Echoes of Elysium challenges survival genre norms from the moment you boot it up. Rather than spawning in a dense woodland with rudimentary tools, you awaken aboard a dormant airship suspended among drifting islands. This aerial introduction—complete with inverted waterfalls and floating debris—reshapes expectations, trading earthy grit for celestial wonder.

Gameplay begins with a grounded vessel that demands reactivation. Fuel production becomes your first hurdle, initiating a chain of crafting steps that underscore the demo’s progression. Movement mechanics initially frustrate: early ship speed feels glacial, and islands lack interactive depth. Yet traversal shines through inventive jetpack techniques—precise boosts and midair pauses create a rhythmic glide, outpacing sluggish engines.

Aesthetic parallels to The Falconeer’s sweeping skyscapes temper pacing concerns. Cloud-kissed horizons and painterly rock formations reward patient exploration, though the demo’s scope limits progression visibility. Technical hiccups surface—geometry glitches trapped resources, UI elements lingered post-trigger, and multiple crashes occurred—but these early-access blemishes didn’t dominate play sessions.

What captivates most is the shipbuilding ethos. Every gathered crystal and forged component feeds into customizing your floating base. This tangible growth loop fosters attachment unmatched by generic base construction. While narrative threads remain hidden in this build, the demo excels at showcasing scalable architecture systems.

Loric Games’ vertical slice reveals potent potential beneath its rough edges. Skyborne survival mechanics feel genuinely novel, and the studio’s vision for persistent fleet development intrigues. Current sluggishness in early hours suggests needed pacing adjustments, but the foundation warrants attention from crafting enthusiasts. This preview captures an ambitious alpha state—one that could soar with iterative polishing.

Prospective players should temper expectations for a polished product while recognizing the studio’s distinctive approach. For those valuing creative vessel construction over instant gratification, this Steam Next Fest demo offers a compelling, if unrefined, glimpse at skybound survival’s possibilities.

Preview conducted on PC with code provided by the publisher.