Skye

Skye (2020) is an open-world survival game set in Viking times. You explore a vast 1:4 scale map of the Isle of Skye as you barter with locals, survive the brutal weather, grow crops and hunt animals. The varied and detailed ever-changing world and the expanse of the wilderness allow for a challenge that has a slow, more meditative pace that invites you to carve out your place on the island.

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You wash up on the Isle of Skye and must adapt and learn to survive in the harsh terrain. You plant and harvest crops, hunt deer and use your resources both to set up trade with the Celtic locals and to increase your standing by crafting items and setting up a place to live.

As you explore more, you can ride horses and fast-travel to set points on the vast, 256 square kilometre game map. It's beautiful, but most impressive for its faithful 1:4 recreation of the real island, complete with hills, lochs and rivers.

The changing weather and environment are often your greatest adversary, as chilling winds and forest fires drive you to craft new items to help you survive. However, it can also be a source of great beauty, as the northern lights illuminate the night sky or as the morning sunrise glints off the water's surface.

The result is a game that challenges you to be mindful and creative in how you use your resources and pushes you to the brutal extremes of survival, but also offers a unique chance for a slow, meditative reflection on the beauty of the natural world and the simplicity of ancient life.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Skye 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 5 weeks ago.