Choose Journey first if you want a focused desert adventure with the possibility of a brief, anonymous meeting with another player. Choose Sky: Children of the Light first if you want a shared online world, cross-play with friends, customization, and events that invite you to return. Neither is a universal winner: they offer different kinds of play, according to their official descriptions.
How are Journey and Sky different?
Journey is framed around one clear passage: cross a mysterious desert toward a distant mountain, with the chance to encounter companions online. thatgamecompany’s description of Journey emphasizes its visual world, music, and anonymous online encounters. That framing makes it the more natural starting point for a contained adventure whose social element is a possibility, not the main destination.
Sky: Children of the Light is presented by its official store as a multiplayer online role-playing game set in an animated kingdom. Its publisher describes cross-play across devices, while the game’s broader framing includes customization, seasons, and events. Sky’s Steam store page and thatgamecompany’s Sky support material provide details about the game and platform support.
This is a difference in emphasis, not a measured comparison of map size, playtime, difficulty, quality, or player population. Journey’s official description centers on a journey toward a mountain; Sky’s centers on an animated kingdom and an ongoing multiplayer experience.
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- Experience the expansive combat system, richly-realized world, and stirring story of the 2nd chapter of the Trails series! By carrying over your clear data from 1st Chapter, you can obtain exciting bonus items that will help you on your journey.
- Overpower your enemies with new Crafts and S-Crafts! Link your characters' attacks during Quick Battles with the new Brave Rush, and make full use of the orbment system for access to Arts.
- Dive into an intricately woven narrative to uncover the conspiracies threatening the Kingdom of Liberl.
- Enjoy a variety of new content in the sequel, including minigames like fishing and poker, cooking with your companions, and fan-favorite characters joining as playable party members.
- Like Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, this remake will have updated English and Japanese voice, and English, German, French, and Spanish text language support.
Which should you play first?
| If you want… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A focused adventure and a mysterious landscape | Journey | Its developer describes a desert crossing toward a distant mountain, with online companions as a possible part of the trip. Source: thatgamecompany. |
| A social world to explore over time | Sky: Children of the Light | The official store describes a multiplayer online role-playing game in an animated kingdom. Source: Sky’s Steam store page. |
| To play with friends on different devices | Sky: Children of the Light | The publisher says Sky supports cross-play across devices. Check current support for the specific platforms and accounts you and your friends use. Source: thatgamecompany support. |
| A free starting point | Sky: Children of the Light | Its official store lists it as free to play; the publisher says optional real-money purchases are not required to enjoy the game. Source: Steam store; Source: thatgamecompany support. |
Is Sky like Journey?
They share a developer and a strong emphasis on an evocative world, but their social designs are not the same. In Journey, the developer describes anonymous companions encountered during a desert adventure. In Sky, the official store describes a multiplayer online world, and the publisher highlights cross-play. So if what you liked about Journey’s premise is a chance encounter, Sky is not simply the same structure expanded; it is the more explicitly social, ongoing option.
Can you play Sky with friends?
The publisher says Sky supports cross-play across devices, which makes it the more direct fit of the two for players whose priority is joining friends. Platform catalogs and account behavior can vary or change, so check the game’s current support information and the relevant regional store before choosing a platform. Sky support.
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What does Sky cost, and does Journey have a current price?
Sky is listed as free to play on its official store. Optional purchases can include cosmetics, seasonal passes, currency packs, and gifts; thatgamecompany says these purchases are not needed to enjoy the game. What is available and what it costs can vary by platform and region. Steam’s Sky listing and publisher support are the appropriate places to check current details.
Journey is a separately released game, but a current price is not established here. Its historical launch announcements should not be treated as today’s price. Check the store for your region and platform before buying.
Where can you play them?
Official materials indicate that Sky is available across mobile, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and PC via Steam. Journey has official historical announcements for PlayStation 4 and PC, as well as an iOS release announcement. These announcements establish releases, not a guarantee that every version remains available in every region today. Check your platform’s store for current access, price, and edition details.
- thatgamecompany’s Journey iOS announcement also noted that the PC release had launched earlier in 2019.
- thatgamecompany’s 2015 PlayStation 4 post documented that release.
What should you know about their scale?
The studio says Journey received over 100 industry awards and media accolades, with some naming it Game of the Year in 2012. That is the developer’s reported figure, not an independently verified current count. thatgamecompany’s Journey page.
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In a June 1, 2026 announcement for a companion art book, thatgamecompany said Sky had reached more than 300 million downloads as of May 2026. That is a publisher-reported download figure, not a measure of current active players. The two numbers describe different things and should not be read as a head-to-head popularity comparison. thatgamecompany’s announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which game is the better starting point?
Start with Journey for a focused adventure whose premise is a mysterious crossing and a possible anonymous encounter. Start with Sky: Children of the Light if you want to explore a multiplayer world, play with friends across supported devices, and return for ongoing events. The choice is about the experience you want now, not a claim that one game is objectively better.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
