Beneath a Steel Sky is set in futuristic Australia, where giant cities are owned by corporations. The game follows Robert Foster, a Gap-dwelling tribe member, as he escapes from soldiers who capture him. With his droid Joey, they must navigate the decaying city, befriending both rich and poor citizens while uncovering the dark truth about LINC , the computer that controls the city.
The gameplay involves exploration and puzzle-solving, using traditional point-and-click adventure mechanics. The game world is dynamic, thanks to the Virtual Theatre engine, which allows characters to move freely without player input.