Last updated on December 9th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Skyward Journey – Game Review
Skyward Journey is a game from Daniel Vogt, first launched in 10th October 2018.
It’s rated 9+ and currently has 128+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Skyward Journey Stand Out
Gather lost birds, draw wind currents to guide them, and lead them on their long journey home…
• Intuitive, one-touch gameplay – anyone can play!
• A relaxed, zen-like experience with some thought-provoking surprises
• Beautiful, interactive audio by renowned musician, Jeff van Dyck
• 15-30 min average play time – or stay as long as you'd like!
'Skyward Journey' is a reflective, art-game by Dan Vogt – games industry veteran and creator of 'DATA WING'
This game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Skyward Journey is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 10th October 2018
Download & Availability
Skyward Journey is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Skyward Journey on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
We wish there was a way to just scroll through every regret that everyone has written.
We play this when we cant fall asleep because it makes us calm so we like it.
This game is truly a work of art, Ive had it downloaded for years and we always come back to it when looking for inspiration.
Ive come back to this game many, many times. We seem to remember its existence whenever we need it. Never in our life have we encountered a game that generates such poignancy. You really have to play it to understand, but we will say that skyward bound has changed the trajectory of our life many a time. Its as simple as seeing the regrets of others laid out in front of you, and realizing that youre life is your own to lead.
This game made us uncomfortable. We know, it looks like something to relax you. However, what made us uncomfortable about this game is the feature where sincere regrets that people have submitted to the developer are cast across the screen at the end. The presentation of these little notes is done so in a heart melting and nostalgic way. Lets just say that its done so in a way which can make a grown man sob. But this is a good thing. Once we got honest with ourselves about this discomfort and took these sentimental notes seriously, they began hitting us hard. We all have deep, heart wrenching regrets that alter the course of our lives. If only we could all confess them to the world and find commonality in our shared pain. The world would certainly be a better place. This game is an artful, poignant, and charming gesture towards achieving such a world; if only for a brief moment in which youre alone, at your phone, looking for a way to pass the time.
We were put off by the weird premise. Shouldve given a chance at the start.
Immediately lifted our soul! We have never experienced anything like this before. We felt lighter and emotionally better after playing this for just 10 minutes. What an incredible gift from the developers. Please let The Mighty and other places know about your app! It is amazing.
This game might not seem like much on the surface, but theres a surprise of emotional depth that is very human. This game is an artistic offer of solace and hope to those struggling with the pain of regret. The musical accompaniment are short, mellow free form jazz rifts. Every subtle detail of sound and expression is pretty evocative. Its very rare to find a genuine artistic expression in the machine that is the app industry, so we recommend going on this short and simple journey through the hearts and minds of fellow living beings. It will literally take you no more than a few minutes. To the developers and any and all responsible for making this experience possible. Thank you for creating something so authentic. We wish you all success and happiness and hope your good intentions are met with positive results. We also suggest the developers other app, Data Wing, which is just as clever in more of a storyboard way. Another charming title with a retro theme and great sense of humor.
This game is very relaxing, and its simple but effective to you. Effective as in impactful. You guide birds (though they probably are a metaphor for something else) over sad people which turns them happy and therefor releasing more birds for you. At the end, you read a series of messages that are regrets from people, elderly too. Reading those messages made us cry, because we realized that we were living in some of them, and it opened our mind and heart up. We would recommend it to anyone. Thank you Dan Vogt for creating very simple and creative game that ultimately helped us be a better person.
This game helps us relax a lot! Very peaceful too! Definitely deserves a five star rating. Please make more games like this.
Im surprised Im the 79th reviewer its a good game we like the music.
This game if could call it that really helped us figure out a few things in our life and Im really glad we got it.
We've read some unfortunate regrets. Although one was that they were sorry that their partner didn't love them back.
Well we had no idea what to expect we like birds and water ok Ill get it. Shortly into it we got this calmness…. Just really relaxed. We just layed down to go to sleep and typically it takes 1-2 hours. Think 15? Minutes after we type this Im off to sleep. Yes its about peoples regrets… Feelings. Not sugar coated…. Theres enough of that in the world. Just relax and enjoy it.
Those who say this game is too depressing completely missed its meaning. This is such a beautiful and bittersweet game! We could all lose some of our regrets too, and let them fly off like birds.
Really felt the game! Well done.
Ive been diagnosed with Sever Depression, severe Anxiety/ social anxiety, insomnia, and more & Im constantly downloading apps to help our fidgeting & when we feel our heart pounding & we can feel ourselves loosing control we usually pop a Xanax and play a game but now we just pop open this app & use zen mode. We do not know how but somehow 10 minutes down the road we find ourselves calm from reading the quotes that pop up that inspire us & trying to collect more birds at the same time haha. Unlike other apps we get distracted by competition on this app we get distracted by inspiration. The group that made this app must have great hearts to put something out like this. Thank you so much, you guys helped us out so much, and we dont think you guys will truly know how much Youve helped us. Thank you.
As expected, another great Dan Vogt game. Amazing graphics, beautiful music. Its calming to listen to what note comes from each bird. Theres no incorrect way to pls this game. You take your time. Its calming. We love this game a lot, and we recommend it.
A truly beautiful little game in a sea of worthless apps. This game, especially the random quotes, touched us and affected us. Thank you.
Pure flawless emotional journey.
This game is so beautiful and calming and the information in the game is so true and we love the way the directors displayed it in a way that wasnt insulting. Very good, calming, and just all around a great game. 100% would recommend. We just wish we could forget we saw it so that we could download it again and again and relive it. Very proud of you guys and once again-great game.
We agree with other reviews. Its relaxing, but the regrets would be better replaced with positive affirmations. Some way to have a setting to skip or bypass them would be helpful.
This game did a fantastic job of delivering a message without saying it. Without shoving It in your face. It allowed you to discover it for yourself. We only with the journey was longer.
Wow. We especially love the part where we read the regrets; this game really leaves you to think deeply about your life.
This game really touched our heart and we love it deeply. We also really love Data Wing! Can't wait to see what other brilliant things come from you.
At first we thought it would be a childish game however, its much deeper than that and we dont think think Ill ever grow tired of this.
We dont usually write reviews, but this game is so beautiful! Its got great graphics, relaxing music, easy gameplay, and the regrets are so touching and great to remember later in life. In todays world, not many people get this inspirational break, and we thank you for creating an incredible game that gives a life-changing message.
This game just has such a calming flow to it with beautiful music that just pulls you along and it has such deep and meaningful messages held within. We recommend this game to everyone.
We love this game, we are going through some hard times and this really connected with us. A beautiful game all in all.
This app is calming and surprisingly clever. The quotes are genuine and you realize youre not alone. The regrets are true, no one actually lives without regret and there is nothing wrong with addressing them. There are minute affirmations throughout the releasing journey. We would like to see longer journeys and more affirmations. In a world where many of us deal with mental illnesses, we need something like this. We really hope this app gets the attention it deserves.
This app is amazing and so calming. It really helps you relax and realize some of the regrets in your life and how you can help let them go. We 100% recommended this app.
Words truly cannot express the beauty hidden in this game.
Im not one to usually leave reviews, but our world is crazy right now, and we leave very little time to relax and allow ourselves time to breathe, even with recreation. Take a few minutes each day, volume at a comfortable level, and play this. You breathe easier, and feel relaxed. Try it, we dare you.
Ive never seen a game like this.. We dont even know if we would call it a game. Fate had us download this app at a critical moment in our life.. And it has helped us though it. We put our headphones in and the world fades away fro a few brief moments and we get inspired to stay strong and keep moving Thank you.
This is our new favorite app ever! So relaxing and makes you think about your life.
Plzzzz add more Levels.. & long road The gameplay like a peaceful world Plzz add more & more levels.
We never knew that such a simple game could have a huge impact on us. Reading the regrets made us so sad. Those messages also taught us that you should live life. We hope to see more from this game.
Wonderful metaphor. Helps us relax and feel like we are helping.
The graphics r so calming, as is the music. Our new form of meditation its inspiring to see what note each bird comes with, rly makes u think about life. Theres no wrong way to play, so just enjoy it :) Never see a game like this before.
Dan Vogt made Data Wing, which we unbelievably loved. And he did it again with this game. Dan Vogt makes the best games.
We played his other game, Data Wing and was curious what this was like. Apparently a FEELS machine! Not at all what we were expecting. Im glad we downloaded this and tried it out. Play the first level at least.
Gameplay options (infinite play) would be extremely helpful. Love the premise and the relaxing vibe but you have to stop every few mins to read regrets submitted by real ppl that youve released metaphorically through the birds. Its a lovely image but Id love to plan infinitely through on the journey portion. Its satisfying to see them perk up after the birds go overhead.
We downloaded this game on a whim and we are glad that we did. This is a very calming game that has life lessons and motivational quotes embedded in it that make you think. It does get a bit boring after a few hours since there isnt much challenge but thats okay.
Im confused as to what the colorful bubbles are for.
The game has nice music and intuitive controls, but at the end of the day its just kind of depressing. The premise of the game is that you guide a flock of birds across an ocean with islands full of depressed people. As the birds fly over the islands citizens, they cheer up and release more birds. At the end of each level there are a series of quotes taken from what we assume are users who express their regrets in life. We guess this is intended to inspire the player, but we find it depressing to read these statements.
Intriguing concept. But freezes on the end level animation. Cant progress. IPhone.
In iphone x very very crash and hang out and we must reset the game Plz fix it.
This game is wayyyy too depressing. The last thing we need in our life is more depression.
This isnt a game. All you do is read quotes.
Works only in portrait mode on ipad.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 1.0
- Size: 104.86 MB
- iOS: 7.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor, Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
- Developer: Daniel Vogt
Last updated: 10th October 2018 | Genre: | Developer: Daniel Vogt