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In a floating 1930s New York, smuggler Gia builds a crew, faces dice-based story checks, and battles rival cars turn by turn.
Released 30 Mar 2026
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Immerse yourself in this Decopunk Narrative RPG set in an alternate 1930s where anti-gravitational technology has taken cars, roads, and even New York City into the sky. Muster a crew, master tactical turn-based combat, and unravel the dark secrets lurking beneath the floating metropolis.
Developed by Seismic Squirrel, Chaos Theory Games · Published by Seismic Squirrel
In an alternate 1930s, anti-gravity technology has lifted New York’s cars, roads, and districts into the sky. You play Gia, a smuggler navigating a city divided by class and controlled by powerful barons.
Travel between locations, investigate scenes, and speak with the city’s inhabitants and your companions. Dialogue choices and dice-based skill checks draw on Gia’s Hustle, Smarts, and Brass talents, while recruited crew members bring their own stories and abilities.
Combat takes place in turn-based vehicle battles. Choose crew members and cars, then equip and upgrade vehicles with weapons, armor, and other gear to shape your options in a fight. Leveling talents supports both social checks and combat.
In the supplied reviews, players who enjoyed the game often point to its Art Deco noir atmosphere, hand-drawn presentation, and fully voiced dialogue. They also praise the characters and worldbuilding, and some find the turn-based car battles a welcome change of pace. Opinions differ on the combat’s depth and balance, how much choices affect the story, and the game’s polish.
With a writing team that includes credits on Far Cry, Mass Effect, and Sovereign Syndicate, Aether & Iron brings to life an alternate timeline in which anti-gravitational aether technology has reshaped the city skyline and deepened social divides.
Thoroughly researched and inspired by real-life counterparts from 1930s New York City, explore its backstreets, dive into its seedy underbelly, marvel at stunning architecture, and peel back the city's many layers of power and greed.
Your choices shape not just your path, but the city's fate as well. Will you rise as a savior, withdraw as a renegade, or evolve into a symbol of resilience in a world of authoritarian barons and high-stakes strategy?
What good is a smuggler without a good getaway car? Assemble a wide range of incredible aether-powered vehicles and unlock new tactical options to try out in an interesting twist on strategic, turn-based vehicular battles.
Tinker with your rides to suit your playstyle. Do you prefer moving hard and fast, relying on speed for quick getaways? Or perhaps you might prefer to slap on some steel plates and bust out the grenade launcher!
The streets of New York can be unforgiving without reliable backup. Recruit unique and resourceful companions to watch your back, and follow their stories. Each is armed with a range of talents that can make all the difference in a jam.
We have over 200 voiced characters in the game, here are a few:
Dive Into An Underground Life: Navigate secret paths, dodge enemies, hide contraband, and stay ahead of the big bosses out to get you. Perhaps join a rebellion along the way.
Your Choices Matter: Your decisions will shape the unfolding history of New York and the lives of its citizens, determining whether they will be able to find hope in a corrupt world of manipulation and violence.
Grow Your Talents: Level up your Hustle, Smarts, and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. But no matter how good you are always a dice roll away from success or failure.
Drive In Style: Upgrade your aether-powered rides to suit your playstyle. Enhance your cars with every trick in the smuggler’s toolkit - hidden compartments, smoke dispensers, and flamethrowers of course.
Hand-drawn Art: Inspired by 1930’s Detective Comics and the Art Deco period, Aether & Iron brings a unique visual identity to gameplay.
Full English Language Voice Acting: Experience an alt-history 1930s New York directly through the voices of its inhabitants. Learn their stories; sometimes funny, sometimes philosophical, usually tragic.
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics.
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 28 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| Demo | View demo on Steam |
| DLC / extras | 2 listed on Steam |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Metacritic | 82/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
