Beyond a Steel Sky is a 3D adventure thriller from Revolution Software, the British studio behind the Broken Sword series, and the sequel to the 1994 cult classic Beneath a Steel Sky. You play Robert Foster, who sets out to find a child abducted in a brutal attack, and the trail leads him from a desert community to Union City, a mega-city that looks like a utopia run by a caring AI but hides a much darker side. The art direction comes from Dave Gibbons, the artist of Watchmen. This is the Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch, published by Microids, and it plays in TV, tabletop and handheld modes.
Table of Contents
The story and Union City
Beyond a Steel Sky is set ten years after the first game. Robert Foster returns, and his search for the kidnapped child takes him into Union City, whose citizens seem happy under the control of an altruistic AI. The game is written as a cyberpunk thriller with a sense of humour, dealing with social control, artificial intelligence and surveillance. Revolution describes a world populated by wilful characters with their own motivations, and part of the fun is working out what each of them wants and how to turn it against them. You do not need to have played Beneath a Steel Sky first; the story stands on its own.
Puzzles and the hacking tool
The heart of Beyond a Steel Sky is its puzzles, which Revolution weaves into the story rather than bolting on as separate challenges. Foster carries a unique hacking tool that lets him get inside the logic of machines and devices around the city and change how they behave. Revolution says that, combined with this tool, multiple solutions to puzzles emerge from the player’s own choices, so two players can get through the same scene in different ways. When you are stuck, a built-in hint system is available from the Help tab in the pause menu, which keeps the game approachable for players new to adventure games.
Comic-book art by Dave Gibbons
Union City is drawn in a 3D comic-book style led by Dave Gibbons, who also worked on the original Beneath a Steel Sky in 1994. The look uses bold outlines and strong colours, which suits the Switch screen well in handheld mode and keeps characters easy to read on a TV. Charles Cecil, the founder of Revolution and creator of Broken Sword, leads the project, so the writing and pacing follow the studio’s classic adventure tradition, now in full 3D with free camera movement instead of the 2D point-and-click screens of the 1994 original.
Playing on Nintendo Switch
Nintendo lists Beyond a Steel Sky as a single-player game that runs in TV, tabletop and handheld modes, with touch-screen features and support for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Save Data Cloud is supported with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. The digital version needs 3.3 GB of storage according to Nintendo’s store, and the physical Standard Edition comes on a game card in a standard Switch case. Nintendo’s UK listing gives the languages as Japanese, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Russian, with no Arabic; the languages on a physical card can differ by region.
Which edition this is
Microids released Beyond a Steel Sky on consoles on 30 November 2021 in several versions. Besides this Standard Edition, there was a Beyond a Steel Book Edition with a steelbook, a digital soundtrack and a sticker sheet, and a Utopia collector’s edition with a hologram lamp and an artbook. The Standard Edition is the game itself in a regular case, without those extras, which makes it the practical choice if you only want to play. Revolution has also added content through updates, including achievements, French and German voiceovers and developer commentary.
Who This Is Not For
Beyond a Steel Sky is not for players who want action or combat: it is a slow, dialogue- and puzzle-driven adventure. It is single-player only, with no co-op or online play. Nintendo’s UK store rates it PEGI 16 for violence, so it is not suitable for younger children. There is no Arabic language option in Nintendo’s listed languages, and this Standard Edition does not include the steelbook, soundtrack or collector’s extras of the special editions.
Ordering from Totot
Totot sells the Beyond a Steel Sky brand-new and genuine in its sealed box, backed by a 1-year warranty from Totot. It reaches any emirate within 3 business days at most, with free delivery on orders from AED 300, with cash on delivery or instalments via Tabby and Tamara. Items that arrive defective or not as ordered can be returned within 14 days, and any shipping damage should be reported within 48 hours of delivery. Browse more in our Nintendo Switch Games range, or see the official Nintendo page for Beyond a Steel Sky.
Beyond a Steel Sky Specifications
- Title: Beyond a Steel Sky – Standard Edition
- Platform: Nintendo Switch (physical game card)
- Developer: Revolution Software
- Publisher: Microids
- Art direction: Dave Gibbons
- Console release: 30 November 2021
- Genre: Adventure, puzzle
- Players: 1 player
- Play modes: TV, tabletop, handheld
- Controls: Joy-Con, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, touch screen
- Languages (Nintendo UK listing): Japanese, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian
- Age rating (Nintendo UK listing): PEGI 16 (Violence)
- Digital download size: 3.3 GB
- Cloud saves: Supported with Nintendo Switch Online
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot
Beyond a Steel Sky FAQ
Do I need to play Beneath a Steel Sky first?
No. Beyond a Steel Sky is a sequel set ten years later, but the story stands on its own.
Is Beyond a Steel Sky multiplayer?
No. Nintendo lists it as a single-player game.
Can I play it in handheld mode?
Yes. It supports TV, tabletop and handheld modes, with touch-screen features.
Does the game have Arabic?
No. Arabic is not among the languages in Nintendo’s listing.
What age is it suitable for?
16 and over, per the PEGI 16 rating for violence on Nintendo’s UK store.
Does the Standard Edition include the steelbook?
No. The steelbook and soundtrack come only with the Beyond a Steel Book and Utopia editions.
Is it genuine?
Yes. We sell the genuine Beyond a Steel Sky Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch, brand-new and sealed.
How long does delivery take?
3 business days at most across the UAE. Orders from AED 300 ship free, and the checkout page shows any current fee for your order.
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