Sea of Stars
A pixel-art RPG about Solstice Warriors battling Dwellers and an alchemist.
Sea of Stars is a 2023 role-playing video game developed and published by Sabotage Studio. Set primarily on an archipelago of islands in a fantasy world, the game follows Valere or Zale, Solstice Warriors who wield the power of the sun and moon, on a quest to destroy powerful monsters called Dwellers and stop the immortal alchemist who created them. Presented in a fixed isometric view with two-dimensional pixel art reminiscent of Super Nintendo Entertainment System-era RPGs such as Chrono Trigger (1995), the game was noted for its graphics and music, winning Best Independent Game at both the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards 2023.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Sabotage Studio
- Director
- Thierry Boulanger
- Programmer
- Sylvain Cloutier
- Artist
- Michael Lavoie, Bryce Kho
- Designer
- Thierry Boulanger, Phillipe Dionne
- Composer
- Eric W. Brown, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Windows
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X/S
- Android
- iOS
- Nintendo Switch 2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sabotage Studio began work on Sea of Stars in 2018 after releasing their first game, The Messenger. Creative director Thierry Boulanger aimed to combine what he saw as the best parts of several older role-playing games, modernizing and translating the feeling of playing them rather than directly copying them. This included integrating art and map design via seamless terrain traversal, strategic and real-time combat elements, and variety in art and music. The studio chose to self-publish and launched a Kickstarter campaign in March 2020 alongside a press reveal to prove the project's viability to themselves and investors.
Reader's Guide
Sea of Stars received positive reviews upon its August 2023 release, with critics praising its graphics and music while expressing mixed opinions toward the story and characterization. Some reviewers noted that the combat lacked depth. The game sold over 250,000 copies in its first week and was played by more than six million people by November 2024. It won Best Independent Game at both the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards 2023, and received nominations for Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards and the Game Developers Choice Awards. A downloadable content expansion titled 'Throes of the Watchmaker' was released in May 2025. The game's turn-based combat includes elements such as lock-breaking mechanics, timed button presses for increased damage or reduced damage taken, and a system where characters can absorb live mana from enemies to add elemental effects to physical attacks. The world features seamless traversal including swimming and climbing, and puzzles often require using Eclipse magic to adjust the time of day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do you play as in Sea of Stars?
You take on the role of either Valere, who channels solar energy, or Zale, who draws on lunar power. The two are the game's Solstice Warriors, and you can swap between them during encounters to use their distinct elemental abilities.
What are Dwellers in Sea of Stars?
Dwellers are the powerful, dangerous monsters that serve as the primary enemies throughout the archipelago. They were originally brought into existence by the game's antagonist, an immortal alchemist, and the player must defeat them to progress the story.
How successful was Sea of Stars commercially?
The title moved over 250,000 copies in its first week following its August 2023 launch. By November 2024, more than six million players had experienced the game across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
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