Games with floating worlds. 

This guy can make a video on the most random topic and have it be the most interesting thing you will watch all week.

I seriously think you might be my favorite youtuber dude. The way you bridge things thematically and not necessarily in order is so captivating!

Floating worlds in games make it feel like a dream

Ever thought about a video on games that make you feel alone? Not exactly empty worlds, but lonely ones.

Hello. While this is a regular video of mine per se, I was looking to experiment in terms of game choice. Specifically, I wanted to see if I could find novel things to say while (almost) exclusively using some of the most popular video games of all time. I hope I accomplished that, for your sake. Also I have discord now: discord.gg/ZkVvzHH2yK

I kinda miss the whimsical feel of these isolated worlds, only accessible by gates. Makes them feel wondrous and fantastic. The isolation and hollowness of a completed world left only to thank you and send you on your way is a unique feeling matched only by the end of a beloved novel you finish well past midnight.

Tears of the Kingdom not being in this video says a lot about society

I would listen to audio books if you narrated them, your voice is so damn calming

I always thought about how The End in Minecrafy felt so far removed from everything else but I never really considered it it's own dimension. In my mind I took the name "the end" literally and saw it as all that's left of the world at the end of time itself. Everything else that existed reduced to just a few floating islands suspended over the nothingness where everything else once stood

You know it’s a good day when there’s a new cursed judge video

You absolutely nailed the feeling of The End in Minecraft. It's always been by far my favourite dimension in the game, there's just something so alluring to it. I still think they should make an update specifically focused on it like they did with the Nether, but at the same time... I feel like part of the magic is just how desolate it is. It's so barren, the sky being seemingly star-speckled but still not looking quite right, to beautiful effect, the dragon and endermen being the most unnatural creatures, the stone being yellowed as if it's been around longer than time, and the mysterious crystals on obsidian pillars, seemingly built, but built by no one. Hell, the dimension only has one song. It's quite long, and is more or less just a quiet, distorted, dying amalgamation of many other Alpha album songs. It truly is The End, and that's what I love so much about it. It speaks to me in a way that the other two dimensions don't, with the 'speech' that scrolls after you finally jump through that portal after the dragon dies being the pinnacle of that feeling. A feeling that the game knows who I am, intimately, and loves me. In that sense, Minecraft's End dimension is the only thing in any game ever to make it feel like my soul was laid bare before it, not with any ill intention, but with love, and a blessing. To make me feel whole, despite the desolate nature of it.

Great video as usual but I think you may have crossed some wires when you said Skies of Arcadia drew inspiration from Howl's Moving Castle. The movie came out 4 years after Skies of Arcadia. You perhaps were thinking of Laputa: Castle in the Sky, which is a sound comparison since that has inspired many a game.

What I love most about your video essays is that they feel like essays and not just a video talking about a subject. These feel like thought out scripts with passion and research put into them. As well as a formal, and precise with words.

The video started with Minecraft, reached hellish lows and heavenly heights, and came to rest once again in the arms of Minecraft. We began with a dream, awoke to reality, and drifted off once more, dreaming hopefully. You are a master of storytelling, Judge. Thank you.

my favorite kinds of videos have become the ones that feel like the late night conversations you have with old friends that have a topic but it comes and goes the whole time

The Aether feels more like normal Minecraft than any of the recent official updates. You always manage to make banger videos thank you for that.

Floating islands biome was an option in Minecraft infdev/indev. They were going to bring it to the main game, but it got replaced with the end.

This is the best video I've ever seen, best piece of media to ever have touched this platform, and I'm truly enlightened by the feels it transmits to us, the viewers.

floating islands are such a special concept to me. sky and clouds and bright, hopeful islands are ingrained in my identity - i'm so glad someone else is so inspired by them

I have to say, the atmosphere of your videos is just so impressive. Whatever emotion you’re trying to evoke at any given point during your video is definitely felt by me. The songs you pick at each interval really give the subject matter more depth along with your commentary. Thanks so much for making these. You do a great job.

8:20 Tail Concerto jumpscare in a good way

The description of the sky levels in sm64 was so good plus the details I didn’t even notice when I played

As someone who usually watches videos in 2x speed the fact that I didn't realise I wasn't and was completely engaged the entirety of this video is insane. I wouldn't expect anything less from The Cursed Judge of course, thank you, fantastic video

Another great essay mate. you have quickly made it into my list of favorite creators. Worst part about this video (selfishly) was knowing upon its completion I have to wait a bit for the next one. Cheers!

DUDE how do you always seem to perfectly describe the feeling very niche vibes some games give off! I always really liked the Mario worlds that feel real but are in some random void, it feels surreal and dreamlike. I can tell you really found your footing with these genres of videos, keep makin great stuff!

I love how he goes from super poetic and like professional in the actual vidoe than the end hes like oh fuck ok i shit

That wuhu flyover game in wii sports resort was probably the first time a videogame made me feel wonder. Diving through the depths of the tight tunnels using godawful wii controls is one of my favorite memories. Thanks for the great vid, keep it up.

I am genuinely convinced that you are the new SummoningSalt. You are amazing at writing, my guy! I can tell a lot of effort went into this and dear God was it worth every minute

Your playlist is immaculate. Thank you for citing all songs!

I found your channel randomly the other night, and I am thoroughly enjoying the content. Thanks for sharing your observations in such a way that it weaves into my own feelings and wounds of nostalgia, with a subtlety that shows how much respect you truly have for your audience.

Binary-Space-Partitioning is an amazing feat of Doom and to have even been designed and John Carmack is a stunning achievement!

It's wild when mods and spinoffs become things like this. People's creativity and talent never stops blowing me away

There actually was an older floating islands setting in the official Minecraft during Minecraft’s Indev phase, but some of the stuff from those updates, such as having a score system before the one that was introduced in 2013, is largely forgotten now.

I first fell in love with floating biomes in fiction thanks to Minecraft Skyblock. Expanding your island to your own liking is just so much fun and if you're really good at it you can make a very beautiful island where you'd spend the rest of the day just going around it without doing anything that's productive. From there, my obsession with floating islands is only getting bigger and bigger. My favorite type of floating island is a beautiful floating island full of plants like Aloft and The Last Guardian. Yeah yeah, I know that TLG isn't really set in a floating island more like really really tall mountains, but the way they presented it really makes it feels like you're on a floating island. Up high in the sky, towering buildings everywhere and the bottomless ground. If I can make a game, I'd love to combine some of my favorite things in videogames: a story driven game where you explore a post apocalyptic city on a floating archipelago. I even want to have a racing game that's similar to Need For Speed but with a mixture of realistic city and some fantasy city such as a floating city and an underwater city. Fck man, I'm really obsessed with it, lol. It's sad that we don't have a lot of it in any media.

Exploring the End before and after gaining the Elytra are two very different experiences that were almost certainly engineered to be so. It’s a conventional progression reward in such an unconventional game and that’s why I love it so much

Amazing video, love the way you dig into themes people dont normally think about

I think I have to credit you Cursed for your outstanding writing and creative ideas behind your videos. They naturally flow from one theme to another, it gives a sense of evolution that serves to expose your opinion, and how your examples come in full circle as if the circular thought process was a reflection of how these games were influenced by their times and the different focuses they pursue creates a very organic disposition. And that is outstanding. Thank you for this unique content in times where creativity struggles to find ways to surprise.

This might be one of if not the best video I’ve ever watched. The progression, narration and intelligence this piece of art conveys is something that isn’t always talked about in RU-vid these days. Please continue making these

How are this guys videos always so chill to watch

Came here because of the title, stayed because of the interesting topic. Would get bamboozled trying to look for game recommendations again. By the way: - I'd recommend checking out Solatorobo (part of the Little Tail Bronx series), a DS game with floating islands that came out in 2010. Just like Skies of Arcadia, it has a very colourful and vibrant world that's very far away from the trend home console games were trying to push with realistic graphics and muddy colours around that time. - As far as I know, there was going to be a "floating islands" biome or world in Minecraft prior to version 1.0 which was eventually remade into The End. I remember being pretty sad that it didn't make it into the game, but it seems Mojang added it as a world generation type at some point (though apparently they've removed it since then; I haven't seriously played Minecraft in a very long time, so I don't think I actually ever tried it). I also remember people finding random chunks generated with floating islands, that must have been surprising. Thanks for reading, have a nice day.

I have very fond memories of the sense of wonder and ennui of the floating levels of Super Mario Sunshine, and this finally helped me understand what those feelings are. Fantastic video!

So happy you talk about Skies of Arcadia, one of my top favorite games for sure. Thank you!

I’ve always been interested in a topic like this, ty for making a vid about it Judge!

another hit classic, i love the way your videos are made, i can’t point my finger on how you do it, but hats off to you sir :)

This man can make a video on any rendom ass topic and we'll still just sit down and watch it whole even tho we might not know what the video is even about.

Its why when the Elytra was added, it was literally the best thing ever. Btw, having to use glowstone to get to the Aether means you could say "Through the gate to Hell, as we make our way to Heaven, through the Nether's grime, Minecraft Victoria!"

6:31. The song used in the level is actually the same as the one in Peach's Secret Slide. The one you're talking about is actually the song of the wing cap powerup and it playes whenever you pick the wing cap in any level and ends whenever it runs out

I’m always brought back to Atlantis in Glover 64 whenever I think of floating 3d atmospheric landscapes along with the chill music.

Really glad I found your videos, dude. Keep 'em coming!

There's a semi-controversial game called Day of Dragons that I love to boot up and play every now and then. It's a nearly empty game with little to do but socialize with the other players, however what always brings me back is how it handles flight. Honestly, it's the most satisfying flight mechanics I think I've ever played. There's weight. It's finicky. You control each wing flap. And it's so damn cathartic to fly around the map because of it. Most video games that let you fly are essentially just letting you "walk" through the air. Very few commit to having flight controlled by gravity, since it's a LOT more work. But when it's implemented well it's so fucking satisfying to just fly around doing nothing.

Another great video from this channel! Your hard work is truly appreciated.

I love your vids mr. judge, I feel nostalgic for a lot of the games you talked about

For some reason your videos make me tear up sometimes, this being no exception

I really look forward to seeing which games you'll string together for these videos. It'll either introduce me to games I've never played or allow me to appreciate an aspect of ones I already enjoy, and the connections between them that I'd never noticed before :)

Man since I've watched your "Games you can never play again" video I've been loving all the content, keep it up!

Such an amazing video on an aspect of video games I didn't expect someone to talk about

These videos are so captivating in a way I can't explain. Well done yet again.

I just wanted to say that I watch your videos for you. I enjoy watching your videos for your narrating, script writing, and video editing. I would watch your videos no matter what you make them about, even "Balls." Thank you for creating videos.

Im actually glad this popped up in my recommendations. I was just thinking about this because i was deigning a game with floating worlds. I am surprised you never brought up Psychonauts though. With its floating, artistic worlds, literally inside a persons mind.

As a person who dabbles in game design myself, I find myself endlessly attracted to your videos. You explore concepts in video games a way that *nobody* else does. Bravo.

Awesome video I love random topics and things like this. Floating islands always feel so cool it’s really something nice

this video is a masterpiece. I seriously teared up in the end because the desire to be free and unbound is so strong within me, it always was and always will be. I could never put into words why that is or why I always loved the aether so much. seriously, thank you for this ❤

Congrats on 300k 🎉 love your vids ❤

This was a great video to give some nostalgia. I love your videos as they are always relaxing to watch and listen to.

You and Solar Sands are easily my favorite youtubers out there, never miss an upload. Keep it up my man

the final level of Super Mario 64, Bowser in the Sky, is internally known as 'heaven'

Your videos are so good. You inspire me, man! Thank you for the hard work!

Your videos really scratch an itch I had for a long time on RU-vid and I really couldn't be more thankful for it. Thank you, your work is beautifully written and deeply inspiring

Seeing you've uploaded a new video makes my day definitly a big bit better

I get the "floating island" feeling playing my favorite game, Outer Wilds

Your channel is the best thing to watch at this platform right now thank you for all those deep funny and interesting videos.

Shocked that "A story about my uncle" wasn't mentioned in this video

12:45 how teachers feel after saying "I'll wait" while the class is talking

Thats what i was looking for, some chill! Thanks.

Such a beautiful video, looking at the desire of flight and freedom, it's interesting to realize that limitations are what brought the sky's and colorful worlds.

Thank you for uploading these masterpieces I need to get away sometimes and your videos are therapeutic

Great vid. I, too, was enraptured by the island flyover game in Wii Sports Resort

The original creator of the Aether mod apparently works for Mojang now, they even included the portal in the recent april fools day update

"Windforge" is a game that never really made much of an impact, but it's been close to my heart ever since I discovered it, because of the same reasons this video exists. Floating islands, airships, that sense of freedom, just can't match it

8:19 was not expecting to see a little tail bronx game in this video, love that series. started replaying solatorobo recently!

Another game about floating islands is Aer: Memories of Old. It was short, maybe three hours long but I find myself opening it back up from time to time just to fly around, it feels very freeing to soar the skies between islands and explore.

Your vids are always such experience to watch and hear (love your voice)

Another absolutely phenomenal, utterly profound video !!

One of your best videos yet, enjoyed every second of it!

I enjoyed the style of more popular games you used, however I really enjoyed how you include more unknown games in other videos, hope you can do a mix of both in the future

man, this was a great video--never expected someone to get philosophical about Minecraft but i was here for it LOL. your scripting is fantastic!

Speaking of floating islands, the first game coming to mind for me was Warcraft's outland. A destroyed planet floating in the twisting nether. Predating minecraft's nether, but they always felt similar. Later on, in Shadowlands they added a place called Bastion, also a collection of floating islands in the afterlife that seems very reminiscent of the Aether. The reference coming full circle.

I literally listened to the aether ost yesterday and its even better than I remember. The nostalgia trip was CRAZY

fantastic video as always! they're always a fun watch

awesome video man! I LOVE this type of video :)

This man literally makes the best videos on youtube. Keep up the amazing work I'm enjoying your videos an insane amount.

I like your videos, and the fact that you dont tailor your word choises to the algorithm and such makes you feel like a friend telling me stories

You are one of THE best content creators out there in terms of edits and content, keep the good work Judge!

My personal favourite of this kind is Skt World from Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space. Not only they are floaring islands with castle like architecture but the "ground" are the clouds and blue sky while the skybox looks like a village and forest.

Bro has Summoning Salt levels of engagement, I swear. Absolutely one of my favorite creators right now.

Discovered your channel recently, my first time seeing a new video of yours.

You are an amazing writer. Keep up the amazing work!!

I love your voice and the mix with your tone and the music

Thanks for these insanely well made videos very glad youtube really pressured me into watching all of them

New subscriber here I love the narration In your videos it's so soothing keep up the good work I'm all for it