Working with time travel in games is quite a challenge. While it has been the source of numerous sci-fi tales, only a few games really get the concept of changing history and the resulting butterfly effects, as Old Skies does. Dave Gilbert and his team at Wadjet Eye Games have created a point-and-click that not only plays with time loops, but it goes so deep that the return of the story and gameplay both look retro and, at the same time, surprisingly new.
Old Skies, set in 2062, is a depiction of a world where time travel is not only a reality but it is very much controlled, commercialized, and, of course, the source of a varied pack of existential headaches. You are Fia Quinn, a field agent for ChronoZen, an organization that is trying to keep history from getting out of control. ChronoZen is run like a company, and business is excellent. Customers pay a lot to relive their most precious moments or to try and turn fate in their favor. But there is bureaucracy: all customers must go through a psychological test, and a complicated algorithmic system assigns each historical figure a “timeline ranking” that determines how much the course of their life can be changed.
The game’s world is created with a sharp focus. Characters like Fia, who are on the go with ChronoZen, have a capital point of difference: their memory – no matter how drastically the world around them changes, it is still safe and sound. This means you, the player, are always in possession of knowledge that survives every temporal wave.
Fia doesn’t work alone on her assignments. Her handler, Frank “Nozzo” Nozzarelli, is the wisecracking voice in her ear, providing guidance (and sarcasm) from the security of headquarters. Then there’s Duffy, Fia’s mentor, whose steady know-how tempers the mayhem of fieldwork. The dynamic between the cast is a strong point, with Sally Beaumont (Fia) and Edwyn Tiong (Nozzo) giving solid performances that are full of wit, heart, and warmth. Their banter keeps the high-concept idea firmly anchored in realistic human relationships.
The tale is told in standalone chapters that take one or another client into a different time in New York’s long history. One assignment will deposit you in the 2040s, another on the rough streets of the 19th century. Each period is unique, down to the graffiti, billboards, and street sounds, which change as you jump between decades. Though the puzzles remain firmly rooted in point-and-click traditions, they also have a twist: you’re gathering data rather than tangible items. The built-in search function, where you can search through historic records, is a masterstroke of design. But to yield results, you will have to assemble full names and information from dialogue and clues, so every little bit of speech matters.
Where Old Skies truly shines is in its treatment of failure. Death isn’t an option—it’s part of the game. Fia will die, and die frequently. Thanks to ChronoZen’s Paradox Field Excluder and Nozzo’s cleverness, each fatal error rewinds time so you’re left with the lessons you learned. Puzzles even have multiple deaths before you can gather the clues you require. Rather than penalizing failure, the game makes advancement, each death bringing with it sarcastic comments or new ideas.
Dialogue is where the game truly shines. The script is smart, the characters memorable, and the emotional stakes high. Whether you’re sparring verbally with a sharp-tongued boxer or navigating the messy politics of a fractured family, every conversation carries weight. The voice acting makes these moments sing, giving even minor characters a sense of depth and personality.
Aesthetically, Old Skies replaces Wadjet Eye’s signature pixel art with richly detailed, hand-painted backgrounds. Every period is vividly conceived, ranging from the neon light of future waiting rooms to the warm clutter of a 2020s flat. Rotoscoped animation gives characters a fluid expressiveness not typical in the genre. The music is similarly considerate, changing from electronic beats in the future to smoke-filled jazz in the past, always in keeping with the mood of the scene.
Old Skies is greater than a Valentine to retro adventure games—it’s an advancement of the form. It’s about being in the here and now, realizing the gravity of each decision, and embracing the unknown of a changing world. For all who enjoy time travel, crisp prose, or well-drawn characters, this is one ride you won’t want to miss—and you may find yourself wishing for a rewind button in life once the credits begin rolling.