Ambrosia Sky Respects The Dead In Ways Video Games Often Lack, And It’s Refreshing

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During events such as Summer Game Fest, where demos and trailers are abundant from all angles, the exceptional encounters that truly linger in my memory are those that resonate with me long after my demo session has concluded. It doesn’t matter if it’s the game I play or the discussions surrounding it; the games that remain at the forefront of my thoughts days or even weeks later are the ones I strongly encourage others to delve into as well.

For the SGF 2025 event, the game that particularly caught my attention was Ambrosia Sky, the debut production from Soft Rains Studio based in Toronto. The short demo I played gave off a vibe similar to Powerwash Simulator, but what made it stand out was the intriguing and contemplative narrative woven into the cleanup missions. This narrative has left an indelible impression on me since then. Ambrosia Sky exhibits a unique sense of respect and reverence towards the deceased, which is rarely found in video games. I believe this emotional resonance will result in a deeply moving story when the game is fully developed.

Venturing into Ambrosia Sky, I find myself embodying the character of Dalia, a woman serving as the “Scarab,” a role akin to a mortician in this peculiar universe. My job is to dispose of deceased beings, gather mushroom specimens surrounding them, and analyze these samples in an attempt to eradicate the invasive fungus plaguing the cosmos. As Dalia, I’ve been sent to investigate a cluster colony near Saturn’s rings, where I must examine the remains of a recently departed individual.

As the demonstration starts, I’m equipped with an instrument resembling a pistol that ejects cleansing water and other components to eradicate fungi obstructing my way. Some types of fungi possess unique traits – one strain has an electric charge which can cause harm if I approach too closely, while another is extremely flammable and can be eliminated gradually with strategic bursts of fire from my device.

As a fan, I find myself in a situation where one room challenges me to channel electricity to an inactive power outlet adjacent to it, allowing the door to open. Through experimentation, I discover that I can fashion a projectile of electrified fungus from my tool and use it to trace a path from a nearby ceiling light to the energy terminal, thus supplying it with the necessary voltage for me to advance. It’s quite clever, really, as this method offers a satisfying “aha!” moment and leaves me intrigued about how other elemental abilities might be employed in the game.

As I accomplish my goal and initiate the procedure for handling the body and obtaining the sample, that’s when Ambrosia Sky transformed from a mere cleaning game into an engaging intellectual journey. Instead of just observing as the corpse vanishes and turns into the necessary sample, I see it through Dalia’s perspective as she starts the process, and then she gracefully kneels before the deceased, her hands folded in her lap.

She adopts a pose showing contemplation, reverence, and honor for the deceased, which I found touching and profound. In her unique manner, she was offering respect to the departed, making this moment not something extra or forced (by pressing a button), but an integral part of the gameplay.

This, co-founder Joel Burgess told me after the demo ended, was completely intentional.

In discussing post-mortem care, Burgess mentioned a unique blend of sterility and intimacy. He emphasized that treating the deceased with reverence is crucial in their work, yet finding the right way to express this respect through actions and visual representation presents a significant challenge.

In the course of creating her character, Dalia (whose name seems fitting given her connection to themes of mortality, though Burgess didn’t clarify) underwent several revisions regarding how she interacts with the deceased. According to Burgess, these adjustments included questions like, “Should Dalia be handling objects gently or is she being too rough?” He also mentioned that the kneeling position depicted in a demo was another attempt to express reverence.

This story has a personal connection for Dalia as well, hinted at through in-game messages but not explicitly stated. You see, Dalia was once part of this community, and the individual she’s assigned to retrieve is someone she knew 15 years ago when she departed. If you explore the target’s terminal near where the body is found, you’ll discover that he saved a message from Dalia before her departure.

In essence, Dalia deeply values those she is assigned to perform final rites for, and Burgess and his team delve into this sentiment through Dalia, as well as utilizing environmental storytelling such as the terminal above. As Dalia encounters each body en route to her destination, she often analyzes them, and subsequently, offers a sympathetic remark, such as, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.

In Dalia’s narrative, there are multiple personal aspects hidden within: The game indicates that for a corpse to be gathered by a Scarab for this study, the deceased must agree before they die. It’s important to note that our subject agreed just before he passed away; Burgess hints that if you delve deeper, you’ll discover that the deceased was aware Dalia had transformed into a Scarab and would be responsible for his collection should he consent.

In Ambrosia Sky, the game where you merely clean fungus from a space station initially seems straightforward. However, it’s the intricate narrative layers hidden beneath that make it fascinating. Moreover, the central theme of dealing with death and honoring those who have departed resonates universally, which is why this aspect was made pivotal in the storyline by Burgess and his team.

In the end, death touches us all, regardless of our cultural differences, personal histories, or age. When the film Ambrosia Sky is out, its themes could strike a chord with anyone who chooses to watch it, as we’re all bound to face loss and mortality at some point.

Ambrosia Sky is “coming soon” on PC.

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2025-06-17 18:39