Sky: Children of the Light

 iOS
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 69
  3. Negative: 14 out of 69
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  1. robomartion
    Oct 24, 2019
    6
    SKY: FLYING FRIENDSHIP SIMULATOR
    While its ambiguous gameplay doesn’t much impress, and its idea that friendship can be bought questionable, Sky sets a new high for social interaction and visual and audio fidelity, in both a mobile game and gaming in general.
    Where in Journey social interaction was sparse and limited, Sky seems bustling and you are very much sharing the same space with    SKY: FLYING FRIENDSHIP SIMULATOR
    While its ambiguous gameplay doesn’t much impress, and its idea that friendship can be bought questionable, Sky sets a new high for social interaction and visual and audio fidelity, in both a mobile game and gaming in general.

    Where in Journey social interaction was sparse and limited, Sky seems bustling and you are very much sharing the same space with at times five or so other players. The feeling of shared experience this created was a very wholesome one. I can see other games adopting this, where the community and shared experience enhances the gameplay and gives a feeling of camaraderie in-game.

    The natural social interactions that occur as you play were very interesting and exciting, almost serendipitous, however as you progress you are expected to sort of ‘make friends’ by giving someone an offering. This singling someone out to make friends with, and making them offerings to you to grow your friendship felt quite false. The more candles you offer your friend (and they pay you in return) the more quickly you can grow your friendship ‘tree’ full of new interactions like high-fives that only work between you and that player. You have to start all over again with a different friend. All in all quite questionable. Maybe the free to play model is to blame for this (you do earn plenty of candles as you play however). Of course making friends is totally optional, but you might feel a bit left out if you don’t when everyone else is flying around together, holding one another’s hands. If that image makes you sick, don’t worry it makes me sick too.

    I haven’t mentioned the gameplay much, because If I’m completely honest there is none - it’s just flapping your wings about and proposing to one another and ****ing eachothers ****s.

    I’m a sure a new audience will enjoy it (i.e. children), and will be making some ‘friends’ as well as some phoney people who will find it deep and moving, but although the premise is interesting, I personally am not currently in the market for a game that summed up is about flying around aimlessly while making virtual candlestick buddies. Long time Journey fans will probably be disappointed with this one, but overall it’s a very unique experience that does admittedly break new ground, that someone else can do something ultimately more useful with.

    Perhaps if Sky gets a re-release on consoles at a set price, without the MTX, the game will drop the bad parts keep the good parts and come out on top.

    SCORE: 6
    + Beautiful graphics
    + Beautiful soundtrack
    + Interesting social experience
    - Questionable portrayal of what friendship is (possibly damaging)
    - Other than giving each-other candles and high-fives and going 'whoa' at the scenery while you flap through it there is effectively no gameplay
    PLAYED ON IOS 13 ON IPAD PRO WITH DUALSHOCK 4    … Expand
  2. SonofEda
    Jul 29, 2019
    5
    From any other game company this would have scored slightly higher from me but once you acknowledge that this is from the people that brought us Journey then its a huge letdown. Where that games beauty was in its simplicity, this just comes across as a confusing mess. I'm sure they started out designing this for consoles as the controls on a mobile are frustrating and then there is theFrom any other game company this would have scored slightly higher from me but once you acknowledge that this is from the people that brought us Journey then its a huge letdown. Where that games beauty was in its simplicity, this just comes across as a confusing mess. I'm sure they started out designing this for consoles as the controls on a mobile are frustrating and then there is the microtransactions ... really, thatgamingcompany did you really need to go down this route?
    On the plus side, it looks pretty, the music is nice and there is a nice idea in there somewhere. And of course its initially free to play so at least you can try it without parting with any money. Lets hope they have a MAJOR overhaul before they port it to consoles.    … Expand
  3. edgepixel
    Dec 30, 2021
    7
    Oh boy, how does one even review a game like Sky, mixing brilliance with disappointment?

    It starts out amazing. The visuals and the audio is top notch. With the eerie otherworldly voice of Aurora softly murmuring in the background as you start the game, you feel like you're engaging in the grandest adventure ever. And you will, don't get me wrong. Your first play through all the maps,    Oh boy, how does one even review a game like Sky, mixing brilliance with disappointment?

    It starts out amazing. The visuals and the audio is top notch. With the eerie otherworldly voice of Aurora softly murmuring in the background as you start the game, you feel like you're engaging in the grandest adventure ever. And you will, don't get me wrong. Your first play through all the maps, soaring through the clouds, collecting stars, slowly improving your flight powers, dodging danger in dark lands, finding secrets and cool places, making your first friends, will become dearly cherished memories. And the final map--my oh my--I have never lived something so intense and heart-wrenching. And what follows after is the cherry on top. To say it's pure catharsis is an understatement.

    If it would end there, it would be a perfect game. But no, this is sort of an MMO. You get to start over, playing the maps again. Making new friends, deepening older friendships, collecting stuff, buying cosmetics, envying people with cooler cosmetics than yours, engaging with the new content that the developers keep putting out. And this stage will keep you going for a while.

    But there's a moment where you start to feel the grind. If you want it all, you need to grind the maps every day for collectables. If you truly want it all, you will have to cough up some real-world cash, and the packs or seasons or whatever are quite expensive for what they offer. So the fun will start to feel like a day job; worse even, as the day job still pays real money for your meaningless grind.

    So you'll eventually move on, but Sky will still beckon you once in a while, with the bright memories it has forever etched into your heart.

    PS: Oh yeah, I forgot the enduring bugs that frustrate you and mar the experience. One point subtracted. It feels strange to rate 7 a game that made such a significant impact on me, but when you put it all together, it is what it is.    … Expand
  4. SourRamen
    May 20, 2023
    7
    Though I love the visuals and what the game is trying to invoke, it falls a little short. there are many things to do while travelling the world, but why am I doing it? There doesn't seem to be much of a reason for what I'm doing. There are many collectibles and upgrades and customisations and areas to unlock... But there's no real reason why I must. I never really feel like I'm improving,Though I love the visuals and what the game is trying to invoke, it falls a little short. there are many things to do while travelling the world, but why am I doing it? There doesn't seem to be much of a reason for what I'm doing. There are many collectibles and upgrades and customisations and areas to unlock... But there's no real reason why I must. I never really feel like I'm improving, just gaining, more and more undefined stuff.
    The visuals alone make it a fine game to experience, but It just feels like an aimless online multiplayer beyond that. Like Journey but without the compelling story or reason of being.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Best iOS Game of 2019
3
#3 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2019
1
#1 Most Shared iOS Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Pocket Tactics
    Sep 1, 2020
    100
    With a touch of endless runner, a dash of MMO, and just a sprinkling of puzzles, Sky: Children of the Light soars to lofty heights.
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  2. SpazioGames
    Apr 15, 2020
    92
    Sky: Children of the Light is the latest effort from Thatgamecompany, who succeeded in creating a game that feels both like a spiritual successor to Journey and like something completely new.
    Read full review
  3. Gameblog.fr
    Oct 8, 2019
    80
    Sky : Children of the Light's composition spreads elegantly both in style, sublime and poetic, as well as in content, through traditional principles, yet harmoniously breathed into it while deeply meaningful to carry such an elevated purpose. Some touchy turbulence overshadow this ideal picture, when ThatGameCompany ventures across down to earth themes, or tends to lose its lantern among the mist created by this ever-evolving universe. Its humble existential, altruistic message stays nonetheless limpid, the economic model expressing rare generosity, like an open hand.
    Read full review
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