False Skies

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews

story24 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game features a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic Game Boy Color RPGs, with solid graphics and a catchy chiptune soundtrack.
The class system is deep and flexible, allowing for extensive customization of characters and strategies, which keeps combat engaging and rewarding.
The story is intriguing with twists and turns, and the world is filled with secrets and optional content that encourages exploration.

The game suffers from a high random encounter rate, which can make exploration tedious and disrupt the pacing of the gameplay.
There is a lack of clarity in the class system, as the game does not provide detailed information about skills and abilities until after they are learned, making planning difficult.
Some dungeons and quests can feel overly long and convoluted, leading to frustration and a sense of dragging on without clear objectives.

story
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The story of "False Skies" is a nostalgic homage to classic RPGs, featuring a charming yet simple narrative that unfolds gradually, with engaging twists and a rich world filled with secrets and side quests. While some players found the pacing slow and the characters somewhat generic, many appreciated the well-written plot and the depth of the surrounding cast, which kept them invested throughout the lengthy gameplay. Overall, the story is described as compelling and satisfying, particularly for those who enjoy exploration and a retro RPG experience.
- “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.”
- “The story and world building are masterful and extremely ambitious for an indie RPG by a solo developer.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
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 balance between combat and story progression. Players appreciate the variety in class combinations and enemy encounters, although some mechanics lack clarity and require experimentation. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience with a mix of dungeon crawling, character customization, and a well-paced narrative that keeps players invested for 30-40 hours.
- “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.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
47%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy chiptune soundtrack, which complements the retro aesthetic and gameplay effectively. While most tracks are enjoyable and fit well within the game's context, a few exceptions may feel slightly off, but overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with memorable themes for various areas and battles. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the effort put into the music, often expressing a desire for a complete soundtrack release.
- “Quirky soundtrack that fits the game really well.”
- “The music is some of the best chiptunes I've heard in a long time.”
- “The soundtrack is also extremely strong overall with a few dungeon and boss themes that stuck in my head even after turning the game off.”
- “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.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
48%
11%
The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their strong retro Game Boy Color aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of classic RPGs while featuring appealing pixel art and monster designs. However, some players noted issues with character differentiation and awkward graphical settings, which could detract from the experience. Overall, fans of the genre will likely appreciate the nostalgic visuals and cohesive design that enhance the game's atmosphere.
- “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 Game Boy Color 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 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
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
Overall, reviews indicate that grinding is largely minimized in this game, with many players appreciating the balanced difficulty that allows for progression without excessive grinding. While some dungeons may feel tedious and certain quests can be cryptic, the game generally rewards exploration and tactical preparation over grinding, making for a more streamlined JRPG experience. Players report completing the game in 30-60 hours without feeling the need to grind, which is a positive aspect for those seeking a more engaging narrative and gameplay.
- “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. My two biggest gripes are the lack of ability information and a notes system/quest log. The former issue is downright bizarre; unless I completely missed something in my ~50 hours of play, you can see what abilities a class would gain (assuming you've unlocked the class), but you cannot see what those abilities do until you pick the class.”
- “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 game's atmosphere is praised for its visual moments and immersive mechanics that enhance the sense of exploration, making it a memorable experience. 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.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-executed, with funny moments that resonate alongside serious themes, creating a balanced tone. Players can anticipate a particularly amusing aspect related to the bestiary, which serves as a highlight without revealing spoilers. Overall, the comedic elements enhance the gameplay experience, even during challenging encounters.
- “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 rez items around.”
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.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
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 hinder the experience for players who prefer more individualized character growth.
- “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 way the game handles character arcs is impressive, providing meaningful choices that impact their development.”
- “The character development feels shallow, as the focus on creating a party detracts from the depth of individual character arcs.”
- “I found the lack of meaningful character progression disappointing, especially when compared to other games that prioritize main character development.”
- “The emphasis on party creation overshadows the potential for rich character development, leaving the main characters feeling underdeveloped.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 nearly impossible to enjoy the experience without constant interruptions.”
- “I've encountered numerous stability issues, including random freezes and lag spikes that disrupt gameplay.”
replayability
1 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.
- “It's certainly interesting to think about what makes for good design and gives the game replay value.”

Buy False Skies

40h Median play time

29h Average play time

2-46h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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False Skies

False Skies

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