Sunless Skies

This game can go to some very dark places and deals with heavy themes such as drug abuse, racism, forced labor, violence, terror, and even more. There are very few depictions of violence and the train based combat isn't very detailed and therefore not very graphic, but the aforementioned themes are explored at length in text. Now, those themes may seem like a lot, and it very well may be for younger audiences, but it handles each of these topics with poise and tact. The game makes it clear when it depicts cruelty towards individuals that it is unjust and gives the player means with which to fight it. However, not everything is black and white and the game will force players to make difficult choices, is it better to violently oust corrupt leaders or work with them to create a fairer world? Where is the line between religion and cult drawn? Are manmade laws valid or are they all just social constructs? How much freedom is too much freedom? If someone's life is bitter torment, are they allowed to request it to end? You can see that this game asks extremely dark questions that play into its themes of lovecraftian horror. Nonetheless it approaches these questions in accessible ways that allow teenagers to tackle them, as uncomfortable as they may be. Another area this game shines is its incredible writing. The developers make no secret of their love of writers such as Samuel Beckett and Joseph Conrad. Their writing is flowerily and imaginative, it is hard to get through ten minutes without learning a wonderful new word. It is delightful to read and can spark a love of literature. Perhaps my favorite part of this game however is its positive portrayal of gender and sexuality. The player can choose their gender allowing them to role-play as a male, female, agender, eldritch horror, or any number of identity. When exploring the world you will come across individuals of many different genders and sexual orientation and it is never played for laughs or ridiculed, some characters though take extreme pride in their gender which is absolutely inspiring to see. It is never ham-fisted in its portrayal of gender either, but allows for a diverse cast of characters to appear naturally. You will come across a dying male pilot who laments that he will never again see his husband but rather than think "I'm impressed the developers put a gay character in!" you think to yourself "I am touched by the beautiful words of love that this man is saying." It is a sort of cunning equality that somehow permeates the game at every turn but never becomes gratuitous pandering. Indeed the developer, Failbetter Games, has been at the forefront of gender acceptance in videogames and constantly engages with its player base on how to positively portray everyone. This game will force the player to engage with it on an emotional, intellectual, philosophical, and theological level throughout and can teach great lessons about what it means to be human through its unique storytelling and environment.

Violence: Mild ship vs. other ship/bug/monster combat. When killed bugs emit a tiny blood splatter effect that quickly disappears. Most violence takes place within text descriptions, which can occasionally be graphic or disturbing-however nothing is ever shown. Gameplay and stories contain elements of Cosmic Horror, but not nearly as much as the previous game, Sunless Skies. | Sex: No visible sex or nudity. Occasional light allusions to sexual activity within the text. | Language: All language is censored within the game. | Drugs: Occasional references within the text to alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as smuggling of fictitious drugs (such as hallucinogenic honey). A handful of character portraits depict still images of lit cigarettes.