A Lonely Descent into the Skies
In a genre teeming with survival games set in oceans, forests, and alien planets, Forever Skies carves out a unique identity by setting its story far above the Earth—among the rusted spires and crumbling remains of a planet long since smothered in toxic dust. Earth has fallen to ecological collapse, and humanity has retreated to space. Generations later, you return as a lone scientist with a mission: to understand what happened, to recover what was lost, and, perhaps, to find a cure. Alone or with friends.
But you’re not descending into a world full of people or guidance. You come back alone, and that isolation is felt. It’s in the empty corridors of ruined buildings, the howling winds beyond the hull of your airship, and the quiet that stretches out between destinations. Forever Skies doesn’t just simulate survival—it embodies solitude, wonder, and vulnerability in a setting that’s both breath-taking and unnerving.
A Ship That Becomes a Home
At the heart of Forever Skies is a concept that immediately sets it apart: a fully customizable flying airship that serves as your base, your lab, and your lifeline. You begin with the bare minimum—a cockpit, a balloon, and a dream. But with every journey into the ruins, every cache of resources found, your ship grows. You add research stations, gardening plots, power modules, decorations—each upgrade unfolding a new layer of depth and personal attachment.
This is not just about upgrading gear or stockpiling loot. The airship becomes a deeply personal space. Its modular design lets you choose form and function, with every extension serving as a reflection of your playstyle. Whether you prioritize self-sufficiency, exploration, or aesthetics, your ship will grow with you. It never feels static—it’s a living, floating representation of progress and perseverance. One of my favourite moments was finding an old, worn poster that I could bring back to my ship. Over several hours I found myself surrounded in posters that reminded me of the ruins I explored to get them, a small touch and yet it made me so happy to be a feature.
Exploration with Weight—Literal and Emotional
Where other games might focus on horizontal movement or undersea diving, Forever Skies demands vertical thinking. You’re constantly ascending towers, descending into ruins, and leaping across the void. The physicality of exploration is one of the game’s defining traits. There’s a real, visceral tension every time you leap from your airship to a distant ledge, knowing that a misstep could mean a plummet into the toxic haze below.
And the world isn’t empty. New threats have emerged in the sky, including airborne predators that can attack your ship if you’re not careful. The first time a warning takes you attention off the cockpit as a creature closes in on your home, it’s a chilling moment—a quick glimpse at the fact you may not be alone, but not in the comforting sense.
Despite its beauty, the game never lets you feel fully safe. The ruins are weathered, the ‘dust’ is thick and suffocating, and the atmosphere is deadlier the lower you go. For players used to the pressure of deep water, Forever Skies offers an familiar kind of anxiety.
A Story Told Through Silence and Scars
One of the most impressive evolutions since Early Access is how Forever Skies handles its narrative. Rather than relying on heavy exposition or constant dialogue, it trusts the player to pay attention. The story is etched into data logs, carved into derelict structures, and hinted at in the very design of the world.
This minimalist approach works in the game’s favour. You’re not being dragged through someone else’s story—you’re uncovering a shattered history and piecing it together yourself. And as you research the past and adapt to the present, the question lingers: is there a future to be found?
Amidst the desolation, there is a moment of warmth. At a certain point in your journey, you gain a small, charming companion. It not much, but its presence changes everything. The sense of loneliness dulls just enough to make space for reflection. In solo play especially, this companion serves as a gentle reminder that you’re still human—that even here, at the edge of the world, connection matters.
From Early Access to Full Potential
Players who were part of the Early Access period will find that Forever Skies has expanded significantly. The crafting systems are deeper, the biomes more varied, and the threats more dynamic. Most importantly, the narrative has matured from background lore into something with momentum and emotional weight.
The developers at Far From Home have clearly listened to feedback. Performance improvements, new systems like disease research and ship power management, and added narrative content all contribute to a version of the game that feels complete—not just technically, but emotionally.
Final Verdict
Forever Skies stands as a bold and elegant entry into the survival genre. It doesn’t try to compete with the fast-paced chaos of PvP survival or the crowded silly co-op experiences of similar titles. Instead, it offers something quieter, deeper, and more reflective: a solitary journey through beauty and ruin, driven by discovery and sustained by curiosity.
It’s a game that trusts you to take it slow, to get lost, and to find meaning in the silence. For those who love exploration, customizable bases, and stories told through the environment rather than exposition, this is a game that deserves your time.
Even if the skies make your knees weak.
