Summary
Video games give us the opportunity to live out adventures we have always dreamed of, including exploring the world way up high in the clouds. Levels that are set in the sky can be some of the most memorable in all of gaming, wowing you with ethereal sights and an almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Sky levels don’t always get as much love or attention as other popular biomes, but they really deserve to. Whenever a game does take you soaring above the ground, the results are usually pretty magical. When done right, a sky level simply rises above anything else. These are the greatest examples of the trope.
8Air Man’s Stage: Mega Man 2
The Blue Bomber Takes To The Sky
Air Man’s stage inMega Man2 is a great example of a sky level that leans into the dangers of being thousands of feet in the air. Every jump, every platform, every annoying Pipi that tries to egg your face feels deliberately designed to send you falling to your death if you make one small mistake.
That tension in the gameplay is juxtaposed with the genuinely beautiful 8-bit visuals, showing large fluffy white clouds in front of a vibrant blue sky. When you throw in a fun boss fight that requires you to dodge mini tornadoes, you have a sky level that you always look forward to playing in any Mega Man 2 run.
The Floating Continent is encountered at roughly the halfway point ofFinal Fantasy6, and separates the game’s two acts between the World of Balance and World of Ruin. Its significance in the game’s plot is monumental for this reason, acting as the backdrop for some of the most consequential narrative moments from anyFinal Fantasy story.
From the moment your party lands on the Floating Continent, it’s clear that this location doesn’t adhere to the same whimsical charm as most other sky levels. Instead, there is a palpable sense of dread and danger during every moment of your time on the Floating Continent, culminating in a literal earth-shattering event that still gets talked about to this day.
6Sky Land: Super Mario Bros. 3
A Perfect Selection Of Sky Stages
Putting Sky Land in a list about the best sky levels may be seen as cheating, as it is technically an entire world in Super Mario Bros. 3 that contains several sky-themed levels. Each of those individual levels, however, feels like they are just one thread of the larger tapestry that is Sky Land: An iconic world that truly takes you on an adventure.
You begin the fifth world of Super Mario Bros. 3 in a map that looks just like any other generic grassy world in a Mario game. However, after completing the tower level, you ascend to the clouds and complete the rest of the world in levels that float above the ground below. Just as with Mega Man 2, the perils of platforming in the clouds are emphasized to the hilt here. The mere mention of those Para-Beetles is probably enough to terrify those veteran players who remember World 5-6.
There are few moments in gaming as exhilarating as when the fifth colossus swoops down in your direction, daring you to grab onto its wings and take to the air. Shadow of the Colossus revolves around awe-inspiring encounters with vast, formidable beings, but few battles are as engaging from the off as this one. What’s incredible is that the rest of the battle only gets more exciting from there.
Everything about the fifth colossus battle fromShadow of the Colossussends shivers down your spine. The sweeping music, the unique setting, and the constant pressure of balancing strikes on its body with the need to remain airborne up there as it writhes and spins all make this one memorable boss stage. Think of it as a dark fantasy take onthe encounter with Gelato Beach’s Sand Bird in Super Mario Sunshine.
Like any greatMario Kart 8 Deluxetrack, Cloudtop Cruise has a plethora of memorable elements that add up to a truly wondrous whole. The floating airship, the leafy beanstalk, and the daunting thundercloud each leave a strong impression and result in one of thebest courses in the game.
It’s also hard to discuss Cloudtop Cruise without mentioning its incredible music. It switches from a sweeping orchestral arrangement when the weather’s nice to a hard rock sound once you enter the thundercloud, all leading up to a homage to the iconic Gusty Garden Galaxy tune. Atmosphere is just as much a part of a track’s fun factor as its design, and Cloudtop Cruise gets that just right.
WhileThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward SwordandThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomlean into the sky motif more than other series entries, this game features what could be Link’s most unforgettable trip to the clouds above. City in the Sky is a dungeon quite unlike any other, with an aesthetic that looks like a surrealist painting and an atmosphere that truly feels otherworldly.
Other than its unique look and design, what most people remember City in the Sky for is its item: the Double Clawshot. One of the greatest Zelda items ever, the Double Clawshot makes navigating this tricky dungeon an absolute blast, as you zip around its layout like some kind of Hyrulean Spider-Man.
2Sky Sanctuary Zone: Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Watching Over Angel Island
Sky Sanctuary Zone feels like it could have been taken straight froma Studio Ghibli film. Its aesthetic blend of ancient ruins covered in greenery and a floating backdrop of clouds is one of the most striking of any zone in the series, and ensures it lives long in your memory after finishing the game.
Thankfully, its gameplay is just as captivating. As either Sonic or Knuckles, you navigate crumbling pillars, ascend large stone towers, and bounce on clouds as you make your way through this vibrant zone. The theme isn’t just for looks, then, providing unique platforms and objects to aid in exploration. Sky Sanctuary certainly seems to be an apt name for this place.
1Columbia: BioShock: Infinite
The Clear Winner In Any Universe Or Dimension
BioShock Infinite went all in on the concept of a sky level by setting the game in the mesmerizing floating city of Columbia. Its aesthetic and deep lore make it a fascinating setting that manages to stand toe-to-toe with the already-iconic underwater city of Rapture from the originalBioShock.
Exploring Columbia throughout the game reveals both the beauty and brutality that the city contains at every level. Regardless of the corruption that festers away at its core, it’s hard not to be swept up by the magical sights and sounds of this city floating above the rest of the earth. It’s a diverse world in its own right, brought to life in style.
