Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition

Sunless Skies for PC is a direct continuation of the well-received Sunless Sea. Both games have been developed by an independent studio called Failbetter Games. For the first time in the series, players get at their disposal a hybrid of a strategy game and an RPG.

Plot

This time around, the action of the game is set not in the depths of an underground ocean but in the mysterious cosmic space known as “The High Wilderness”, which Queen Victoria wanted to use as a foundation for the New British Empire among the dying stars. The main protagonist of this story is an outcast, who objects the rule of the iron fist imposed by the Queen. When working on the game, the developers drew their inspirations from the works of H.G. Wells, Leigh Brackett, and C.S. Lewis, as well as the art nouveau style and the movie titled Event Horizon.

Mechanics

The gameplay does not deviate from the convention known from the previous installment of the series. Featuring rich narrative layer, the game focuses on exploring new locations, gathering supplies, fighting encountered enemies, and maintaining more or less friendly relationships with diverse groupings inhabiting the vast space. Similarly to the previous installment, in Sunless Skies a player has to mind his decisions, as even a small mistake might lead to the mission’s end and the death of the main protagonist. For example, incapable management of food supplies on the ship might turn the crew members into cannibals.

All the visited locations are procedurally generated – this makes each playthrough different and filled with diverse challenges. Combat takes place in real-time, and the key to success lies not only in skillful maneuvering but also in proper utilization of the onboard equipment and crew members’ special abilities. For example, turning the lights off helps in sneaking past the enemies, however, it also forces a player to move blindly and increases the risk of missing valuable objects.

Technical aspects

Similarly to its predecessor, Sunless Skies for {PLAR} has been funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign – this allowed the developers to implement many changes and improvements into the formula of the game. Nonetheless, the game delivers 2D visuals, and players observe the action from the top-down perspective.

Last updated on 21 October 2019