When I first saw the trailer for Vertigo Games’ Skyworld, it reminded me of Brass Tactics, a turn-based strategy game from Hidden Path Entertainment. One thing I really liked about Brass Tactics was the tiny little people. The artwork in that game is impressive and it’s well-designed so I was curious to see how Skyworld could possibly improve upon the concept of the strategy action game.

Initially, when I started Skyworld, you’ll notice in the gameplay video that I wasn’t able to see the table. I have to play VR games in a chair due to some health complications so I’m always looking for good games that accommodate seated play. Fortunately I discovered pretty quickly that you could grab the table with both hands and move it up, down, side to side, etc. You also grab the edge of the table to spin it around so you can see the other side. I found this movement quite smooth and definitely appreciate developers who create games that allow for seated play.

I will mention that the official trailer for Skyworld doesn’t do it justice. I always hesitate to make negative comments, but the trailer isn’t really all that inspiring and that’s sad because it’s a terrific game!

Skyworld can be played solo or against other live players. I’ve only played the single player campaign and although I usually prefer multi-player games, I’ve actually enjoyed the solitude in the campaign mode. It was just me, the workers, my general, and all the miniature military minions trying to take over the world. It was incredibly satisfying to claim more land and then decide which buildings to place there – an iron factory or a mill, for example. I might not fair as well in a multiplayer match against a real person because I spend too much time enjoying the surroundings and the process rather than focusing on trying to win. I find it fun just to build the little world and direct the tiny people.

I downloaded the game during the holiday special and I really appreciated the ornaments, snow, stockings, etc. Skyworld was originally released in October 2017 so it’s nice to know that the developers still continue to invest in the game.

The gameplay in Skyworld does start off a bit slow, which I also greatly appreciated. Each VR game has different movement, new rules, various objectives, etc. so I like those that either have a thorough tutorial or ones begin with a built-in tutorial.

Immediately after installing Skyworld, I jumped into a campaign. The creators did an excellent job of introducing the goals, objectives, and methods of the game as you progress. For the most part, it was easy to understand. The narrator is basically an unbiased third party so he definitely teaches you how to play the game, but you also have figure out how to stay alive and improve upon your world through a bit of trial and error.

Once, for example, I ran out of workers and food. I realized I hadn’t built any mills and my population of people were also very unhappy (there’s a happiness scale to reveal how they feel). I was able to build a mill, create more food, decrease taxes, and make my people happy again! I think the campaign mode is a perfect balance of training and self-discovery.

Real life intervened and I had to stop playing abruptly at the end of the first session featured in the YouTube video, but in subsequent sessions, I’ve continued to pick up new techniques, build up my resources, and upgrade my roster.

I definitely foresee that it’s going to be a game I return to regularly. It’s a fun game, it has adorable graphics, it’s easy to learn, and it’s simply enjoyable to conquer worlds and reign supreme.

Skyworld can be played seated, standing, or room scale. You can play single player or multi-player. It’s also available on several platforms. The game is normally $24.99, but right now it’s on sale for 30% off, making it $17.49. (I believe this ends on January 3rd.) I definitely would recommend Skyworld as an addition to your virtual library.

Developer: Vertigo Games

Headsets:

Oculus Rift

HTC Vive

Windows Mixed Reality

Available for purchase via: