As Foster delves deeper into the city's inner workings, he meets a diverse cast of characters and uncovers the secrets behind the AI that governs MINOS, the software that controls every aspect of society. Along the way, he must solve logic puzzles to hack devices and progress through the game. The story is filled with humorous elements and explores themes of identity, power, and corruption.
Gameplay-wise, Beyond a Steel Sky features 3D environments that can be explored using direct controls. Characters and objects are highlighted when they come into focus, allowing players to interact with them in various ways. Conversations with characters offer multiple dialogue options, while hacking devices requires puzzle-solving skills. The game includes an inventory system, objective tracker, and hint system to aid the player on their journey.