Merchant of the Skies
A steampunk airship tycoon about harvesting and refining resources.
Merchant of the Skies is a 2020 simulation video game from Coldwild Games, co-published with AbsoDev. It mixes tycoon and economic simulation genres. Players pilot an airship across a steampunk fantasy world of floating islands, where they gather raw resources and refine them into more valuable goods. A journal keeps track of crafting recipes. As profits grow, players can purchase islands and automate resource collection, similar to tycoon games; investing more money speeds up this automation. Once wealthy enough, players can build a mansion on an island. Travel takes place on an overworld map and is limited by electricity, which serves as fuel and can be recharged at various islands. If the airship runs out of power, players can pay for a tow. Running out of money twice ends the game. The visuals use pixel art. Coldwild Games is an independent studio based in Latvia. While programmer Vladimir was finishing a console port, his wife Helen created art assets to stay busy and posted them on social media. The positive response led them to use the images as concept art for a new game. Vladimir had previously considered a sky-faring game but struggled with the gameplay; he said the concept art helped him finalize it. Merchant of the Skies entered early access on July 30, 2019. Coldwild Games and AbsoDev released the full game on April 17, 2020. AbsoDev released it for the Switch and Xbox One on July 30, 2020. Rock Paper Shotgun reviewed the game during early access, praising its economic systems and art but suggesting the addition of space pirates or another antagonist for more engagement. Nintendo World Report criticized the Switch user interface but enjoyed the sandbox gameplay and worldbuilding. Destructoid called it fun but lacking a memorable hook. GameStar commended the premise, the balance between casual play and hardcore economic simulation, and its ease of learning.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Merchant of the Skies
- Developer
- Coldwild Games
- Publisher
- Coldwild Games / AbsoDev
- Platforms
- Linux / macOS / Windows / Nintendo Switch / Xbox One
- Released
- Lin, Mac, Win WW · April 17, 2020 / Nintendo Switch, XOne WW · July 30, 2020
- Genre
- Simulation
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Merchant of the Skies was developed by Coldwild Games, an independent studio in Latvia. The game originated when Helen, the programmer Vladimir's wife, created art assets while Vladimir was busy finishing a console port. She posted the images on social media, where they attracted positive attention, leading the couple to use them as concept art for a new game. Vladimir had previously considered a sky-faring game but struggled with gameplay ideas; he said having the concept art helped him finalize the design. The game entered early access on July 30, 2019, and was fully released on April 17, 2020, by Coldwild Games and AbsoDev. AbsoDev later released it for the Switch and Xbox One on July 30, 2020. The game uses pixel art graphics and features an overworld for travel, with electricity serving as fuel that can be recharged on various islands. Running out of electricity allows players to pay for a tow, but running out of money twice ends the game.
Reader's Guide
Merchant of the Skies occupies a niche as a blend of tycoon mechanics and economic simulation within a steampunk setting. Its development story—originating from concept art created during a console port—illustrates how independent studios can pivot based on audience response. The game's early access period allowed it to refine its economic loop, where players harvest resources, refine them into more expensive goods, and invest in automated harvesting on purchased islands. The journal system helps track recipes, and players can eventually build mansions on islands. Reception was mixed but generally positive: Rock Paper Shotgun praised the economic aspects and art while suggesting antagonists like space pirates for more engagement. Nintendo World Report criticized the Switch user interface but enjoyed the sandbox gameplay and worldbuilding. Destructoid found it fun but lacking a memorable hook, while GameStar praised the premise, balance between casual and hardcore play, and ease of learning. The game's legacy lies in its successful execution of a focused economic simulation with a distinctive visual style, though it did not achieve widespread mainstream recognition.
Did You Know?
- The game's concept art was created by Helen, wife of programmer Vladimir, while he was finishing a console port.
- Travel is limited by electricity, which functions as fuel and can be recharged on various islands.
- The game was released for Switch and Xbox One on July 30, 2020.
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