Sky: Children of the Light

Sky: Children of the Light was released in 2019 by thatgamecompany, the creators of the acclaimed Journey, carrying a similar philosophy of quiet, emotional adventure into a social multiplayer setting without text or spoken words. Players, as winged characters, fly through a landscape full of fallen stars, meeting strangers and familiar players alike and cooperating on small tasks without any form of violence, competition, or direct verbal communication. Instead of spoken language, the game works with gestures, light effects, and musical motifs, through which players express emotions to one another and offer help.

Touchscreen controls are designed so that anyone can handle flying and communication gestures with other players even without prior gaming experience — dragging a finger across the screen controls both flight and interactions, and the simplicity of the controls is a key part of the experience, not a limitation on it. The visual style, with its warm light, soft colors, and ambient music, ranks among the most impressive on the entire mobile platform.

The game is free-to-play, monetized through the sale of cosmetic items, seasonal events, and optional content, without ads that would disrupt the calm atmosphere of the whole world. Purchases are voluntary and not forced, but they still represent a real way to spend considerable sums in the game if a player wants every seasonal costume, accessory, and limited item from long-ended seasonal events.

Why play it: For players seeking a calm, meditative social game without violence or competition, aware that the full range of cosmetic content costs real money.