โ๏ธ Unofficial Wiki & Guide
Aether & Iron Wiki
Your Complete Guide to the Decopunk Noir RPG
Aether & Iron drops you into a stunning alternate 1930s New York City where anti-gravitational aether technology has lifted the entire cityโroads, neighborhoods, and allโinto the sky. You play as Gia, a street-hardened smuggler who gets swept into conspiracies that reach from the grimy Lowers to the gleaming Heights. This wiki covers everything: combat tactics, character builds, story choices, and tips to survive the floating city.
๐๏ธ What Is Aether & Iron?
Aether & Iron is a narrative-driven tactical RPG developed by Seismic Squirrel and co-published with Chaos Theory Games, released on Steam on March 31, 2026. The writing team includes veterans from Mass Effect, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate, ensuring a story that rivals the depth of tabletop RPGs.
The game blends two distinct pillars. First, its story-heavy RPG layer functions similarly to Disco Elysium: Gia's internal monologue and three core stats โ Hustle (street smarts), Smarts (intellect), and Brass (confidence and intimidation) โ shape every conversation and dice-roll skill check. Second, its tactical combat layer takes place entirely inside customizable aether-powered vehicles, placing turn-based strategy on a mobile road 'arena' where positioning, Action Points, and vehicle upgrades determine victory.
The world is divided into three floating tiers. The Lowers โ built with 19th-century architecture and technology โ are where most of Aether & Iron's story unfolds. The Uppers reflect the Art Deco prosperity of the early 20th century. The Heights, at the very top, embody the utopian visions of the 1938 World Fair. Each tier has its own culture, factions, and politics โ all shaped by whoever controls the aether supply.
Critics have described it as 'Baldur's Gate 3 meets Disco Elysium' and 'like BioShock, Citizen Sleeper, and Disco Elysium all at once.' If you enjoy narrative RPGs with meaningful choices, distinctive aesthetics, and a world that feels genuinely alive, Aether & Iron belongs on your wishlist.
๐ Explore the Wiki
Beginner's Guide
New to Aether & Iron? Start here. Stats, controls, and your first mission explained.
Combat Guide
Master turn-based vehicular combat, Action Points, and car customization.
Characters
Full profiles for Gia, Nellie, Cress, Shiel, Sofia, Luca, Benny and more.
Story & Lore
The history of floating New York, the aether material, and the city's factions.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced strategies, build recommendations, and hidden secrets.
โ๏ธ Key Features of Aether & Iron
Full Voice Acting โ 200+ Characters
Every major interaction is fully voiced. The cast includes Rhiannon Moushol as Gia, Kat Protano as Nellie, Dominica Ivy as Cress, Daniel Cauvet as Shiel, Alice Hamora as Sofia, Brent Mukai as Luca, and Melissa Romero as Benny. The vocal performances carry the emotional weight of the noir narrative.
Dice-Roll Skill Checks (Hustle / Smarts / Brass)
Three core stats govern both combat and dialogue. Hustle covers street smarts and resourcefulness. Smarts handles intellect and puzzle-solving. Brass reflects confidence and intimidation. Even a maxed-out stat isn't a guarantee โ the dice always have the final say, echoing the beloved unpredictability of Disco Elysium.
Turn-Based Vehicular Combat
All combat takes place on a moving road arena. Your aether-car's position determines which attacks are available โ ramming requires being beside an enemy, while rear-mounted weapons fire backward. Action Points (AP) govern both movement and attacks, with forward movement costing more AP than backward movement.
Deep Vehicle Customization
Your iron steed is fully tuneable. Add hidden compartments for smuggling contraband past checkpoints, smoke dispensers for evasive maneuvers, heavy armor plating for a tank build, or offensive upgrades like flamethrowers for an aggressive playstyle. Each modification changes how combat encounters unfold.
Choice-Driven Story with Multiple Endings
Choices range from small dialogue flavoring to mission-exclusive branches that permanently alter relationships and outcomes. The ending system, inspired by Fallout and The Witcher, gives each storyline and companion arc its own resolution depending on the decisions made throughout the game.
Hand-Drawn Decopunk Art
Inspired by 1930s detective comics and the Art Deco movement, every character and environment is hand-illustrated with bold silhouettes and vibrant decopunk aesthetics. No other RPG in 2026 has this visual identity.
๐ฌ Watch Aether & Iron in Action
Aether & Iron โ Everything You Need to Know
If you're searching for an Aether & Iron guide, wiki, or walkthrough, you've come to the right place. AetherIron.wiki is the most comprehensive fan-built resource for Seismic Squirrel's 2026 decopunk RPG. Whether you need help with the Aether & Iron combat system, want to understand the Hustle Smarts Brass skill tree, or are looking for Aether & Iron character builds and tips, every answer is here.
The game's story begins in the Lowers โ the oldest, most dangerous tier of floating New York โ where Gia takes a job escorting Nellie, an Upper-class scientist who is completely out of her depth in the city's criminal underworld. What starts as a simple escort mission spirals into a conspiracy involving the city's industrial barons, the stability of the aether supply, and the survival of New York itself.
Aether & Iron has drawn significant attention from the RPG community for its willingness to experiment. Its vehicular combat alone sets it apart from every other narrative RPG on the market. But it's the writing โ anchored by the work of narrative lead Tyler Whitney, who has a background in history โ that gives the game its soul. Every faction, character, and location has a real-world historical analogue from 1930s New York, making the world feel authentic even as it soars above the clouds.