Forever Skies is a first-person post-apocalyptic survival game. Return to Earth, ravaged by an ecological disaster. Fly, upgrade and customize your mobile high-tech airship base. Scavenge resources to survive, face dangers on the surface and hunt for viral pathogens to cure a mysterious illness.
Players start by repairing a basic airship frame, then gradually expand and enhance it over the course of the game. The airship serves as the player's mobile base, workshop, and means of transportation. Reviewers praise the depth and creativity allowed in this process, as players can add new rooms, equipment, and decorative elements to make their airship truly unique. Expanding and upgrading the airship is highly satisfying, as players watch their mobile base grow more capable and personalized.
Exploring the post-apocalyptic landscape is crucial for gathering resources to fuel the airship's development. Ruined structures dot the world, each containing valuable salvage and blueprints for new airship modules. Reviewers highlight the joy of uncovering these secrets and using the gathered resources to further enhance the airship. The world is also filled with constantly drifting debris and materials, which players can harvest on the fly.
Underlying the exploration and building is a survival element. Players must manage their airship's fuel, their own hunger and thirst, and the dangers posed by the toxic "Dust" that covers the Earth's surface. Reviewers note that these survival mechanics, while present, are well-balanced and don't become an overly punishing grind. Descending into the hostile Dust adds an extra layer of challenge, as players must carefully manage their oxygen supply and contend with dangerous flora and fauna.
As players progress, they gradually unlock new airship modules, tools, and research options. Reviewers highlight the satisfying sense of progression, as each new unlock opens up new possibilities for customization and problem-solving. The wide array of unlockable items and blueprints encourages exploration and multiple playthroughs.
Reviewers consistently praise the game's atmospheric presentation and the way it draws players into its post-apocalyptic narrative. The swirling "Dust" below the player's airship, the twisted ruins, and the ominous thunderstorms all contribute to a compelling, immersive world. The gradual uncovering of the game's story through data logs and exploration is similarly engaging.