Lila’s Sky Ark

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 59 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Lila’s Sky Ark Game Cover
A top-down fantasy adventure where you throw things at a limited range of monsters in a stiff world.
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"Lila’s Sky Ark" is an atmospheric exploration game where players help Lila, a young explorer, rebuild her celestial home, Sky Ark. Collect resources, solve puzzles, and uncover the mysteries of floating islands while avoiding menacing creatures. The game features a calming art style and an emotional narrative, making it a serene yet engaging experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews
story16 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and a vibrant, colorful world that enhances the overall experience.
  • The unique combat mechanic of throwing items adds an interesting twist to gameplay, encouraging exploration and creativity in solving puzzles.
  • The soundtrack is exceptional, particularly during boss fights, and contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.
  • The throwing mechanic can feel clunky and cumbersome, making combat frustrating at times, especially during boss encounters.
  • The story is often vague and lacks cohesion, leaving players confused about the narrative and its connections to the game's world.
  • Navigation can be challenging due to a lack of clear map markers and the potential to get stuck in certain areas, which can detract from the exploration experience.
  • story56 mentions

    The story of "Lila's Sky Ark" is described as intriguing yet often confusing, with many players finding it esoteric and lacking cohesion. While some appreciate the lore and environmental storytelling, others feel that the narrative is thin and requires external guides to fully grasp. Overall, the game offers a charming aesthetic and enjoyable gameplay, but its story may not satisfy those seeking a clear and cohesive plot.

    • “The world and story feel lovingly crafted, and I really enjoyed being able to explore it and meet all the different characters.”
    • “The story was left for the player to piece together, but once it all fell into place and I uncovered the true story, I was left in shock.”
    • “The music, the aesthetic, the story, and gameplay come together to make a cohesive and fun experience that I feel like everyone should play.”
    • “Although the general thrust of a story exists in Lila's Sky Ark, the details are esoteric and the allusions and references ultimately lead nowhere.”
    • “The story is alright, although a little aimless and confusing at times.”
    • “In general, I think there's a sort of cohesion missing in the story of the game, and I kind of wish there were more cohesion between the main gameplay, the final cutscene-ish sequence, and the lore tidbits/flavor-text.”
  • gameplay51 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a unique throwing mechanic that requires players to pick up and throw objects instead of direct attacks, which some find refreshing while others consider it clunky and frustrating, especially during boss fights. While the mechanics can be interesting and offer freedom in combat, they often feel finicky and can detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the exploration and collection aspects, but many express a desire for more cohesive gameplay and story integration.

    • “The gameplay is quite unique in that you don't have a means of directly attacking enemies and instead rely on objects you pick up and store from around the environment.”
    • “The combat mechanic is interesting, giving players a lot of freedom to choose how to handle battles, and it's never hard to the point of being frustrating. Exploring every nook and cranny has been challenging, and I don't regret any second spent on it.”
    • “The music, the aesthetic, the story, and gameplay come together to make a cohesive and fun experience that I feel like everyone should play.”
    • “It's unfortunate that the gameplay and story were so mediocre.”
    • “The second half introduces too many mechanics that are janky and annoying instead of a fun challenge.”
    • “Sadly, all of these are overshadowed by the annoying throwing mechanic, ruining my experience of the game.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its standout boss tracks, which many players describe as "amazing" and "memorable." While some background music is considered forgettable, the overall soundtrack is praised for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the polished sound design and the way the music complements the visuals, making it a significant highlight of the game.

    • “The music is awesome and movement/combat felt really good.”
    • “Lovely game, lovely art, astonishingly good music.”
    • “The soundtrack has quickly become one of my favorite game soundtracks ever, and the sound design was very polished - while simple, the sounds of the game really added to the atmosphere and gelled with the stellar visuals impeccably.”
    • “The music is passable; much of it is pretty but forgettable except for the boss tracks, which are universally good (check out the pianist's theme, for example).”
    • “On a smaller detail, it's also unclear why these invaders are musical, and what harmony is, exactly.”
    • “I mean I don't like it as much as Resolution's soundtrack overall, and it's not really your fault because I think the world of Sky Ark has some mixed themes; it's hard to say what music is appropriate for it, but it's still so good man, and if this game had any slow parts, the music always kept it alive.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art that resonates well with fans of the genre, offering a whimsical and colorful aesthetic reminiscent of titles like Hyper Light Drifter. While the visuals are generally praised for their beauty and cohesion with the soundtrack, some players noted a slight disconnection between certain art styles, particularly in cutscenes. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its enjoyable exploration and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The visuals, music, and overall aesthetic are very pleasing to the eyes and ears, making map exploration all the more satisfying.”
    • “The art style of the main game is retro yet still unique, merging a whimsical pixel look full of expression with a palette of bright and varied colors.”
    • “This game was a very fun experience with a beautiful aesthetic and great worldbuilding.”
    • “That being said, the 2D artworks that were shown after you defeat each boss look out of sync with the rest of the game.”
    • “The story is told through the environment, letters containing lore scattered around the map and a few short cutscenes (which use a different art style - a technique I adore, which really added to the impact).”
    • “Tl;dr: the aesthetics and the lore (backstory hints) are good, the combat mechanics are okay but can be a bit annoying to some, and the story (the plot from in-game events) is somewhat incohesive at the end.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its comfortable and immersive quality, enhanced by a polished soundtrack that features unique character "voices" reminiscent of Hollow Knight. The high-detailed pixel art combined with ambient colors creates a visually captivating experience, while the lore conveyed through collectible letters adds depth to the overall ambiance. Reviewers note the distinctiveness of the atmosphere, highlighting its ability to engage players in a meaningful way.

    • “The soundtrack has quickly become one of my favorite game soundtracks ever, and the sound design was very polished - while simple, the sounds of the game really added to the atmosphere and gelled with the stellar visuals impeccably. My personal favorite part of the sound design is the Hollow Knight-esque 'voices' each character is given.”
    • “High-detailed pixel art will be layered with ambient colors, giving an atmospheric look to it.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack, good atmosphere, and story lore in collectible letters.”
    • “Besides, these games are just so different in terms of atmosphere; for a long time I thought it was a joke.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often involving repetitive backtracking and item collection that can lead to frustration. While the aesthetic and puzzles are appreciated, the simplicity of combat and the need to gather resources can make the experience feel laborious. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment, despite some fun moments in the less confined puzzles later in the game.

    • “Looks nice but combat is tedious.”
    • “This, mixed with certain areas requiring certain things to enter, meant I was often stuck going back and forth between two places, collecting an item, and then realizing I needed a different one and repeating the cycle till I ran out of money - which was also quite tedious to grind for.”
    • “[b]Grindy achievement(s):[/b] no.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heart-wrenching and beautiful story, which includes themes of grief and parental loss. While some clues may feel lighthearted, the overall experience evokes a sense of accomplishment and deep emotional engagement, prompting players to be mindful of potential triggers.

    • “The story itself is heart-wrenching and beautiful.”
    • “There are emotional aspects, and I've seen some mentions of parent death and grief, so I recommend looking up trigger warnings if you expect any issues.”
    • “Some of the clues to secrets were a little goofy, but it generally just made me feel like a champ when I figured it out.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally find that the game's replayability is high, with various modes and challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of different character choices and branching storylines adds to the overall experience, making players eager to return for new outcomes. Overall, the game offers enough variety to keep players engaged long after the initial completion.

  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's performance varies significantly across different hardware configurations, leading to a divided player experience.

    • “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimizing performance.”
    • “The frame rates are consistently high, and the loading times are minimal, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
    • “The optimization is so bad that loading times are longer than the actual gameplay.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by unique and memorable designs that contribute to the overall appeal of the characters.

    • “Some of the character designs are pretty unique and memorable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

62% average critic score

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Play time

15hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
15-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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