Aloft Review: Sailing Across Sleepy Skies

There is so much peace that comes with playing Aloft. It truly is a cosy survival game; meant for those of us who don’t want to fight against the world, but rather build our own from the ground up. Even if I leave it open to work on something else, just hearing the music soothes my soul. I can’t imagine a day when I don’t recommend Aloft, so here’s an Aloft review of the game in Early Access.

Story – An Ethereal Tale of Survival and Exploration (no spoilers)

The narrative in Aloft is minimalistic yet deeply evocative, leaving much of its world-building to be discovered through exploration. You awaken on a floating island with no memory of how you got there. However, there are clear remnants of a once-thriving civilisation that hint at a mysterious past. These fragments of lore are scattered across the skies, inviting players to piece together the story at their own pace. This open-ended approach to storytelling feels both liberating and engaging, allowing your imagination to fill in the gaps.

As you uncover ancient runes and artefacts, a larger picture begins to emerge… One that speaks to themes of survival, resilience, and the interconnectedness of nature and technology. The story doesn’t impose itself on you, and that’s part of its charm. It’s a tale told through the wind, the ruins, and the silence of the skies, making each discovery feel personal and rewarding.

Gameplay – Navigating a World Without Limits

Aloft reimagines survival mechanics in a way that feels intuitive and refreshing. Unlike survival games that root you to the ground, Aloft places you on an airborne island. The twist? Your island is your vessel. Using the power of wind currents, you can guide your floating home across vast skies, discovering new biomes and resources.

Aloft lets you transform any floating island into your personal skyship. Build your home with a helm, rudder, floaters, and sails so that you can glide through the open skies in search of new adventures. The customisation options are delightful, too. They allow you to make quaint homes or create sprawling sky villages with friends in co-op mode. It’s a crafting playground with endless possibilities, inviting you to make your mark on the clouds.

The sense of agency this mechanic provides is exhilarating. You’re not just surviving—you’re thriving, building a sanctuary in the sky that reflects your creativity. The crafting system is also a joy to use. It’s robust yet approachable, offering a satisfying loop of gathering, building, and upgrading that will keep you busy when you’re not exploring new areas. It really feels like you’re learning how to live on the land around you. You even have to collect water from various pools and combine it with charcoal to produce clean water!

Nature’s harmony and challenges

Each island in Aloft is a living ecosystem, but many are plagued by corruption or are unhealthy. Your mission is to cure these islands. You can do this by battling mushroom creatures, planting trees, and placing animals on the island. If you find a corrupted animal, you’ll need to give them an antidote to get them up and about again. The combat is minimal—a bit clunky and repetitive—but necessary for obtaining Mykter Fibres and other valuable resources. If combat isn’t your thing, there’s a console command to bypass it, though this can limit your crafting opportunities.

Restoration isn’t just rewarding in Aloft; it’s transformative. As you bring life back to corrupted islands, you’re greeted with lush greenery, diverse wildlife, and unique resources. Plus, the animals you find along the way can become companions on your home island. Some players complain about the inability to carry animals while gliding. But, you just have to look at the set-up of the glider to understand that there’s no way your character could carry an animal at the same time. I also don’t mind docking my island-ship alongside another island to send animals back to my home.

While many survival games punish mistakes, Aloft focuses on rewarding creativity and exploration. The absence of hunger mechanics and punishing death penalties makes it a relaxing experience. Dying while flying or battling a corrupted island simply respawns you at home. This forgiving approach encourages players to take risks and embrace the journey without the constant fear of setbacks. I also spoke to Hayley, the Community Manager of Astrolabe Interactive (the devs behind Aloft) who assured me there are absolutely no animal deaths in Aloft and animals can’t die via starvation.

Audio and Visuals – A Symphony of Sight and Sound

From the moment you start Aloft, it’s impossible not to be swept away by its ethereal beauty and soothing soundscape. This is a game that doesn’t just look good—it feels alive. Every visual and auditory detail works in harmony to create an atmosphere that’s equal parts relaxing and awe-inspiring.

Audio – The Voice of the Wind

The sound design in Aloft is nothing short of masterful. From the soft rustle of the wind to the gentle hum of songs in the rain, every sound feels meticulously crafted to immerse you in the game’s world. The soundtrack, a mix of ambient melodies and stirring orchestral pieces, perfectly complements the game’s serene yet adventurous tone. It’s the kind of music that speaks to your soul, making even the quietest moments feel significant. Created by Kyle Feehan, the OST of Aloft is something every player should experience. I’ve linked the Supporter’s Pack here in this Aloft review just in case you want to support the devs further.

Visuals – A Canvas of Floating Dreams

Visually, Aloft is stunning. I’m making that as clear as possible in my Aloft review. The floating islands are a marvel of design, each one unique and brimming with character. The use of vibrant colours and dynamic lighting creates a world that feels magical yet grounded. It doesn’t matter if you’re soaring through the light of the rising sun or navigating in the rain, the game’s visuals never fail to captivate. Even small details, like the way plants sway in the wind or how light reflects off water, contribute to an environment that feels alive and ever-changing.

Community & Co-op – Thriving Through Kindness

If you want to play the game after reading my Aloft review, I think you need to understand that the overarching objective of the game isn’t the most important part of it. It’s a game of open exploration, allowing you to go at your own pace and play the game how you want without having a backlog of quests filling up the left side of your screen. There is an end goal, but it’s not something you should want to or need to rush to.

The co-op mechanics are still developing, but are perfectly serviceable. Resources are limited when shared, and the Friend code for private servers is known to change (but that’s likely for security reasons). There also seems to be an issue where players see different things on islands with unhealthy ecosystems. But, if you’re just visiting each other to flying around and create your own homes, you shouldn’t run into any of the apparent issues other players are having.

When I first started playing Aloft on January 15th, there were about 3000 players. That number has more than doubled, with an all-time peak of 7,970 players since its release. I’d also like to highlight the amazingly kind and helpful community surrounding the game in this Aloft review; whether you ask other players or post in the ask-devs-anything channel on Discord, someone is always willing to help.

Verdict – An Adventure Worth Taking

In a genre often crowded with uninspired mechanics and recycled ideas, Aloft stands out as a beacon of innovation and heart. It’s a game that dares to reimagine survival mechanics while staying true to what makes the genre so compelling. The freedom of exploration, the joy of discovery, and the sheer beauty of the world make this an experience that’s hard to put down.

With its blend of captivating visuals, deeply immersive gameplay, and subtle storytelling, Aloft feels like a love letter to peace and creativity. It’s a game that invites you to dream big, to embrace the unknown, and to build a home among the clouds. For anyone looking for their next great adventure, Aloft is a must-play.

How could I not fall in love with violet twilight hours, golden sunsets, and petals being carried on the wind? How could I not praise a game that I can leave on in the background because its music is as soothing as anything I’ve heard in Spirit City? For my Aloft review, I’m giving this growing masterpiece a 9/10. Astrolabe Interactive has created a world full of gentle adventure and harmony, and I can’t thank them enough for it.

If Aloft isn’t quite hitting the right notes for you, check out my witchy REKA review, Erin’s Flock review, or Megan’s Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island review!