A floating 1930s New York, sharp writing and a story that pulled us all the way in.
Picture 1930s New York, except the whole city is floating. Roads, cars, entire boroughs hang in the sky thanks to anti-gravity Aether tech, and the gap between the glittering Uppers and the gritty Lowers is wider than ever. That’s the world of Aether & Iron, a decopunk narrative RPG from indie studio Seismic Squirrel, co-developed with Chaos Theory Games. You play Gia Randazzo, a hard-boiled smuggler down on her luck after a bad job wrecked her reputation. If you love sharp writing, a world you can sink into and tactical fights that feel like a high-stakes chase through the clouds, buckle up. This one’s special.
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Aether & Iron Review: One of the Most Immersive Stories I’ve Played This YearWant to play it? Grab it on the Xbox Store or see Where to buy.
Story: Where it absolutely shines
It starts as a simple escort job: get Nelly, a sheltered young scientist, from the wealthy Uppers down to the Lowers. It spirals fast. Without spoiling anything, you get pulled into a conspiracy involving dangerous Aether secrets, threats that could literally drop pieces of the city out of the sky, underground resistance movements, and some heavy social and moral questions.
The writing is incredibly descriptive. Gia’s inner monologue gives you her suspicions, her read on every person she meets, and exactly what she sees and smells, and it makes you feel like you’re riding shotgun. Nelly is a standout: bright, bubbly and optimistic, the perfect contrast to Gia’s world-weary edge, and their relationship grows in a way that feels real. Every character is well realized, decisions are given room to breathe, and some moments only exist if you take a certain path. The stakes keep rising until it hits you emotionally. I got legitimately invested, and this world could easily carry an animated movie or a TV series.
Gameplay: Dice, heat and car combat
Dialogue is the star. Risky conversation options trigger dice rolls, your stats, perks and crew can boost those rolls, and bad choices build heat that stacks negative modifiers. The game remembers what you did, and characters bring it up later, for better or worse. Every conversation carries tension.
Then there’s the turn-based car combat. You customize your ride with weapons and armor and swap vehicles as you go, and fights demand you think about obstacles, hazards, positioning and your loadout. It layers in complexity over time, perks matter, and smuggling runs and heat management add another layer. Story feeds gameplay and combat feels like a natural extension of the world.
Visuals and sound
I’m a graphics guy. I usually chase ray tracing, 4K textures and 60-plus frames in big 3D open worlds, so let me be clear: Aether & Iron is not that. It uses stylized, hand-drawn 2D art with character portraits instead of fully animated 3D models. And it still hits. The character designs are unique and packed with personality, they shift poses throughout conversations, and the locations drip with that 1930s floating-city vibe. Paired with Gia’s narration, the city feels massive and lived in. It ran smooth as butter on my ROG Ally X the whole way through.
The fully voiced cast is top tier and one of the strongest parts of the game. Gia’s actress nails that no-nonsense noir delivery with dry humor and real emotional weight. Nelly’s performance brings a bouncy energy that gives the pair real chemistry, and Needles and Crest are memorable standouts. A jazzy, moody soundtrack ties it all together.
Verdict
Aether & Iron is one of the most immersive narrative experiences of the year, even without chasing the latest graphical bells and whistles. It’s not perfect. Some branches color your role more than they change the plot. But the emotional depth, the natural character growth, and a world that feels alive more than make up for it. If you want a game that makes you think, feel and strategize in equal measure, this one delivers, and if Seismic Squirrel makes a sequel, I’m first in line.
Image: Seismic Squirrel
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The verdict: Amazing
Aether & Iron is one of the most immersive narrative experiences of the year.
Pros
- A gripping, emotional story with outstanding writing
- Gia and Nelly are a fantastic duo
- Top-tier voice acting and a moody jazz soundtrack
- Tense dice-roll dialogue with choices that come back around
- Strategic turn-based car combat with meaningful builds
Cons
- Some story branches change your role more than the plot
- Hand-drawn 2D presentation won't satisfy players who want full 3D spectacle
Platform played: PC (ROG Ally X handheld)
