The Falconeer
A solo-developed aerial combat game set in the Great Ursee.
**The Falconeer** is an aerial combat video game released in 2020. It was developed by Tomas Sala, working alone, and published by Wired Productions. The game launched on November 10, 2020 for Windows, Xbox One, and as a launch title for Xbox Series X and Series S. An Amazon Luna version followed on June 17, 2021. Critical reception was divided: some praised its distinct vision and tribute to the niche dogfighting genre, while others criticized the same aspects.
An enhanced edition called **The Falconeer: Warrior Edition** came out on August 5, 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, earning more positive reviews. It was later ported to Stadia on October 5, 2021.
**Gameplay**
Set in a nautical science-fiction world called the Great Ursee, the game is a third-person arcade flight experience. Players control a pilot riding a large warbird, shooting down enemies while avoiding attacks. Stamina must be managed during maneuvers. Beyond the narrative campaign, players can freely explore an open world and complete side missions like bounties and item deliveries. Progress allows purchasing new weapons and acquiring mutagens to improve the warbird’s agility and health. The story is divided into chapters, which can be tackled in any order, each featuring a different faction’s pilot and a new warbird.
**Development**
*The Falconeer* is the debut title of solo developer Tomas Sala. He previously co-founded Little Chicken Game Company, a work-for-hire studio in Amsterdam, before going solo. Sala created a popular mod for *The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim* called *Moonpath to Elsweyr*, whose positive reception encouraged him to start an original project. He began work on *Oberon’s Court* in 2013, but cancelled it because it was “too dark” and “too confronting.” Using assets and code from that project, he quickly built a prototype inspired by childhood aerial combat games like *Star Wars: TIE Fighter*, *Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe*, *Aces of the Pacific*, *Red Baron*, and *Crimson Skies*. That prototype became the foundation for *The Falconeer*.
The game uses a highly technical art style that avoids traditional textures. Instead of image files, everything—from the user interface to the 3D world and characters—relies on math-based, procedurally generated colors and definitions.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Falconeer
- Developer
- Tomas Sala
- Publisher
- Wired Productions
- Engine
- Unity
- Composer
- Benedict Nichols
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Amazon Luna · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Nintendo Switch · Stadia
- Genre
- Aerial combat
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Set in a nautical/sci-fi backdrop named the Great Ursee, The Falconeer is a third-person arcade flight game where the player controls a pilot commanding a massive warbird. Players shoot down enemies, dodge attacks, and manage the warbird's stamina. The open world allows free exploration and side missions like bounties and item delivery. Players can purchase new weapons and acquire mutagens to improve attributes such as agility and health. The game features chapters that can be completed in any order, with players controlling pilots from different factions and commanding new warbirds.
The game is the debut title for Tomas Sala, who previously co-founded Little Chicken Game Company in Amsterdam. He worked on a mod for The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim called Moonpath to Elsweyr, which received positive community reactions. Sala began an original project titled Oberon's Court in 2013, but it was cancelled because it was deemed too dark. Using assets and code from that project, he built a prototype inspired by childhood aerial combat games like Star Wars: TIE Fighter, Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe, Aces of the Pacific, Red Baron, and Crimson Skies. The Falconeer features a highly technical art style that replaces textures with math-based generated colors and definitions, using procedural and generative visuals to enable solo development. Benedict Nichols composed the game's music.
Reader's Guide
The Falconeer is significant as the debut title of solo developer Tomas Sala, demonstrating how procedural and generative visuals can enable a single developer to create a visually distinctive game. Its release as a launch title for Xbox Series X/S marked it as an early showcase for the new console generation. The game's reception was mixed upon initial release, with critics praising its setting, lore, and graphics while criticizing its combat and lack of meaningful open-world activities. A named update called the Kraken (December 22, 2020) addressed some criticisms by adding exploration and wreck dive missions. The enhanced Warrior Edition, released on August 5, 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, received positive reviews, with the Switch version achieving a Metacritic score of 80/100. The game earned a BAFTA Games Award nomination for Best Debut Game in March 2021. A spin-off city-builder titled Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles was released on March 26, 2024, set in the same Great Ursee waterworld.
Did You Know?
- The game's art style uses math-based generated colors and definitions instead of traditional textures.
- A named update called the Kraken was released on December 22, 2020, adding exploration and wreck dive missions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made The Falconeer?
The game was created by solo developer Tomas Sala and published by Wired Productions. It stands out in the industry for being the work of a single person rather than a studio team.
What platforms can I play The Falconeer on?
The original 2020 release covered Windows PC and Xbox (One and Series X/S), with an Amazon Luna streaming version arriving in mid-2021. The Warrior Edition later expanded availability to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo hardware in August 2021.
When did The Falconeer come out?
The game launched on November 10, 2020 as a day-one title for the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. It was simultaneously available on Windows PC and Xbox One.
What is The Falconeer: Warrior Edition?
Released on August 5, 2021, the Warrior Edition is an enhanced version of the original that brought the game to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo platforms. It served as the vehicle for expanding the title's reach beyond its initial Xbox and PC audience.
Did The Falconeer win any awards?
The game earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Debut Game at the March 2021 ceremony. Critical reception was split, with some reviewers celebrating its unique take on dogfighting while others felt those same qualities held it back.
More in Video Games of the 2020s, Part 3 1-21
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