30 Birds

About

30 Birds is a single player open world action adventure game. It was developed by Business Goose Studios and was released on November 27, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Experience a seamless blend of 2D and 3D in this mesmerizing narrative adventure, with hand-drawn visuals inspired by Persian miniatures. Wander through the gorgeous neighborhoods of Lantern City while enjoying a ska - dub - reggae inspired soundtrack and help Zig gather thirty charismatic and chatty birds to save Simurgh! But beware, you might come across puzzling challenges on your way… Discove…

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99%

Audience ScoreBased on 79 reviews

music17 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Unique, stunning art style inspired by Persian culture with beautiful 2D-3D blended visuals and a charming floating lantern city.
Engaging, quirky writing and well-developed characters with humorous and playful dialogue.
Enjoyable exploration and various fun mini-games and puzzles that add variety without being overly difficult.

Some puzzles can be unintuitive or unclear due to lack of hints or guidance, causing occasional frustration.
Several bugs reported, including issues with cutscenes, controller mapping, and minor soft-locks, though many are being patched.
The music and sound design had mixed reception; some found it forgettable or occasionally jarring, and minigames related to music could be improved.

music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The music in the game is generally praised as charming, atmospheric, and well-matched to the magical and colorful world, featuring soothing tunes and groovy dub-inspired soundtracks that enhance the overall vibe and immersion. Several reviewers highlight music-related mini-games and sound design as enjoyable and integral to the experience. However, a few express disappointment, feeling the music and sound design lacked depth or did not fully realize the potential given the game's musical theme.
- “Very charming game with interesting mechanics, fun little puzzles, great music and characters.”
- “While the gameplay feels like a collectathon of 30 birds, literally, the non-gameplay elements - narrative, music and art direction - really shine bright as there were so many times I was just enjoying the art and music produced from the background or even just the super funny humour introduced in the game.”
- “A beautiful game with an intriguing world, amazing music and atmosphere, and a unique art style.”
- “It's really disappointing to see that sound and especially music was not even really thought of, in a game where music is kind of an important theme.”
- “On the other hand, I found myself very disappointed with the music and sound design.”
- “Puzzles & minigames are mostly simple; I would've liked the little synths/music boxes to be more of a focus in the minigames because they're neat.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
29%
9%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique, beautiful art style that blends 2D and 3D elements seamlessly, creating a charming and culturally rich visual experience. Reviewers highlight the stunning, playful aesthetics, detailed environments, and memorable character designs as key strengths that elevate the game's atmosphere and storytelling. While some mention minor bugs, the overall visual presentation is considered one of the game's standout features.
- “The artwork is stunning, bringing each scene to life with breathtaking detail.”
- “This is a unique gem that deserves your time and attention, from the stand-out watercolor visuals carefully integrated in a 3D environment, to the world-building and characters, all the way to the quirky interactions you have with them.”
- “The art style, mixing 3D and 2D perfectly, is fantastic and the characters are well written.”
- “The art style I think is what saved it in my mind, which sucks because I really really wanted to love this game.”
- “Still a bit buggy, and fairly short, but the unique setting and art style really elevate it.”
- “Heads up as I usually review the most harmless of cozy games: there's some death, but nothing terribly graphic.”
story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
12%
The game's story is a visually stunning, whimsical, and coherent narrative centered on finding 30 birds to save a goddess, blending exploration and puzzles within a linear quest system. While the plot occasionally feels rushed, its charming writing, quirky characters, and artistic direction create an engaging, dreamlike experience reminiscent of a storybook come to life. Overall, players appreciate its original, cultural vibe and immersive storytelling paired with delightful mini-games.
- “The game gives you plenty of options to find birds in various orders, but manages to tie it all together in a compact and coherent story.”
- “Each quest was entertaining, both visually and with excellent dialog.”
- “The art style is definitely the first thing that brought me to the game, but then, the writing, quirky characters, and intriguing story are keeping me hooked!”
- “The story takes a backseat to the bird-gathering before diving headlong into a rather rushed ending, but the writing throughout is delightful, and I didn't feel short-changed.”
- “No way to see previous steps in longer quest lines.”
- “The game is linear with a quest book to help you look for the way forward, despite the vast world and many tiny details.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The gameplay is praised for its charming, original mechanics, particularly the innovative use of rotating lanterns in a unique 2D/3D hybrid environment, offering satisfying puzzles and a straightforward, filler-free experience. While the gameplay is relatively simple and sometimes feels like a basic collectathon, it remains engaging and is enhanced by delightful mini-games, polished design, and a captivating aesthetic that complements the game's artistic and narrative strengths.
- “Very charming game with interesting mechanics, fun little puzzles, great music and characters.”
- “A peculiar mixture of 2D and 3D plus fun mini games with diverse mechanics.”
- “An absolute gem, this game shines with its original and polished gameplay, captivating players from the very start.”
- “Had a huge bug where almost all the cutscenes had SMPTE color bars across the screen instead of the actual cutscene, and I had to search for a video of gameplay to actually see the cutscenes.”
- “The gameplay loop is very straightforward too.”
- “While the gameplay feels like a collectathon of 30 birds, literally, the nongameplay elements - narrative, music, and art direction - really shine bright as there were so many times I was just enjoying the art and music produced from the background or even just the super funny humour introduced in the game.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is widely praised for its hilarious, quirky, and well-written dialogues infused with Belgian wit, delivering absurd and charming interactions among diverse, memorable characters. Its comedic elements are a key highlight, effectively complementing the game's unique art style and atmosphere to create an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “The dialogue is hilarious and gives a great indie flair.”
- “This game is filled with absurd moments and hilarious interactions.”
- “Hilarious dialogues, the characters are so funny and unique from each other.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and intriguing world, combining a beautiful art style with relaxing, fun music. It creates a mysterious yet humorous ambiance, blending elements of Persian mythology with contemporary, witty dialogue. Overall, the atmosphere is immersive and keeps the adventure fresh and engaging.
- “A beautiful game with an intriguing world, amazing music and atmosphere, and a unique art style.”
- “A unique, relaxing little indie-game with an interesting world, great visual art style, fun music and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and the happenings are mysterious and apparently based on Persian mythology, which should clash with the often hilarious contemporary dialogues.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s stability is somewhat problematic, with users noting bugs present in the launch version. Despite these issues, the unique setting and art style help mitigate the impact on the overall experience.
- “Still a bit buggy, and fairly short, but the unique setting and art style really elevate it.”
- “Unfortunately, the launch version is somewhat buggy.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features vibrant and colorful character designs that stand out, complemented by detailed Persian architectural elements; however, there is little mention of deep character development beyond visual appeal.