Skyward Journey

About

Skyward Journey is a single player action game. It was developed by Dan Vogt and was released on October 10, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Skyward Journey" is a tranquil, art-game with one-touch controls, where players gather lost birds and guide them home by drawing wind currents. The game features interactive audio by Jeff van Dyck and offers a thought-provoking, zen-like experience with an average playtime of 15-30 minutes. Created by games industry veteran Dan Vogt, known for "DATA WING."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 194 reviews

music6 positive mentions

The game offers a calming and meditative experience, with beautiful visuals and soothing music.
It encourages reflection on life and regrets, providing a unique and thought-provoking gameplay experience.
The game is free and ad-free, making it accessible and enjoyable without interruptions.

The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks a strong narrative or goals, which may lead to boredom for some players.
Some players find the themes of regret and the quotes presented to be triggering or too dark for a relaxing experience.
The game may not appeal to those looking for traditional gameplay mechanics or a more structured story.

music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and calming qualities, often described as delightful and soothing, with a poetic touch that enhances the emotional depth of the experience. Players appreciate the impressive soundtracks that complement the visuals, creating a relaxing atmosphere that encourages immersion. Many recommend using headphones to fully appreciate the intricate musical elements, which contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The soundtracks in Vogt's games always impress.”
- “It's nice to take a moment with it, read provocative quotes and enjoy the beautiful music.”
- “Or more people to cheer up/make the musical sounds.”
- “It's seemingly poetic how such a dark theme as regret is given a calming and mind-opening effect when added to this game's inspirational soundtrack.”
- “Like an old friend saying 'everything is going to be okay.' It is very soothing and the music has a calming, Pink Floyd-ish kind of vibe.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the game as a deeply emotional experience, enhanced by its music and serene atmosphere, which evokes strong feelings and even tears. Many highlight its beauty and meditative qualities, making it a unique and touching journey that resonates on a personal level. Overall, the emotional impact is a standout feature, with several users rating it a perfect 10/10 for its ability to connect with them.
- “A calm, meditative, emotional experience.”
- “Such a beautiful and emotionally enchanted game.”
- “Beautiful, serene and heartwrenching.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The gameplay is described as simplistic and repetitive, lacking a grand narrative or competitive edge, which may not appeal to those seeking excitement or depth. However, some players appreciate its artistic intent and relaxing qualities, finding beauty in its mechanics and the emotional resonance of the experience, despite acknowledging its potential to induce stress. Overall, it offers a unique, if not universally enjoyable, gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay is great, as long as you don't expect some grand story arc.”
- “This isn't meant to be fun in that sense; it isn't meant to have a complex and satisfying story. It's just art, and once you understand what the meaning behind the game is, and the purpose of its gameplay and visuals, it's simply beautiful.”
- “The relaxing sounds and gameplay take so much stress off my mind, and the regrets you see at the end of each game are so beautiful.”
- “The gameplay was flat and monotonous and didn't really connect at all with the quotes, other than I suppose the vague illusion of doves and heaven.”
- “I gave five stars for the gameplay, but I totally agree with the comments: this game is not a relaxing game and can cause extreme stress if someone reads the release bird quotes.”
- “It's simple in its mechanics, because that's not what the game is about.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story is a point of contention among players, with some feeling it lacks depth and fails to support its themes, while others appreciate its artistic intent over traditional narrative structure. While some reviews highlight a beautiful soundtrack accompanying a solid story, the overall sentiment suggests that the absence of a compelling narrative detracts from the experience for many players.
- “I still crave more data wing even when the story ended.”
- “Although not as action-packed as the last one, Skyward manages to bind a great soundtrack to a great story.”
- “But it has an underlying story.”
- “This game is not as good as the original Data Wing because it lacks a strong story to give sturdy support to its themes.”
- “The lack of story is what really kills it.”
- “The gameplay is great, as long as you don't expect some grand story arc.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game is completely free to play, featuring no ads or in-app purchases, which enhances the overall experience and keeps gameplay clean and enjoyable. Players appreciate the absence of monetization distractions, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the game's emotional and musical elements.
- “It's completely free with no ads.”
- “No ads or in-app purchases, just clean, fun gameplay.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are described as beautiful and artistic, serving a purpose beyond traditional gameplay and storytelling. Users are impressed by the fact that both the visuals and music were created by a single individual, highlighting the game's unique artistic vision.
- “This isn't meant to be fun in that sense; it isn't meant to have a complex and satisfying story. It's just art, and once you understand the meaning behind the game and the purpose of its gameplay and visuals, it's simply beautiful.”
- “I can't believe that the music and graphics were made by one person.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the game's optimization, highlighting its beauty and artistic value in a landscape often dominated by performance metrics and attention-grabbing elements.
- “Thank you, Dan, for creating something beautiful in a world that is all about performance and attention.”