Echoes of Elysium Preview
Survival, crafting and building games are incredibly popular, with settings and variations ranging from high fantasy to demanding realism. Any developer entering this saturated territory needs a strong hook. Loric Games is a studio staffed by industry veterans and their idea Echoes of Elysium This is an interesting twist: take elements of resource gathering, construction and war to the skies.
Based on ancient Greek mythology and history, Echoes of Elysium takes the player on a journey through a once idyllic land. You are an unwanted stranger, and there are dangerous forces trying to stop your progress, led by the demigod Heron. With the goddess Let us show you the way, you build an airship and sail through the sky filled with islands and enemies.
Flying fortress
The core of Echoes of Elysium is always an enjoyable cycle of collecting, building, and improving. At first, most of your crafting materials come from floating piles of trash that you reach by glider. Over time, you will be able to loot other airships and collect resources from the sky islands.
At first you have almost nothing except a barely functioning sky raft. You add sails that allow you to move and begin to build your ship. You can add additional decks, special rooms and different types of weapons. Over time, you may choose to favor a well-armored might, or travel quickly and lightly with multiple sails, allowing you to outrun an enemy ship. It's very similar to naval warfare, with the added bonus of a Y axis to play with.
As you travel across the skies, you'll encounter both friendly docks—safe places with unique crafting stations—and hostile islands. The enemies have a bit of Ancient Greek character mixed with a steampunk character, and come in the form of both organic humans and monsters and machines. Your ship becomes stronger and more complex, and your character also has a development path.
Many hands make the job easier
Echoes of Elysium was intended to be a co-op PvE game for up to six players. While it can technically be played solo, life as a ship in the sky does require a crew. Someone must control the ship, arm the guns and make repairs. It is much more effective when some team members collect resources while others build. It is difficult to build a fleet of specialized airships with one person.
Echoes of Elysium uses an evergreen stylized art style that is bright, colorful and eye-catching. I really liked the ease of connecting parts and design elements, and the ability to create detailed labyrinthine flying fortresses. Right now the game requires a little attention to its interface and a fairly hands-off approach to attracting new players. I like games that let the player figure things out, but Echoes of Elysium could do with a little more regulation of the running hours.
At least in the playtest there is no support for controllers. Navigating in 3D space using the mouse and keyboard felt imprecise. There are a few other minor disappointments, such as the glider initially being on a timer before falling to the ground. I guess the limited time to collect isn't much different from starting Subnautica or No Man's Sky, but starting the game with an injury almost immediately is kind of a bummer. Currently, the game's menu options are quite limited. Let's hope this expands closer to launch.
Sky-high potential
Although it flies in approximately the same airspace as the recent Lost skiesEchoes of Elysium stands out for its creative Ancient Greek setting and the complexity of its build system, which allows you to create impressive ships. Echoes of Elysium is best played as a team, created by a team that clearly understands what makes a multiplayer game fun. Echoes of Elysium will be released in Early Access on December 4, 2025.
