NightSky

About

NightSky is a single player casual shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Nicalis, Inc. and was released on March 1, 2011. It received very positive reviews from players.

NightSky is a single-player, Science Fiction Shooter game known for its compelling gameplay, ingenious visuals, and fantastic soundtrack. Players navigate a sphere using realistic physics through 11 levels of cerebral challenges and puzzles, with multiple "vehicles" and difficulties available. The game also includes additional secrets and unlockables for extra exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 190 reviews

music30 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

NightSky features beautiful visuals and a calming soundtrack, creating a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
The game offers a variety of physics-based puzzles that are engaging and enjoyable, with a good balance of challenge and accessibility.
Players appreciate the simplicity and charm of the game, making it a great choice for casual gaming and unwinding after a long day.

The game suffers from quality issues, including clunky controls, lack of customization options, and occasional glitches in physics and graphics.
Some players find the game too short and lacking in depth, with a limited number of challenging puzzles and a need to replay levels to unlock content.
The game's difficulty can be inconsistent, with some levels being frustratingly easy while others require precise timing and control, leading to potential frustration.

music
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the visuals and puzzles, creating a harmonious and immersive environment. While some find the music to be dull or average, the majority appreciate its soothing nature, making it an integral part of the game's charm.
- “Everything about the gameplay, visual style, and music are absolutely impeccable.”
- “The atmosphere and calming music make this game.”
- “The original soundtrack by experimental jazz musician Chris Schlarb will further heighten the surreal experience.”
- “The music is so so.”
- “For the price point of $10, I would not recommend this game; the music is dull as are the levels.”
- “Oh my god, the music.”
graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
50%
7%
The graphics of the game are described as a blend of beautiful, minimalistic art styles reminiscent of titles like "Limbo," featuring soothing visuals and a calming atmosphere. While many reviewers praise the appealing aesthetics and atmospheric design, some note issues with glitchy graphics and low resolution that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's relaxing ambiance, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “With a calming and well-written soundtrack, relaxing ambient background noise, and simple yet appealing visuals, you can't really go wrong with this one.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the concept is amazing, and the music will take you to another world.”
- “Nightsky is a simple casual 2D platformer that exhibits a beautiful minimalistic art style combined with one of the most calming ambient noises to have ever reached my ears.”
- “Overall, it's an ambient platformer, sometimes relaxing, and sometimes frustrating because of the glitchy physics and glitchy graphics.”
- “That said, one major downside to the graphics (and the game in general) is that it only runs at an extremely low resolution.”
- “This is a seriously unfortunate issue for a game like this that depends so much on its visuals to stand out.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and physics-based mechanics, making it accessible and enjoyable for casual gamers. While some levels can be completed through brute force, the game offers a variety of unique mechanics and well-designed puzzles that encourage experimentation and learning. Overall, it balances relaxing ambiance with engaging challenges, though opinions vary on its depth and replayability.
- “If you're a fan of casual gaming and physics-based gameplay, this is bound to be right up your alley.”
- “Nightsky is such a wonderful game with brilliant level design, top-notch physics, and never ceases to surprise you with original mechanics like some vehicles or gimmicks; it's also very peaceful and relaxing yet technical in the alternative stage.”
- “The level design is amazing, slowly building up on different mechanics and teaching you everything you need to know.”
- “Throwing in a few Newtonian formulae doesn't mean the mechanics run on 'realistic physics'.”
- “Many of the 'puzzles' can be brute-forced by just going through the level as quickly as you can and flying over obstacles, and it falls repeatedly into the trap of one-off mechanics, where it introduces something in one level and then it never appears again.”
- “The gameplay is very simple - you roll the ball from left to right.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
22%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, featuring beautiful visuals and soothing music that create a zen-like experience. Reviewers highlight the balance between relaxation and challenge, with engaging puzzles set in a creatively atmospheric world. Overall, the game is described as a delightful and peaceful platformer that stands out for its unique ambiance, making it appealing to both casual and core gamers.
- “The atmosphere and calming music make this game.”
- “Nightsky is an absolutely beautiful physics platformer with a zen-like atmosphere, providing both a very interesting journey to casual players as well as an absolute challenge to core gamers with its alternative mode.”
- “One of the most relaxing and atmospheric games I have played in a long time.”
- “Some consider it average, some that ignore the alien atmosphere, the variety of gameplay, the soft relaxing music, and the hidden secrets.”
- “A very simple, short game with a relaxing atmosphere and relatively easy puzzles.”
- “Its ambient and subtle atmosphere along with its lack of time-pressure makes it almost zen-like.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, primarily serving as a backdrop for basic puzzle mechanics. Players find the narrative unengaging, with no significant character development or plot events, making the overall experience feel short and unsatisfying. The absence of a compelling story detracts from the game's value, leaving it feeling incomplete.
- “Not like your all-time favorite rolling mobile games, even though it tells the story of an aloof ball trying to make its way from a beach to, well... somewhere.”
- “Once finished, there is an extra bonus level that can be unlocked by finding a series of hidden 'stars' throughout the main quest (don't worry, the game tells you which specific sub-levels the stars are hidden on, so it's fairly easy to find them all).”
- “I'm not seeing any story.”
- “Nothing much to say about the story, since it's just a basic puzzle game.”
- “Sadly the game is far too short and with no story, no random events, and no characterization, I would be very hard pressed to spend 10 dollars on this game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many users finding it exceptionally funny, often rating it as high as 9/10. Overall, the comedic elements resonate well with players, contributing significantly to their enjoyment.
- “Tl;dr: 9/10, I think this is hilarious!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch; I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue!”
- “Every character has a unique sense of humor that keeps the gameplay fresh and entertaining!”