Beneath a Steel Sky

Beneath a Steel Sky is a classic point-and-click adventure game released for MS-DOS in 1994 by Revolution Software. Set in a dystopian cyberpunk future, the game takes place almost entirely within Union City, a vast and oppressive metropolis controlled by a powerful artificial intelligence. Players assume the role of Robert Foster, a man abducted from the wastelands outside the city and drawn into a conspiracy that challenges the very foundations of this totalitarian society.

The game is widely praised for its strong narrative focus and mature themes, including corporate control, social inequality, and the ethical limits of technology. Its distinctive visual style is heavily influenced by comic art, with backgrounds and character designs created by renowned comic artist Dave Gibbons. Dialogue-driven storytelling, environmental puzzles, and dark humor combine to create an experience that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant.

Beneath a Steel Sky is also notable for its memorable characters, particularly Joey, Foster’s sarcastic and modular robot companion. Together, they navigate complex puzzles that emphasize logic over reflexes, a hallmark of Revolution Software’s design philosophy. Decades after its release, the game remains a landmark title in the adventure genre and a defining example of narrative-driven PC gaming of the early 1990s.