Skies

About

False Skies is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Feenicks and was released on November 30, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

"False Skies" is a classic RPG set in a world where stars have fallen from the sky. The game features fast-paced, turn-based battles and an intricate class system, allowing players to create a party of up to 8 distinct classes and layer on new classes as they progress. With no equipment restrictions, players can customize their characters to their liking and explore over a dozen dungeons while encountering over 300 types of enemies. Communication is lost and monsters run rampant, while rumors of a strange group of horned people from a vanished city spread.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews

story27 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging class system that allows for deep customization of characters, making party building a rewarding experience.
The story and setting are intriguing, with a blend of retro aesthetics and modern gameplay mechanics that evoke nostalgia while providing fresh content.
Combat is fast-paced and strategic, with a variety of enemy types and mechanics that keep encounters interesting and challenging.

The encounter rate can be excessively high, leading to frustration during exploration and making dungeons feel tedious.
Some mechanics and class information are not well explained in-game, which can lead to confusion and reliance on external guides.
The game can feel overly long, with certain dungeons and quests dragging on, which may deter players looking for a more concise experience.

story
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The story of "False Skies" is a blend of classic RPG elements, featuring a unique setting and a plot that evolves from a slow start into a more engaging narrative filled with twists and turns. While some players find the characters somewhat generic and the pacing uneven, many appreciate the nostalgic homage to retro RPGs, with a compelling world and intriguing lore that keeps them invested throughout the lengthy gameplay. Overall, the story is well-crafted, though it may require patience and exploration to fully appreciate its depth and nuances.
- “The story is compelling and full of twists and turns, and there are hundreds of secrets and optional bosses to tackle along the way as you aim for completion—and when you get there, a robust NG+ system that lets you determine certain parameters that'll change how your second run through goes.”
- “False skies probably has one of the most unique story premises I've seen from JRPGs in general, even sticking to the idea that your party is just composed of explorers out to see the world, uncover lost secrets, and investigate incidents that may halt the world's progress in rebuilding.”
- “The story and world building are masterful and extremely ambitious for an indie RPG by a solo developer.”
- “I stopped paying attention to the story hours ago, and am just following where I'm supposed to go with markers in the text, and a walkthrough so I can be done with this thing as quick as possible.”
- “It's difficult to engage with what story is present, or with all the unexplained items and character skills and stats.”
- “A big downside goes to the story.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
46%
8%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its catchy chiptune soundtrack that complements the retro aesthetic and enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some tracks stand out as particularly memorable, a few are noted to be less favorable, yet they do not detract significantly from the enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, effectively engaging players and evoking nostalgia for classic RPGs.
- “The music is some of the best chiptunes I've heard in a long time.”
- “The whole soundtrack is generally inoffensive chiptunes that go well with what you're doing; a few of the tracks really stand out as good, and there are plenty of battle themes so you don't get tired of hearing the same song forever.”
- “This game is downright incredible with a huge well of content, fantastic music, some of the best pixel art I've seen in retro-inspired work, and so much more.”
- “The music sometimes plinks when I think it should plonk, and the menu confirm noises are a little too sharp.”
- “There are a few exceptions that run up against the limits of the medium a bit and can slightly grate, but I can only think of two off the top of my head, and there is a lot of music in this game.”
- “The only thing that breaks the illusion is the larger resolution, some of the in-game transitions, and how the music seems to be using one or two too many channels.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics, strategic depth, and engaging exploration, with a satisfying progression that keeps players invested for 30-40 hours. While the turn-based combat offers a variety of class combinations and enemy encounters, some mechanics lack clarity, requiring players to experiment or consult external resources. Overall, the balance between gameplay and story is well-executed, providing a rewarding experience without excessive cutscenes.
- “The gameplay loop starts simple, but becomes so satisfying and complete.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, mechanics, and sense of exploration make this a game I hope to return to again.”
- “The gameplay is pretty solid, with an array of classes available for mixing, and the difficulty feels really well-tuned.”
- “The mechanics are not explained very well, and utilizing the class system would be quite confusing if there wasn't an FAQ on Steam that shows how to unlock the classes.”
- “For example, item/skill names are often haphazardly abbreviated, and descriptions are terse at best, forcing you to experiment in order to discover the mechanical details.”
- “Game play is solid and strategic enough that you won't be bored to tears, but there are a couple mechanics, counters for one, that could have benefited from a bit more transparency.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
47%
10%
The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their retro Game Boy Color aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of classic RPGs while maintaining a polished and refined look. Many reviewers appreciate the strong visual design, vibrant monster sprites, and cohesive aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, although some minor issues with character distinction and world navigation were noted. Overall, the graphics are seen as a nostalgic throwback that complements the gameplay and storytelling, making it appealing to fans of the genre.
- “The graphics are always consistently matching the Game Boy Color style it's going for -- everything looks incredible and sucks you right in.”
- “False Skies is a fun game with a deep plot and stunning pixel artwork.”
- “A great 8-bit throwback with a beautiful aesthetic, wonderful dungeons, and a very interesting setting!”
- “Graphically, I mean, it looks like a GBC game very intentionally.”
- “I think my only graphical complaints were that sometimes it was hard to distinguish characters from each other because they had the same rough shape and same color, and moving around the larger world once you're able to do so can be a bit hard on the eyes due to the way that the sea tiles are animated.”
- “The graphics settings are awkward and cannot be customized, at least not beyond choosing between either fullscreen or a big un-resizable window taking up almost the whole screen anyway.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
Overall, players find that the game minimizes grinding, with many noting that it feels balanced and engaging without excessive level grinding. The class system and combat mechanics encourage strategic play rather than repetitive battles, although some dungeons can feel tedious and certain quests may require more grinding than others. Most reviewers agree that the game offers a satisfying JRPG experience without the typical grind, making it accessible and enjoyable for players.
- “Really good JRPG that will run you up into the 30-40 hour range, and that's with no grinding; something which the game never asks you to do.”
- “The class system discourages grinding, so grinding for money felt like a one step forward, two steps back situation.”
- “Some dungeons overstay their welcome, particularly the second trip into the palace, which felt tedious.”
- “Only downside is that some quests can be quite cryptic and way too overpowered for one of the quests; it can be quite grindy but that's somewhat the essence of an old school RPG at times.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its visual details and immersive mechanics, enhancing the sense of exploration. However, some users feel that the story does not align well with the overall atmosphere, leading to a disjointed experience.
- “Incredible atmosphere, mechanics, and sense of exploration make this a game I hope to return to again.”
- “Story and atmosphere just don't make sense.”
- “Plus there are some nice little moments included purely for visual atmosphere.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development in the game is somewhat limited due to the focus on creating a party, which detracts from the depth typically found in main character arcs. This may leave players seeking more personal growth and narrative engagement feeling unsatisfied.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their growth feel organic and rewarding.”
- “The choices you make significantly impact character development, leading to unique and personalized experiences.”
- “The character development feels shallow, as the focus on creating a party detracts from the depth of the main character's growth.”
- “I found the character development lacking; the emphasis on party creation overshadows the individual arcs that many games excel at.”
- “The game sacrifices meaningful character development for the sake of party mechanics, leaving the main characters feeling underdeveloped.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor bugs related to mechanics activating on dying enemies. These issues are considered edge cases that players can typically avoid by changing their actions, such as fleeing the encounter.
- “There are a couple of buggy interactions with certain mechanics activating on dying enemies, but this is a function of the engine and is an edge case you normally shouldn't encounter. You can generally escape these issues by just trying to take another action, like running away.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it difficult to enjoy the experience without constant interruptions.”
- “I've encountered numerous stability issues, including lag spikes and frame drops, which significantly detract from the overall gameplay.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-executed, with funny moments that resonate with players, alongside effective serious scenes. A particularly amusing aspect related to the bestiary is hinted at as a later-game surprise. Overall, the blend of humor and gameplay creates a chaotic yet entertaining experience, especially during challenging boss fights.
- “The funny moments tend to land as funny, and while I can't personally take anything seriously, there are serious moments that you'll find that are also well done.”
- “There is something else regarding the bestiary that is extremely funny, but it's also a later game spoiler so I will not mention what it is specifically—you'll know when you see it, so please look forward to it.”
- “Difficulty is good from my perspective; I'm playing on hard and generally clearing most boss fights on the first attempt, but usually with a hilarious round of casualties and a frantic round or two of hurling resurrection items around.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the game's design features contribute significantly to its replayability, making it engaging for players to revisit. The thoughtful mechanics and choices encourage exploration and experimentation, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It's certainly interesting to think about what makes for good design and gives the game replay value.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic events and character interactions.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While some players find it challenging to form emotional connections with the characters due to their implied dialogue, many appreciate the engaging and appealing nature of the surrounding cast, which helps maintain investment in the game's world and story.
- “I can't say this is my favorite choice, as it's hard to get emotionally attached to characters who only really have implied dialogue, but I will say the game did a great job of making the surrounding cast of characters fun and appealing to interact with, enough to keep me invested in the world and story as a whole.”