/pic7324567.jpg)
Game Info
Year
2024
Collection
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Fractured Sky is a game of deduction, sneaky strategy, and resource management set on a fantastical island. Players lead their kingdom in the hunt for shards of fractured falling stars, which are rumored to grant wishes to those that can amass enough of them.
Using airships, players send their armies to regions with the star shards, but finding those is not always easy and hiring seers to predict their falls can be worth the investment. Over time, players will increase their presence on the island, placing permanent buildings to give them advantages like extra resources or increasing the size of their troop numbers.
Only one wish will be granted, so who will amass the most shards before the final star falls?
—description from the designer
Featured Videos
Rules Teach
Fractured Sky Overview
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 12
This page: 12
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–12 of 12
Video iNQAJsy2STg
Review at 0:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 66621 · mention_pk 162341
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High production quality
- Clear rulebook and player aids
- Complex and deep with great choices, yet straightforward and approachable
- Functional magnetic pieces
- Gorgeous art
- Clever design
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — You are going to be placing out each round, five rounds, your three airships. Once you place your third airship, you are finished for the round. Everybody else gets to go until they also place three airships. So, there's some strategy in deciding when do I end my round because I may want to play lots of other things out first to get me benefits.
- bluffing — So I could use that to bluff and place a ship there maybe a zero or I can use that to know to avoid that region.
- Player Order Selection — Whenever you do it, you get to then pick where your player order is going to be for the next round, which is important because it's used to break ties and it can get you some benefits.
- Resource management — So again, it sounds like a lot, but it's actually very straightforward what's happening. It's simply how you put it all together to make it work.
- Secret objectives — There is then also going to be five secret objectives and they will be scored one per round.
- set collection — The goal of this game is you want the most starfall at the end of the game. Each one of these that you collect is simply worth one point and whoever has the most of these at the end of the game is the winner.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Wow, do they know how to do production.
- They managed to outdo themselves time and time again with production.
- So, I adore this game. I think it is so clever. It is gorgeous. It is so fun.
- I cannot wait to try more games in the IV Studio universe.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video C5Tt2-24u94
Interview at 1:32:37
video_pk 66525 · mention_pk 162111
Click to watch at 1:32:37 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I think that the worst thing that we could possibly do is bore you.
- We're going to make a game that a lot of people don't like and that is totally fine.
- It's all about the tracks. Just like it's all about the cones. It's all about the tracks.
- I think that anyone can be a game designer. And so a lot of times they're flexing those muscles that they don't know they have by telling you how to fix your game.
- I love fusing two things that aren't aren't usually together. That's where you find new.
- The skill ceiling is pretty high, which is kind of interesting given that it is a dice game and you'd think like, wow, the the variability in the dice rolling uh would make it super variable, but no, like Toby's just better at this game and he's going to beat me pretty often.
- I want to be like thinking about something the whole time, you know? I want to be doing something.
- He never wants somebody to mess to mess with his plans. In your games, people mess with plans, which I love.
- We're really proud of where that ended up.
- So, it's like, 'Oh, I can't spend I can't spend my coins anymore because that's points. I got to hold on to those.'
- It's my favorite of our designs. I love it. I'm so happy that it is delivering.
- I don't want to be that guy [the quarterback]. But I can't stop myself.
- The fun part is is we don't lose the collaboration because there's literally a phase at the top of everything.
- It solved another issue for me too, which is I am recognize this myself. I am a quarterback co-op player and I hate that about myself.
- The breakthrough in that project was how do we make it not feel just like we we pasted this over top of Moonrakers.
- So, there's there's a resource that literally is you can change the color or you can change the face of any of your dice and and that is a huge strategy and a huge part of winning is manipulating your dice at the right time and saving them for the right moments.
- The skill ceiling is pretty high, which is kind of interesting given that it is a dice game...
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 4wpF4BGGp1Y
Top 11 List at 18:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65987 · mention_pk 160271
Click to watch at 18:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- unique, table presence with magnetic components (deluxe version)
- combines area control, deduction, and resource management
Cons
- deluxe components are expensive
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Root
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area majority — secretly place contribution to areas to control regions.
- deduction — hidden information and strategic reveal influence outcomes.
- Resource management — manage star fragments and related resources to score and progress.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- 2024 was fantastic. It was such a great year of gaming.
- I just really like the puzzle in this game.
- it's honestly one of my favorite rolling right games.
- Fractured Sky ... is amazing. It just has a really great table presence.
- Chronologic Paris 1920, fantastic release from last year.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7Jr-inmyCYA
The Cardboard Herald Review at 0:04 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 39835 · mention_pk 120355
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- gorgeous production values
- tension and bluffing within a compact framework
- clear thematic flavor tied to airship/skybound imagery
Cons
- perceived depth is somewhat limited relative to the production scale
- some players may crave a deeper, more lasting progression within the base game
Thematic elements
- hidden bidding, bluffing, and area control with compact, tactile components
- Floating airship hubs and regional control in a skyborne setting
- abstract strategic tension with strong production-driven flair
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — regional control influences scoring via starfalls and resource generation
- Auction / Bidding — players secretly bid using chips under their airships to gain temporary control of locations
- hidden bidding — players secretly bid using chips under their airships to gain temporary control of locations
- Resource management — resources are spent and earned to influence future placements and power gains
- secret end-of-round goals — round-end goals are revealed and can be pursued to gain points or resources
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Fractured Sky, a beautiful game of comic collection that looks like a big stompy fighter in the streets, but it's really a simple hidden bidding game in the sheets.
- There's bluffing, secret PS, and a good amount of tension in how best to use your fleeting turns and resources.
- Fractured Sky felt like it needed a little bit more depth.
- Awakening introduces four new modules to Fractured Sky that can be incorporated individually or all at once.
- Second and third are flagships where each round in reverse turn order, players draft a flagship used in place of one of their three normal ships with its own powerful ability and guardians placed as a reward for early placement in regions each round that players activate to impact a location with pretty impressive effects.
- It would be way less original, but probably more to my taste if players just got to get a personal player power and flagship of their own to play with throughout the entirety of the game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WX9EACaSWR0
Jenna's Cozy Corner Discussion at 7:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 36959 · mention_pk 110947
Click to watch at 7:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Deluxe presentation
- Solid core gameplay
- Appealing to players who enjoy area-control twists
Cons
- Deluxe components may feel excessive for some players
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Moonrakers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area majority — Control of regions or zones to gain rewards or influence outcomes.
- Resource management — Gather and allocate resources to optimize actions and scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I actually really enjoyed Moonrakers.
- I did not enjoy Steam Up very much.
- I really really enjoyed Haven.
- Dale of merchants has been on the Shelf of opportunity for a while.
- Dwellings of Elder Vale I freaking love.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GykGsMHoG6M
The Brothers Murph Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 36604 · mention_pk 109844
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Adds depth and variability via modular expansion (flagships and guardians).
- Tension from hidden information and drafting.
- Clear engine for resource-based region control.
Cons
- Complex rules and many moving parts can create downtime and learning curve.
- Rule memory heavy, potential for mis-setup (as noted in video).
Thematic elements
- resource management, area control, modular expansion
- Floating archipelago with islands and starfall phenomena
- emergent, objective-driven play with hidden starfalls
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Airship placement — Players place ships on islands to control resources and starfall scoring, with a global power limit that can be modified by modules.
- building and adjacency — Construct markets, fortresses, and skimmers on hex spaces to influence power and resource delivery.
- hidden victory points — Hidden objectives grant starfalls; end-round scoring based on starfall possession and region control.
- modular expansion drafting — Draft flagships and guardians each round, altering rules and bonuses in the map regions.
- Resource management — Collect wood, stone, gold; use markets, fortresses, and skimmers to influence resource flow.
- scouting and peeking — Spend resources to secretly inspect starfall locations or objectives, revealing information at a cost.
- secret objectives and starfall placement — Hidden objectives grant starfalls; end-round scoring based on starfall possession and region control.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the Nautilor has pinser strike, which gives your other airships in the same region plus three power.
- Two guardians will be present and placed in two regions of the map.
- Second place will gain the resources on the island.
- In the Fractured Sky Awakening expansion, players have several modules they can use in combination to power up their play.
- The guardians module gives special opportunities and challenges that will be present in specific regions of the map.
- This is sponsored by IV Studios.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3fsDe0pSGRA
3 Minute Board Games Review sentiment: mixed
video_pk 13718 · mention_pk 40069
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Impressive production quality
- Unique visual style
- Simple scoring system
- 1-5 players
- Solo mode available
Cons
- Can feel random initially
- Potentially expensive
- Can feel directionless
Thematic elements
- Starfall crystal collection
- Sci-fi aerial exploration
- Competitive exploration
Comparison games
- Moonrakers
- Love Letter
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Most strength in a region wins rewards
- deduction — Deduce locations of Starfall crystals
- hidden orders — Players place ships with hidden markers
- Resource management — Manage gold, iron, and wood resources
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Can you Bluff and out maneuver your opponents and collect the most shards?
- Fractured Sky magnets are always cool
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video zHStdc4RDt8
The Brothers Murph Rules Teach at 0:00 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 12816 · mention_pk 37401
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
- Interesting hidden information mechanics
- Strategic resource and power management
- Dynamic turn order selection
Cons
- Prototype components not final
- Complex rules may be challenging for new players
Thematic elements
- Resource collection and area control
- Fantasy world with islands and star fragments
- Players as star seekers
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Place airships and control power on islands
- Hidden Information — Secret Starfall locations and objectives
- resource collection — Collect wood, stone, and gold from islands
- turn order selection — Players choose turn order after placing airships
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- You do not want the total power value of your three ships to be over 10 if you can help it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BI8vn675OAQ
Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 19:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11435 · mention_pk 33609
Click to watch at 19:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engaging bluffing mechanic
- opponent interaction
- creates memorable moments
- beautiful production with magnet ships
- solid design
Cons
- high price point
Thematic elements
- space exploration
- starfall events
Comparison games
- Raw
- Veiled Fate
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- you can only hate this game if you hate fun
- it's basically poker meets the Mind folks and it is absolutely brilliant
- Cole has tricked me into playing and liking a war game
- I've probably played this game two dozen times since it came out I am obsessed with it
- if you like the vibe of Ivy Studios stuff then fractured sky will likely hit as well
- everything just flows wonderfully in this game
- this is hands down my favorite entry in that genre
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 90ekXFQ3auw
Board Game Hangover Top List at 4:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6978 · mention_pk 20660
Click to watch at 4:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- exceptional interaction
- tight, bluff-heavy play
- great with five players
Cons
- may be asymmetric and chaotic for new players
Thematic elements
- Negotiation, bluffing, and hidden information
- Space confrontation and planetary domination
Comparison games
- Cosmic Encounter
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hidden Information — Power and ships are concealed, creating surprise and tension.
- highly interactive negotiation — Players bluff and negotiate for power with other players.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- zero downtime
- tons of interaction
- cringe shot
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jxt0ddH7MVI
The Dice Tower Review at 0:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6594 · mention_pk 19532
Click to watch at 0:57 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautiful components
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- space
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Welcome back to the Dice Tours. We take a look at another shelf in the Dice Tower Library.
- if you like games about delivering the mail, this is it
- Just a solid game of quick, snappy turns
- AIA, what a great game about shipping. This is a fantastic, terrific game.
- You like Dominion, but you want it for dice. This is your game.
- Very very popular games all them. That's why there's two of each.
- Although, frankly, you should always play with the expansion.
- I just really am loving SETI. Fantastic game.
- I do like this game. I have a soft spot for it.
- Vast, not as popular as its successor, root
- My favorite game here is The Great Museum Caper. Nope. I forgot Magical Athletes there. Magical Athlete is amazing.
- I just love Tumbling Dice.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IlKlYeA_yOU
Good Time Society Playthrough sentiment: positive
video_pk 5786 · mention_pk 17103
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Interesting area control mechanics
- Magnetic airship components
- Strategic depth
- Engaging player interaction
Cons
- Complex rules
- High tension gameplay
Thematic elements
- Appeasing a sea creature god by collecting star fragments
- Floating islands with airships
- Competitive exploration
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players compete to control islands and gain resources
- Hidden Information — Players place airships with hidden power values
- Resource management — Collect and use resources to build markets, fortresses, and skimmers
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I have two fractured pieces of my heart already
- My heart is like racy and I've it's been Racing for like 30 minutes now
- That's a sign of a good game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–12 of 12
Game Deep Dive