Lost Skies — Where the sky is not the limit

Once upon a time, there was a sandbox MMO called Worlds Adrift. That fairytale didn’t quite have a happy ending—the project was eventually shut down due to sustainability issues, mostly stemming from a dwindling player base. The game is no longer available through official channels. Still, Bossa Games wasn’t ready to give up. Enter Lost Skies, a spiritual successor now in Early Access.

A lost world in the clouds, shrouded in mystery

Just like its predecessor, Lost Skies starts with creating your character and generating your world. Since this is an online experience—either solo or in co-op—you’ll choose between a Public, Invite-Only, or Friends-Only world. Your character awakens after centuries in cryostasis, inside a crashed spacecraft known as an Ark, which now serves as your base of operations. The world you generate is part of the airborne realm known as the Foundation, a once-thriving civilization now in ruins. What exactly happened is left vague, and piecing that together is key to your journey. One thing’s clear: the world is littered with corpses clutching data pads that hint at a lost society, and everything seems to revolve around Atlas, a mysterious mineral that’s overrun the environment.

The Ark is where you’ll meet ASA, your AI companion and survival assistant, who sets you on your primary task. If you ever want to leave this place, you’ll need to head out and collect Data Disks. These allow you to unlock new technologies at the Ark’s Crafting Station, enabling the construction of essential tools and structures. Of course, you’ll first need to gather the right materials and craft the necessary gear before you can really get started. Eventually, you’ll even build your own airship—but that’s only the beginning.

Crafting that’s friendlier than it sounds

For starters, you’ll need to make a (para)glider. Why? Because there’s a massive gap between the Ark and the first floating island you need to reach—and attempting to jump it without one is a guaranteed nosedive. The tutorial wastes no time making it clear: Lost Skies is, at its core, a crafting and builder game. You’ll scan tons of objects with your PRISM scanner (evoking strong No Man’s Sky vibes), collect schematics, and yes—expect a good amount of grinding. In time, everything in this game serves a purpose. While the crafting terminology can be overwhelming, it never gets needlessly complicated. Thankfully, there’s also a handy Compendium—an encyclopedia covering lore, flora, fauna, and all the objects in the game—so you can review everything at your own pace.

In time, everything in this game serves a purpose.

There are no quest markers showing you exactly where to go or what to do. That’s part of the appeal. Each resource, however, clearly displays what you’ll need to gather and where you might find it. For instance, crafting the glider is just a matter of turning plant fibers into cloth, then combining it with a few branches. Simple enough. But soon, the tasks escalate: you’ll be building a Furnace to smelt Atlas Dust into crystals, setting up a Shipyard, and piecing together your very own vessel—complete with sails and a steering wheel.

From ultimate freedom to fierce encounters

Character abilities like running, sneaking, climbing, and using the grapple hook level up automatically the more you use them. Once you start finding new clothing, you can even customize your look to fit your style. By that point, the game starts to hook you. You’ll find yourself gliding, climbing, and flying your ship with the wind at your back, sails open, heading into new regions under the spell of a breathtaking soundtrack—some tracks even borrowed from Worlds Adrift. And then it hits you: no wonder the original had such a dedicated cult following. The freedom in Lost Skies is incredible—here, the sky is quite literally, not the limit. The open world is brimming with secrets, floating islands, and stunning vistas framed by a dynamic day-night cycle.

Here, the sky is quite literally, not the limit.

But exploration is only half the equation. You’ll also need to defend yourself. Gathering metal scraps to craft ammo for your Crude Pistol becomes essential early on. At first, you’ll face repeating enemy types like auto-firing turrets and hostile drones. But the further you get—and the more of the Foundation’s secrets you uncover—the more varied the threats become, including massive alien creatures. As you progress, new weapons become available for both you and your ship. The combat is basic but effective. When injured, you’ll need to retreat and use healing items, though cooldowns limit how often you can use them, keeping the challenge real.

Early Access for a reason

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Some mechanics still feel unintuitive. Equipping weapons via the toolbar, for example, can be clunky. The UI is crowded and occasionally awkward. Crafted items are randomly dropped into your inventory, forcing you to scroll to find them. A filter or sorting option would be a much-needed improvement.

Technical issues also remain. If you fall to your death, it can take up to a full minute for the revive screen to appear—and sometimes, the game freezes during that screen, forcing you to wait for the timer to expire. You’ll encounter stutters, graphical glitches, and occasional camera bugs. Text on data pads can be hard to read, your character’s legs might vanish from view, and you’ll sometimes get stuck in rocks or terrain. But again, this is Early Access.

Preliminary Thoughts

Lost Skies has the potential to succeed where Worlds Adrift couldn’t. With accessible crafting, an intriguing world full of mysteries, and a solid gameplay foundation, it’s already off to a good start. Sure, there are bugs, the UI could use refinement, and performance still needs work—but once you’re gliding through the air or piloting your ship across the clouds, it all clicks. The freedom comes quickly, and the loop of scavenging resources to build something meaningful never gets old. All signs point skyward—this could become something truly special.

Additional Information

Release Date: April 18, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency via BeyondGaming.
Developer: Bossa Games
Publisher: Humble Games
Official Website: https://www.lostskiesgame.com
Relevant links: Lost Skies on STEAM