Skyward Collapse

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Skyward Collapse is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Arcen Games and was released on May 23, 2013. It received neutral reviews from players.

In Skyward Collapse, you are a god tasked with balancing the war between two factions on a floating continent, creating and populating it with beings and artifacts from Greek and Norse mythology, while ensuring both sides remain alive and fighting until the Master calls you home. This unique turn-based 4x strategic god-game offers immense power and challenges in managing your creations.

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50%

Audience ScoreBased on 255 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Skyward Collapse offers a unique gameplay experience where players must maintain balance between two warring factions, creating a fresh take on the strategy genre.
The game features a well-executed tutorial that helps players understand its complex mechanics, making it accessible despite its depth.
The art style and soundtrack contribute to an engaging atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience of managing the two civilizations.

The gameplay can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid to late game, leading to moments of inactivity where players feel more reactive than proactive.
The user interface is cluttered and can be overwhelming, making it difficult for players to keep track of buildings and units, which detracts from the strategic experience.
Some players find the lack of direct control over units frustrating, as it can lead to a feeling of helplessness when trying to manage the chaos of the two factions.

gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
65%
11%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique mechanics and strategic depth, appealing to players who enjoy systems management and thoughtful decision-making. However, many reviews highlight issues such as slow pacing, repetitiveness, and a lack of polish, which can lead to a monotonous experience. While some players appreciate the innovative concepts, others find the execution lacking, suggesting that the game may not hold long-term engagement despite its intriguing premise.
- “The concept may sound abstract, but Arcen games grounds it in tangible mechanics that keep every decision meaningful.”
- “It is not flashy or fast-paced, but thoughtful and self-aware, rewarding players who enjoy systems management and cause-and-effect gameplay.”
- “A brilliant indie game with a fresh concept, a great soundtrack, a bright & colorful art style, and, more importantly, deep and rewarding gameplay.”
- “It has a cool concept but suffers from tedious gameplay, poor execution, and repetition.”
- “Gameplay itself acts like Civ 5 but more boring.”
- “The gameplay is monotonous, the controls are clunky, and there didn't seem to be any reason to really keep playing after the first hour.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
52%
15%
The graphics of Skyward Collapse are characterized by a modest, painterly aesthetic that prioritizes clarity over realism, resembling a board game. While some players appreciate the simple and pleasant visuals, others criticize them as subpar, with basic animations and a cluttered interface that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, appealing to some for their simplicity but disappointing others who expect more polish and detail.
- “Skyward Collapse’s art style and presentation reflect the same understated intelligence that characterizes its design.”
- “The visuals are modest, with a painterly, board game-like aesthetic that emphasizes clarity over realism.”
- “The graphics are nicely detailed, especially the various units and mythological creatures.”
- “Graphics are terrible and the GUI is cluttered, but not too hard to understand.”
- “The graphics are pretty simple, and I understand that top-notch graphics aren't required for a game to be any good, but the lack of things like character animation makes this title look worse than most free-to-play cell phone games.”
- “The most off-putting part for me was the bland graphics.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
34%
12%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its relaxing and enjoyable qualities, particularly the mellow piano and guitar arrangements that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players feel the soundtrack is fantastic and elevates the game, others criticize it for not fitting the game's mood or for being repetitive. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing positively to the atmosphere despite some inconsistencies in its integration with the game.
- “The soundtrack is oddly jazzy and relaxing, which works better with the theme than I expected, and surely made it easier to while away hours building cities to be razed.”
- “The soundtrack has a mellow piano and guitar setup, keeping you relaxed even in the most intense/frustrating situations you'll often find yourself in.”
- “Amazing soundtrack and great gameplay experience.”
- “The music doesn't fit with the mood of the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the soundtrack is just about the only thing which barely makes this game a tiny bit more fun than playing chess against yourself.”
- “The music feels a bit off - like they just grabbed a few random tracks they liked and threw them in there.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with a poorly executed level-up system that feels unnecessary and offers minimal rewards. While the concept is intriguing, players find the gameplay increasingly monotonous as they progress, detracting from the overall experience.
- “It has a cool concept but suffers from tedious gameplay, poor execution, and repetition.”
- “Add in a very grindy and unneeded level-up system that takes too long to level up while not providing any bonus worth the effort.”
- “Resource management is tedious; the idea is really cool, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game's story is described as somewhat generic, primarily serving as a backdrop for a lengthy escort mission where players earn points through combat and destruction. While the narrative offers some variety with each playthrough, it ultimately feels secondary to the gameplay mechanics, which some reviewers believe should have been prioritized over the story's development.
- “Each game feels new and each game has a new story to be told.”
- “However, the story is a little generic, but better than nothing.”
- “In the end, it becomes a score-hunt or a story-driven experience depending on what kind of player you are.”
- “The standard game length is over a hundred turns, where each one could take five minutes or more to plot out necessary developments.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as wild and hilarious, often enhanced by multiplayer interactions and quirky developer messages. Players find the chaotic and absurd nature of the gameplay, likened to a devilish twist on chess, to be both fun and addicting, making it a standout feature despite any graphical shortcomings.
- “It was wild and hilarious, but obviously I lost the game as they razed all of existence to the ground.”
- “Maybe some small, stupidly funny text from the developers as you try to leave the game and such.”
- “It's very fun, addicting, and humorously chaotic.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively by some users who appreciate the challenge it offers, allowing players to push their limits and experience chaos. However, others feel that the content is lacking, which diminishes the overall replay value.
- “Nice concept, good gameplay, fine music, and high replayability.”
- “Not much content or replayability in general.”
- “There is a lot of replayability to challenge yourself even more (last longer, or create more chaos/upheaval).”
- “-- immense replayability”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a contemplative quality, enhanced by sparse yet effective music and sound effects that create a sense of life in the world without being intrusive.
- “The music and sound effects, while sparse, lend a contemplative atmosphere, making the world feel alive without overwhelming the player.”
- “The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or engagement.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's stability is mixed; while it is generally not buggy, users report freezing issues when tabbing out or using multiple monitors. Additionally, there are some graphical glitches, though the overall visual style is considered pleasant.
- “The game runs smoothly without any bugs, which is a significant improvement.”
- “I appreciate the stability; it allows me to enjoy the gameplay without interruptions.”
- “The lack of glitches makes for a much more enjoyable experience overall.”
- “Tabbing off the screen or using multiple monitors causes the game to freeze when the AI is active.”
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and a nice graphical style, but there are some ugly glitches that detract from the experience.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game's lack of direct control, feeling both passive and frustrated during challenging moments, yet they still find the experience enjoyable overall.