🏆 Sky of Tides: GDC 2026 Best in Play Winner!

We are thrilled to share that Sky of Tides has won GDC Best in Play! This is a massive milestone for us, and we couldn’t have reached it without our community and partners: Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, and publisher ESDigital Games.

Heading to GDC in San Francisco? Be sure to check out Sky of Tides in person at Booth 2431 in the Festival Hall floor, starting March 11-13.
Don't forget to wishlist the game!

-The Lofty Sky team

The eighth entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is now available, featuring Rin’s quirky and endearing robot sidekick, Reef. Available on Wattpad as illustrated text and audio diary voiced by Damien Haas!

Reef, the brilliant mechanical drifter, must rely on ingenuity, courage, and quick thinking to survive the Road to Nowhere.

This is truly the best novel I have ever read. As soon as I finish it, I will delete this memory and read it again for the first time.

Zerek looks at the path that led him to where he is now and the agents who want to steal his future. Talia kisses his cheek and whispers, “In case we don’t make it, there is one thing—

Bomp-bomp-bomp! Operation Rhodon has commenced. 

My sensors go black. The buried memories of this operation come forward along with an audio message from Father.

Read the full story on Wattpad → The Road To Nowhere[www.wattpad.com], or listen to the audio version free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter at https://skyoftides.com or join the Discord community.

Next up: “Alchemy” — Rin D’Lorah uncovers lost Numen Tomes with her father while avoiding the watchful eyes of the Syndicate, learning that discovery often comes with danger.

The seventh entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is available now, featuring Distribution Minister Kenneth Sohan. Available in text with custom illustrations on Wattpad and as an audio diary voiced by Marc Graue.

Kenneth Sohan faces political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and the harsh realities of the Syndicate as a new member tries to manipulate events in his favor. With allies and friends at risk, every choice matters—and every decision has consequences.

Boylan whispers, “Uh oh, somebody’s gonna get it.”
Usually Boylan’s snark adds a bit of levity to these long meetings, but I sense something serious, so I wave Boylan off and lean into Genin’s remarks.

Genin lifts his arm and makes a fist. “All of us shout ‘Loyalty is Unity’ whenever we’re expected to, but those of us who dwell in the Chairman’s Tower and live in the heart of the Syndicate need to shout those words even in solitude.” Genin shifts his gaze and zeros in on me. “Minister Sohan, have you ever heard the old saying ‘a scud in the rytails ruins the crate’? ”

I’m caught off guard. He’s up to something, but I don’t know what. I remain as hard and still as crystal. Genin pauses, letting the tension hang in the air. Then he shifts his gaze to Boylan. “Scud in the rytails …”

Boylan squirms in his chair and looks at me.

I remain unmoved. The color drains from his face.

Genin has something. 

Read the full story on Wattpad → The Alchemy Festival[www.wattpad.com], or listen to the audio version free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter at https://skyoftides.com or join the Discord community[discord.com].

Next up: “The Road to Nowhere” — Reef must outwit someone close for his own survival.

The sixth entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is here, introducing Seed Sid—soon to become Sage Sid. Available on Wattpad as illustrated text and as an audio diary voiced by B Marks.

Follow Sid as a journey across Yantar’s seas culminates in a moment of humility, heroism, and divine recognition. From scattering rytail seeds to an encounter with Eldric Gildeon, Sid’s ordinary life is forever changed when Numen herself entrusts him with the Tome of Yantar.

Eldric clears his throat. His brow furrows. “I plan to. In fact, that’s why I scoured the coast looking for you.”
“How did you know to look for me along the coast?”

“You really don’t know how famous you are, do you Seed Sid?”

“Oh, I’m not famous. I mean plenty of people around here know me. They like my songs, my stories, and they appreciate the rytails I leave growing in my wake. You might say I’m a local celebrity, but famous? I’m nothing like you Gildeons.”

“You are humble. A virtue I admire, but do not possess. Plenty of Yantarians talk and travel. The story of Seed Sid is known all over the world. Many don’t believe you’re real, but I did. So, I came to find you.”

I dance a little jig for this fancy fella. “And how do you like what you found?”

Eldric smiles. “I’m even happier than I thought I would be. I want you to join us.

Read the full story on Wattpad → https://www.wattpad.com/1476200458-sky-of-tides-short-stories-6-the-muffin-sage-sid, or listen to the audio version free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter at https://skyoftides.com or join the Discord community.

Next up: “The Alchemy Festival” — Kenneth Sohan must navigate loyalty, power, and betrayal as the Syndicate’s secrets threaten everything he holds dear.

The fifth entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is now available, introducing Yana. Available in two formats — illustrated text on Wattpad and as an audio diary voiced by Chelly Li.

This story follows Yana as she competes in Talent Under the Tides, the hottest show in Numen9, balancing ambition, rivalries, and unexpected friendships. Between glitter, high-stakes performances, and the pressures of showbiz, Yana must navigate a world where talent, luck, and caution collide.

“Knock, knock. Yana, are you ready?”
It’s my mom. She really gets on my nerves. Every time I win, she acts like she’s the one that wins. “Yes.”

My mom’s dumb face peeks in the door. Her makeup is so thick it looks like she put it on with a spatula. She says, “There’s someone here that wants to meet you.”

“Is it another mom who wants a tip for her daughter? I’m not trying to help the competition.”

“No, sweetie. It’s Electra Rayne from the—”

“O.M.N., Electra Rayne!” I jump out of my seat and smooth my dress. Why is the most syndi singer in numen9 asking for me?

Read the full story now on Wattpad → https://www.wattpad.com/1476200618-sky-of-tides-short-stories-5-fame-yana, or listen to the audio version voiced by Chelly Li, free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter at https://skyoftides.com or join the Discord community.

Next up: “The Muffin” — follow Seed Sid, whose quiet life on Yantar is about to change forever.

The fourth entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is available now, introducing Nikki Extremis. Available in two formats — as illustrated text on Wattpad and as an audio diary voiced by Zoleka Vundla.

This story follows Nikki as she tags along with her cousin Mick to a secret spot above the road where cage cruisers pass. What starts as childish mischief quickly becomes a terrifying lesson when the Syndicate’s agents are near.

Mick finally brought me along with him today. He said he found something on the other side of the forest that could make us rich. I’ve never thought about being rich before.
“Hey, slow down, Mick.”

He turns and smiles. “Your legs are too short.” He’s three years older than me, and he never lets me forget it.

I put my hands on my hips. “Well, I can’t just snap my fingers and make them longer can I?”

Mick laughs. I love it when he laughs. “You’ve got some fire. That’s why I’m bringing you out here.”

“You saying, you want me to burn this place down?” I say with maybe a little too much enthusiasm.

Read the full story now on Wattpad → https://www.wattpad.com/1476198711-sky-of-tides-short-stories-4-cage-cruisers-nikki, or listen to the audio version voiced by Zoleka Vundla, free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter athttps://skyoftides.comhttps://skyoftides.com or join the Discord community[discord.com].

Next up: “Fame” — a look behind the curtain at Yana, whose life under the spotlight tells a different story than the one the Syndicate wants you to see.

The third entry in our Sky of Tides Stories series is now available, diving into the story of Streak Tybo. Available in two exciting formats — as an audio diary voiced by Joe Zieja, and in text form with custom illustrations on Wattpad.

This story follows Streak on the day he graduates from the SAiLS Academy—the proud moment that binds him to the Syndicate and the moment his loyalties and impulses begin to collide. Surrounded by ceremony and the bite of youthful rivalry, Streak faces a choice that reveals how easily a single act can change everything.

“Streak! Come back!” i freeze. Her voice fills my mind and the rest doesn’t matter anymore. “It’s what he wants. He wants to be a victim. He wants to disrupt the day.” Sunny’s words wash away the rage. “But look at that.” i point at the pillar. “Everyone is going to see that he defaced this… mighty pillar… on sacred SAiLS soil.”
Agent Sunny swoops down and snaps up the laser marker. “i can fix this.” She begins to finish what Duncan started.

“What are you doing?!” i look around, a bit shocked that Sunny, my love…my love? That she’s vandalizing the Academy.

Read the full story now on Wattpad → The ‘i’ is Little in SAiLS[www.wattpad.com], or listen to the audio version voiced by Joe Zieja, free for a limited time when you subscribe to the newsletter athttps://skyoftides.com

https://skyoftides.com

or join the Discord community.

Next up: “Cage Cruisers” — meet Nikki Extremis, a fearless kid who follows her cousin into danger and discovers the world is far harsher than she imagined.

🚨 The wait is over 🚨

Sky of Tides and Verse VR are officially part of the Women-Led Games event on Steam. The event runs December 10 to 18 and celebrates incredible games led by women. We are so excited to be featured alongside other amazing titles.

🌊 Sky of Tides add it to your wishlist and dive into its story-rich world
🥽Verse VR on sale until December 12 so now is the perfect time to grab it:

https://testx-steam.c5game.com/steamstore/app/2958710/Verse_VR/?curator_clanid=45031543

Tune In to the full event here and support games led by women :🎮 👇

https://testx-steam.c5game.com/steamstore/curator/43765559/sale/WomenLedGamesTGA2025

Jump in, explore, and celebrate some incredible games with us. Let’s goooo! 🎉✨

🎮 We are excited to announce Sky of Tides is part of the Choose Wisely Festival! Running Dec 8–15, this festival showcases over 390 narrative games across all genres. Discover immersive stories, support indie developers, and join the celebration of game storytelling!

✨Hosted by STUDIO EPHUA!✨

👇 Watch the Choose Wisely Festival Official Opening Showcase here!

https://youtu.be/cL3ZKLS4s4I?si=89S8mMywNg1zR56S