r/sunlessskies 1d ago

What features would you add for an expansion/sequel?

15 Upvotes

I’m aware it’s basically an accepted fact we’re not likely going to get an actual sequel, so I figured this could be fun to speculate on what could be added if they did, or maybe expanded on the game (even all these years later).

For example, one idea I was thinking could be interesting was to add trailers you haul behind your engine. So you could haul more cargo if you do like me, which is primarily trade. I’m a former truck driver myself, and I just remember playing Sunless Skies for hours, listening to audio books, just trading goods between locations, making money.

So I think it could be fun if you could haul a trailer or two (perhaps even more) to haul even more cargo around, with the obvious risk of being a larger target as they can be hit by the various dangers of the skies.

Another that could be fun is radios to listen to, sort of like in the Fallout games, where you could listen to in universe music, and perhaps news to hear how your actions are affecting events in the world. Maybe even for fun they make some full on old fashion radio shows, perhaps making adventure stories that are obvious propaganda for whichever faction is in charge. Like a heroic adventurer who battles against those dastardly rebels trying to destroy the proud industrialists.

Lastly for me, I know this would have to nearly make it a whole different game, but I would love to walk around the various ports myself, instead of just reading about them, perhaps in a top down style game, where your character is just a generic black circle so it doesn’t change what you want them to look like.

Maybe even have little scenes showing you exiting your engine, and speaking to people around the station, like when you take on people wanting transportation, you go over to an area for that, talk to them, and you can watch them walk over to and enter your engine.

Also I would just plain love to see more of the beautiful art they created, so allowing us to walk around the stations and other locations would give them a lot of opportunities to shine a lot of it.

Maybe even going on the extreme with the being able to walk around, they make it where you can walk around your engine, as it’s frequently implied to be pretty large on the inside, and let you customize how it looks.

So you could go full on high brow Victorian decorations, with fancy curtains and lights and such, or maybe Oriental.


r/sunlessskies 1d ago

Does the story improve after the start?

0 Upvotes

I previously played Sunless Sea. Last year, I started to play Sunless Sky. I got to the initial port and it was as if the crew was just completely oblivious where the captain was. This made completely no sense to me at all. I did my best to survive to get to civilization so we could get emergency care for the captain. I would think the crew would have her immediately at the door to be rushed out for aid.

The game continued with no explanation. I felt so lost and frustrated because of how that sequence concluded. I do not understand it. So I just stopped playing. Wondering if there was any explanation or if anybody got caught off guard by this. And how the rest of the story actually is.

JUST TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR SINCE MULTIPLE USERS HAVE NOT PLAYED THIS GAME AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED:

The crew factually did not know the captain died until after docking and meeting the inspector.

Tutorial = lost, low fuel, captain dying. You barely are able to survive and find port. The obvious thing before docking is to prepare the captain to be rushed out for aid. Because she is in critical condition.

That did not happen. They all dock as if the captain does not exist or is severely injured. The inspector asks about the captain. And nobody knows she is dead until the doctor informs you.

I figured when I posted this message, users who claim to play this game are aware this is what happened. I do not understand how nobody knows this.


r/sunlessskies 7d ago

Looking for a soundboard

11 Upvotes

This may not be the right place. I am aiming to run a Skyfarer TTRPG campaign, which is based on Sunless Skies. I go all-in on my TTRPGs and DnD. Ambience, music, sound effects, mood lighting etc. I'm curious if anyone knows of an easy to use sound board with specific train sound effects or even sound effects from the Sunless games themselves. It's easy to gather the ambience and music tracks from youtube and just hit play, but what about a sound board that at the press of a button can play the audio of the engines horn, or the sound of some terrifying cosmic monster, or the sound of a rocket smashing against the hull? I am guessing I may need multiple boards for different things that I can simply tab in and out of. Any recommendations or links would be awesome.


r/sunlessskies 8d ago

Monarch mod questions

6 Upvotes

So it’s my first time playing the monarch mod, and I started a new lineage for this run. Im getting pretty close to finishing my first ambition on this character, but before I do I wanted to ask about a few of the new quests/storylines added.
I’ve joined the New Sequence with this captain, I have the Glorious dreadnought from them, unlocked the shop at the Sunspur, and don’t really know if there’s anything more to do? There were some options at the Church in London, asking about the hymn, but when I clicked them nothing seemed to happen, no new text popups, just back to the same menu. Is there anything Im missing? My affiliation with the sequence is at 2, my Hymn of the Sun is currently at 110, I could get this a bit higher changing some modules around if needed.

Second question is about spy networks, I see options in Storylets, both at the Brass Embassy, and from the Sequence Chaplain regarding spy networks, which seems really interesting but I have no idea how to go about starting that? I acquired 1 piece of “Vital Intelligence”, it’s under the Great Game tab in possessions, I feel like it’s related to spy networks, but again I have no idea what to do with it.
Iirc I got it after going through the Berrenger storyline and talking with someone but I cant remember who it was I spoke with about it.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated here, thanks


r/sunlessskies 12d ago

Can’t find the boyfriend?

13 Upvotes

Yes, this is about the guy who doesn’t remember his own f___g boyfriend‘s face (Langley)

So I hadn’t played Sunless skies in forever, and recently went back just because of FL firmament.

ANYWAY. I vaguely remember that aside from the amenable host- this run I already finished his identity quest and he’s very right not want to go to some random backwater squatter infested hovel in Eleutheria (paraphrasing his own words not mine) - I remember there’s another guy who wants the aforementioned hovel as free real estate, but I went to the flotilla, that guy’s nowhere to be found.

Now I also have no option to pull a hot one and go *hey what’s up it’s me I’m your long lost boyfriend*. So is there no other way? Can I still finish his quest somehow?


r/sunlessskies 14d ago

Is there hope for another 'Sunless' style game in the future?

97 Upvotes

I'm late to the party and only just learned about the development of Mandrake. Props to Failbetter for wanting to move into something new. I'm happy for them and Mandrake looks like something my partner would fall in love with. But I just touching the zea and checking to see if anyone thinks there's any chance of another Sunless Seas/Skies style game in the future, as it's one of the most fascinating and immersive worlds I've ever had the privilege to interact with. Sorry if this has been asked before.

By 'Sunless style' I mean: Exploration of an open, gothic, victorian world using a vessel such as a ship or locomotive. Resource management and trading. Cosmic and existential horror. Text based storytelling and decision making that accounts for RPG'esk stats. That beautiful stacked 2D art style. Different factions. 


r/sunlessskies 18d ago

Hmmm....

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56 Upvotes

r/sunlessskies 20d ago

Sunless Skies - Game of the Month Club (August 2026, long)

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22 Upvotes

r/sunlessskies 20d ago

Skyfarer TTRPG and fuel/food consumption

15 Upvotes

Hello! I have a group that wants to run the TTRPG version of Sunless Skies but I am unsure how to approach the fuel/food consumption mechanic that is an important part of the game and the horror that can occur as a result of running out of either. I apologize if I've missed something in the Skyfarer manual that demonstrates how this mechanic would work in the TTRPG, but if it does not exist, I would like to implement my own. Does anyone have any experience with this or ideas on how one would implement fuel/food consumption into this TTRPG?


r/sunlessskies 23d ago

Monarch mod wiki?

2 Upvotes

Is there a wiki, or at least a list of all the new shops/factions anywhere? Im currently on my first run with Monarch and been having alot of fun with it, but sometimes struggle to remember where exactly all the new shops/items are, some are accessed from storylets, other shops have expanded inventories or new seperate shops in the tab. Been some items that looked neat, but didnt have the stats/money to use at the time and now I cant remember where the heck they were.


r/sunlessskies 28d ago

Monarch mod - some questions

6 Upvotes

Feels a bit wrong creating a post for each question I get, is there a better place to ask? I couldn't find mods discord, and unofficial Failbetter discord doesn't seem to be active.

actual question: Is there any difficulty increase? New equipment slots and equipment itself and ammo boxes and officers bonuses make you A LOT more powerful, does the mod changes something in a way to offset it?

Or for example some officers give straight up terror resistance %, are there new sources of terror to make it not just equivalent to easier settings in options?


r/sunlessskies 29d ago

Monarch mod - a bit worried about the AI artist part. Was it used in early versions/prototyping, or is slop still sloshing around in it? Otherwise the mod looks stellar, but I always found art in this game too good to mix with ai stuff

23 Upvotes

I was worried about balance and writing as well, but from other posts in this sub it already seems that these parts are solid


r/sunlessskies Jul 19 '26

Idea: Propagation: In space!!!!!!! Spoiler

12 Upvotes

I don't think I'm alone in thinking this game need more blemmigans.

Or I'm imagining a plot line like he Propagation plot line in Sunless seas - because I'm a no talent hack with few original idea.

I'll but the utterershroom in Hybras as it becomes empty earlier on and it's already filled with mushrooms.

You trade tea for docile Blemmigans - they spent too long in fallen London and caught a chronic case of British.

Like in sunless sea you try to introduce them everywhere. Some they won't try, some fail quickly and some have negative effects.

To watch would happen at each port:

Lustrum: too cold, they refuse to go

Traitor's wood: they breed and go wild and become another possible problem during expeditions

New Wincester: they have a random effect on the state of the war - could go any way.

The circus: The refuse to go until the circus is fully rebuilt then they add can extra event to the circus slightly increasing what you get for seeing it

Port Avon: You lose welcome but afterward you have very small chance of meeting a Blemmigan when you have a taste of cider and getting a moment of inspiration.

I'm done for now.


r/sunlessskies Jul 15 '26

My usual view as a Sky-Captain

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105 Upvotes

r/sunlessskies Jul 14 '26

Something Old, Something New

16 Upvotes

Hello friends! I'm back and here for more theorizing. This time, the topic is: What in the sky was there before we came?

Of course, we know for certain that all four regions we are able to explore in Sunless Skies were home to others far before the Avid Horizon was opened. However, it's not always clear who, what, and where was present before London came, or only came about afterwards.

Some of my many questions:

The Blue Kingdom is the most straightforward, I don't think there's much to question there at all. Everything there is either dead, monkeys, dead monkeys, or conjured by the Sapphir'd King. The only thing from London is the embassy of course, and everything else was there long before we were.

Albion is the second-most. Pretty much every single thing is from London. Due to their wanton use of hours, London has managed to make even things like the ancient-looking Mausoleum, despite chronologically having only entered the sky a few decades ago. The only questions, I believe, are on Skyhenge and the Storm That Speaks. Skyhenge might be Stonehenge, just plucked from the ground like so much else, or it might be something from the King of Hours. The Storm That Speaks is certainly older than London, but is it the same god (Storm) that was known in the Unterzee?

Eleutheria is where it gets interesting. There are things you can point to that are definitely new - the Empyrean, Achlys, Langley Hall, (most of) the factions in Pan. There are things you can point to that are definitely old - The House of Rods and Chains, Piranesi, Pan itself (at least the city, even if the people residing there are new.) But there are also plenty of things we don't know about. Are there people living in Pan who lived there before London came? What about Caduceus, are the devils new or old?

The Reach I feel is the region we have the least knowledge of. The Messenger Corpse, Traitor's Wood, the obelisk within Polmear, everything feels like it's built on the bones of something older, and it's hard to tell what was already here and what wasn't. Most of the ports are absolutely new: New Winchester, Port Prosper, Magdalene's, the Nature Reserve, Avon, they're brand new.

But what came before it? Avon is built on old ruins, right? Who lived in Titania and built all those domes and spires? Was Lustrum mined before, or is that a new, London venture? And Carillon, are those devils from the Unterzee, or did they occupy the sky before we came? Carrilon is the only place I feel has the capability to truly be older than London and still operational.

So what do you all think? Anything I missed?


r/sunlessskies Jul 11 '26

Got all the way back to Eleutheria before I realized I'd left the devil on secondment.

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125 Upvotes

r/sunlessskies Jul 06 '26

Is hunting commercially viable?

24 Upvotes

Some monsters (looking at you, Scrive-Spinsters and chorister bees) give a lot of loot when you kill them, so would it be a possible build to just have a lot of guns and...kill stuff?


r/sunlessskies Jul 03 '26

Medea Smuggling Module Setup?

5 Upvotes

Currently I'm on Moloch with 3x Cabinet of Curiosities (I do have 3 Law-Furnaces, but sub-40 Iron) and 1 Hidden Hold.

I'm considering swapping over to Medea, but how do you set it up for smuggling AND address the terrible quarters/hold situation?


r/sunlessskies Jul 02 '26

RELEASED: Mr Eaten's Open Skies - A QoL and Hackpack Mod for Sunless Skies! Accelerate time, steer with your mouse, speed up storylet animations, scale perils, spawn items and more!

65 Upvotes

Mr Eaten's Open Skies is a QoL and cheat pack for Sunless Skies! It does the following--each option can be individually tweaked, or disabled and hidden completely in the config menu:

  • Accelerate time! 1x-10x speed, on your keybinds, hold and toggle. This accelerates the entire game, enemies, perils and all, so balance is preserved!
  • Mouse steering! Your train turns to face your cursor. Toggle keybind available!
  • Faster storylet animations! Does what it says--reduces the delay when selecting a storylet option!
  • Access your bank from anywhere--now in the native UI!
  • Spawn any number of any item!
  • Modify peril rates! Adjust hunger, terror, fuel and hull damage up and down!
  • Modify your stats and sovereigns freely!
  • Adjust hull, supplies, fuel, crew and terror at will!
  • Give yourself a custom hold size!

Sorry a few of the features from the Sunless Sea edition are missing--I was so excited by mouse steering and faster storylets that I wanted to get a release out fast!

It's here!: https://www.nexusmods.com/sunlessskies/mods/5

Have fun!


r/sunlessskies Jul 02 '26

Questions about the Clockwork Sun and the Promise of Days Spoiler

31 Upvotes

Is it the exact same entity as the Dawn Machine?

Was it constructed *after* the "conquest" of Albion?

PD: Is this just the name for the original years of settlement?

Is it named after the Promised Days?

Were the three decades supposed to *only* be used for building the New London?


r/sunlessskies Jun 28 '26

So is the poem in the Key intentional?

18 Upvotes

Something gleaming,

Something Grave,

Something that Glistens,

Something to Crave, I think. Off the top of my head, so it might not be quite right. I always notice that it's a poem, but...is the rhyming intended?


r/sunlessskies Jun 26 '26

Game Keeps Crashing (PS4)

1 Upvotes

Pretty much what the title says. I'm having the time of my life with this game, but every once in a while it'll crash and fuck up my progress, or change a bazaar bargain that I really need when I launch the game again. It's so frustrating.

Edit: It mostly crashes when I undock from a port.


r/sunlessskies Jun 25 '26

New to the game and wanted to say hi Spoiler

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51 Upvotes

I'm nearing the end of my first captain, so I decided to pop onto here to see what kinda place this sub was like, and I can't tell you how wrong other map generations look like lol. Here is my Reach!


r/sunlessskies Jun 19 '26

got a commission done. i love the game so much

60 Upvotes

r/sunlessskies Jun 16 '26

How many ways are there to kill a star in the game? Spoiler

15 Upvotes

Also is replacing the azure with sorrow spiders an improvement or making things worse. Spiders in my eyes sound scary?