The game's design utilized the Unreal Engine 4,[2] focusing on cel-shaded 3D graphics, including comic book-styled text boxes.

Beyond a Steel Sky takes place within a far-future Earth, in which mega-cities, such as Union City, exist within a world that has been ravaged by nuclear war and disasters.

[7] Dark Station praised the game: "Beyond a Steel Sky is in many ways respectful of genre traditions but with modern wisdom and presentation.

"[15] PC Invasion wrote that "Beyond a Steel Sky has some technical issues but its excellent writing and interesting storytelling make it well worth experiencing.

"[16] Godisageek similarly wrote that "the humour and mystery are enough to carry Beyond A Steel Sky through, and if you did play the original and you do remember it, there’s just enough nostalgia here to make it worth a return to Union City.