Skybound Relics

Skybound Relics is a joy to explore. You wander floating islands solving environmental puzzles with a small toolkit of gadgets, like a grappling hook and a gust device. The puzzles build on each other well, so you're always learning rather than repeating.

The atmosphere carries it. Soft music, gentle color palettes, and a slow drip of story told through ruins you uncover. It never rushes you, and there's no timer pressure anywhere.

Touch controls for movement are the weak spot, occasionally imprecise, but the puzzle design is forgiving enough that it rarely frustrates. Easily one of my favorites this year.

What we liked

• Puzzles that build cleverly on each other
• Gorgeous, calm atmosphere
• No timers, no pressure