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When I checked out Aether & Iron from Seismic Squirrel at PAX East last year, I was immediately intrigued. Now that I’ve played through the final release, I’m thoroughly impressed by the art style, narrative depth, and character writing, even if I occasionally found myself wishing for a bit more gameplay variety in this alternate-history noir experience.
The Ascent of New York
The game is set in a reimagined 1930s New York. The world has been transformed into a vertical metropolis following the discovery of Aether. This anti-gravity technology fuels a city that sprawls toward the heavens rather than across the ground, sparking a ruthless power struggle as the global elite fight for control of the skies.
Stepping into the boots of Gia, a down-on-her-luck smuggler, I was thrust into a world that feels like a collision between Bioshock Infinite’s verticality and Chinatown’s gritty cynicism, with a dash of The Fifth Element’s flair. Gia is a wisecracking, tough-as-nails protagonist who lives her life on the edge of a hover-car seat, guided by her gut and her custom ride.
Wits, Wagers, and Wisecracks
The game opens with Gia meeting a low-level boss, a sequence that immediately showcases the game’s strong narrative bones. The voice acting is standout, particularly in the tense spoken dialogue as Gia faces off against the mysterious Mr. Blanc.
Much like Disco Elysium, the meat of the experience lies in exploration and dialogue. Success depends on testing your skills and wits against a world that doesn’t play fair; on-screen dice rolls pop up constantly, leveraging character skills that you can grow and enhance. While Aether & Iron lacks the sprawling psychological depth of Disco Elysium, the skill-based rolls keep the tension high, making every conversation feel like a high-stakes gamble where failure is often just as interesting as success.
The heart of the story involves Gia’s growing bond with Nellie, a brilliant but naive scientist she is tasked with escorting through the “Lowers.” As they investigate the expanding Gravity Well that threatens to drop the city into the Atlantic, they navigate a landscape controlled by self-declared Barons who treat collateral damage as a cost of doing business.
High-Octane Hexes
When words and wits fail, however, the conflict moves from the streets to the skies. The vehicle sequences contain the game’s primary interactive combat and its core customization. Progression is focused on enhancing your combat skills or buffing your dice rolls, and almost every item found is used for vehicle repairs, augments, or bribes.
Gia starts with a high-end vehicle but is soon forced into a “clunker” that serves as a blank canvas for upgrades. Combat is turn-based and takes place on shifting, morphing roadways. Turn order is dictated by vehicle weight and perks, with action points spent on movement, attacks, or tactical repairs. The combat is mechanically sound and visually striking, though it lacks the sheer variety found in the narrative segments and occasionally feels a bit repetitive during longer stretches.
The Verdict
Overall, I had a fantastic time exploring the world of Aether & Iron. While the combat is a bit “Disco Elysium light” in terms of depth, the well-crafted noir atmosphere and compelling characters more than carry the experience. The stunning art and audio presentation elevate the game into something truly special.
Aether & Iron is a stylish, gravity-defying triumph, a must-play for anyone who values atmosphere, character depth, and a rich film-noir soul.
We were given a Steam code for review purposes, and Aether & Iron will be available for PC via Steam on March 31, 2026.
