Skysunder is an auto-battler strategy game set on floating isles that survived a cataclysm. Players draft units, equip them with relics and imprints, issue orders to squadrons, and cast spells during battles to influence outcomes. The game combines simulation elements with strategic decision-making across single-player and multiplayer formats on PC.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around drafting from 64 unique units spread across eight races: Human, Goblin, Elf, Troll, Dwarf, Ogre, Mystic, and Animal. These units fall into six combat classes and four rarity tiers. An imprint system modifies each unit individually, with traits ranging from Clumsy to Elite, Heroic, or the rare Emperor that boosts all units of the same race.
Combat follows an in-depth triangle that rewards counters to different playstyles. Between rounds players build a town using ten buildings that provide economy or military bonuses, allowing choices between aggressive scaling or balanced investment. Relics appear every third round and combine for synergistic effects, while squadrons receive up to three item upgrades plus one of five enchantments.
Eleven spells, each with three power tiers, let players intervene directly. Examples include a Blackhole that pulls units inward, Mirror Image that clones a burrow to summon extras, and Plunder that damages foes while granting gold on kills. Real-time spell casting adds a layer of intervention to the otherwise automated battles.
Game Modes
Ascension mode serves as the single-player survival experience. It runs through fifteen rounds of escalating randomized enemies before shifting to endless waves, where the goal is to survive as long as possible and post high scores.
Multiplayer mode supports private lobbies for up to seven friends. A free demo lets players test this format ahead of the full release. Skirmish mode, arriving at launch, pits players against seven AI opponents that each follow distinct strategies and preferences, functioning as practice for competitive play.
Matchmaking arrives in the full release as a ranked system that pairs eight players through an automated finder. All modes emphasize drafting, positioning orders, and timely spell use within the shared auto-battler framework.
Key Mechanics and Progression
Unit management extends beyond the draft. The imprint system encourages repeated shop checks to locate optimal traits rather than settling for average options. Relic combinations and town-building choices further differentiate runs, pushing players toward economy-focused or combat-heavy approaches.
Spells provide the main source of direct control, scaling in strength across tiers to alter battlefield dynamics at critical moments. The overall structure rewards experimentation with different race and class mixes while adapting to the combat triangle.
Is It Worth Playing?
Skysunder targets fans of auto-battlers who enjoy drafting systems, real-time intervention options, and both solo survival runs and social multiplayer sessions. The free multiplayer demo offers an immediate way to sample the core loop with friends before the October 27, 2026 release.
With no user reviews available yet, reception remains to be seen once the full game launches. Those who appreciate deep unit customization through imprints and relics, alongside flexible town-building strategies, will likely find the systems engaging. The mix of single-player high-score chasing and upcoming ranked matchmaking provides clear progression paths for different player preferences.
