SkyIsland

About

"SkyIsland" is made by a group of students in a college, quarter-view action-adventure game. Enjoy the wonderful world and beautiful environments as you help the protagonist, Pino, fix his broken plane and defeat monsters to return home safely.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 271 reviews

graphics57 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and charming art style, especially for a student project.
Fun and simple gameplay with a variety of weapons and enjoyable combat mechanics.
Completely free to play, making it a worthwhile experience for a short game.

Very short gameplay, typically around 30-50 minutes, which may leave players wanting more.
Performance issues, including lag and glitches, detract from the overall experience.
Lack of save functionality and controller support can be frustrating for players.

graphics
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
17%
4%
The graphics in this game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic style, often described as stunning and comparable to those of paid titles despite being a free game. Many players appreciate the vibrant visuals and charming character designs, although some have noted performance issues and a lack of optimization that can lead to lag. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its appeal, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “The graphics in this game are really quite good, which at least makes the game look more appealing.”
- “It has stunning graphics and animation, nice background music, good story, and cute characters.”
- “What a fun and cute little game :D the graphics are so well done and the atmosphere is like a fairy tale.”
- “Visuals are not better.”
- “Awful art style, many things look like wet plastic, post effects are extremely overdone, especially depth blur.”
- “Technically speaking, there are a lot of obvious issues with the lack of any proper graphics settings, which is my main pet peeve.”
gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily focusing on top-down shooting and brawling across various environments. While many players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere, beautiful graphics, and enjoyable combat, they note that the game is quite short, typically lasting around an hour. Overall, the gameplay experience is solid and fun, with some players expressing a desire for more content and improved performance.
- “The gameplay is pretty fun and easy to catch, and on top of all, you have a really lovely soundtrack.”
- “Yes, it's super short, but the overall gameplay experience is solid and enjoyable, and the quality here looks like a commercial project.”
- “The core mechanics with the three weapons are interesting and engaging; I'd say that is the best part of the game.”
- “Easy gameplay and is very short that you can finish it in an hour.”
- “It's close enough to a pro-list title with the graphics and gameplay to fool you into wanting to give cash to a game the developer has moved on from and left in the dust.”
- “I was expecting the camera mechanic to be used to solve puzzles, etc, so I was disappointed.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The game's story is generally described as simple and basic, with some players finding it hard to follow or lacking depth. While the narrative may not be particularly strong, many appreciate its charm and coherence, especially in the context of the game's beautiful visuals and cute characters. Overall, it is seen as a light and enjoyable experience, suitable for those looking for a short, engaging story.
- “The story is interesting and the environment is beautiful.”
- “What a cute 40 min game, it has a good story and a fun battle system where you can spam swap 3 weapons to give additional effects.”
- “All of this game is so cute, the story is quite interesting too; I hope you guys make a sequel to this game, I will definitely buy it!”
- “Translation was a bit off and the story was a little hard to follow for me personally.”
- “The story is pretty basic but fair considering where it's coming from.”
- “Very basic and uninspiring story, I just skipped all the poorly translated dialogues.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
19%
12%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its pleasant and relaxing qualities that enhance the overall experience. However, some players noted a lack of variety and criticized certain tracks for being repetitive or reminiscent of other games, particularly mentioning similarities to music from "Breath of the Wild." Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, there are calls for more diverse musical elements to elevate the experience further.
- “Skyisland has a fun art style, relaxing music, and simple gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is pretty fun and easy to catch, and on top of all, you have a really lovely soundtrack.”
- “Overall the combat is fun with three weapons to use, I really enjoyed the aesthetic of the game and the music is very chill.”
- “You can only hear boring music, and low-quality footsteps/combat/dash/jump sounds.”
- “Music is short loops and can get annoying fast.”
- “Also, and this is a major issue: the boss fight music is literally ripped from Breath of the Wild.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is criticized for being rough and in need of significant improvements, with many players experiencing performance issues such as low frame rates and overheating. While some acknowledge the impressive effort given the developers' student status, the consensus is that better optimization and options for performance settings are essential for a more enjoyable experience.
- “The optimization needs some improvements, but keep in mind that the game is made by students and it's also much better than lots of other video games.”
- “Technically, it could be more optimized, but overall, it's very impressive for students to make this for free.”
- “Great game, just needs some improvements like a setting to choose between performance or compatibility mode (because my PC heats up even when the graphics is set to low).”
- “Also performance is terrible.”
- “The performance of Skyisland is a joke.”
- “I can't recommend the game at its current state; poorly optimized, I can barely get 30 fps on the Steam Deck.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty and peacefulness, evoking a fairy tale-like quality that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the colorful graphics, engaging music, and the immersive environment, which contribute to a charming and enjoyable journey, despite the game's short length.
- “This is a nice game; it had a very peaceful atmosphere with interesting combat for how simple the mechanics are.”
- “It's very beautiful and the atmosphere when playing it cannot be underestimated.”
- “What a fun and cute little game! The graphics are so well done and the atmosphere is like a fairy tale.”
- “I was sorry that the game is so short because I could spend many hours in this atmosphere.”
- “Skyisland is an enjoyable, short, free game to play, and the atmosphere and feel of the game remind me of a mana RPG.”
- “What a fun and cute little game! The graphics are so well done, and the atmosphere is like a fairy tale.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Overall, users report that the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor glitches and bugs present. While some issues, such as scrolling and animation bugs, have been noted, they are not considered significant enough to detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs smoothly without any glitches.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs during my playthrough.”
- “The performance is consistently stable, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
- “Some glitches.”
- “Very minor things feel a bit buggy, but nothing unforgivable.”
- “Scrolling and panning the map while in tab is buggy.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny short gameplay and engaging development commentary, complemented by simple combat mechanics and appealing art design. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted and amusing elements woven throughout the experience.
- “The gameplay is filled with funny moments that keep you laughing.”
- “The simple combat is complemented by good art design and hilarious development commentary.”
- “The humor in this game adds a delightful twist to the overall experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development is highlighted by charming and endearing designs, particularly noting the appeal of the grandpa character.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “The backstories and personal growth of the characters add so much depth to the overall narrative.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it allows for the creation of extensive and ambitious projects, positioning it as a standout in the farming simulator genre.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game enhances immersion, creating a sense of being transported to a fantastical wonderland.
- “It really helped with immersion and made me feel like I'm on a trip to a wonderland.”