A Bird Story

About

"A Bird Story" is a pharmaceutical-free, bite-sized nostalgic indie game that tells a heartwarming tale of friendship between a boy and a bird. With no dialogue orUI, the game relies on its beautiful pixel art and moving original soundtrack to convey the story. This game is a short yet sweet experience that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,651 reviews

story1.4k positive mentions

grinding42 negative mentions

A heartfelt and comforting story that resonates emotionally.
Beautiful pixel art and a stunning soundtrack that enhances the experience.
A unique storytelling approach that effectively conveys emotions without dialogue.

Very limited gameplay with most of the experience being cutscenes.
The pacing can feel slow and tedious, making the short runtime feel longer.
Not as impactful or engaging as other titles in the series like To The Moon.

story
4,706 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story of "A Bird Story" is a poignant, wordless narrative that follows a lonely boy who befriends an injured bird, exploring themes of friendship, imagination, and the bittersweet nature of letting go. While the game is short—approximately one hour—and features minimal gameplay, it effectively conveys deep emotions through its visuals and soundtrack, making it a touching experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games. However, some players find the pacing slow and the story predictable, leading to mixed reviews regarding its overall impact compared to its predecessor, "To the Moon."
- “A lovely story about a bond between a boy and a bird, definitely one of the weakest games in the series.”
- “A beautiful story told through engaging visuals and captivating music.”
- “A bird story is a beautifully made game that shows the power of simplicity.”
- “The plot is not a big tearjerker like the others, understandable considering the lack of dialogue.”
- “The story is cute, but too short and too predictable to be really deep.”
- “The story is very well done, just short enough to stay really sweet, and the music fits in well with the mood of the game.”
music
1,227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The music in "A Bird Story" is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively conveying the game's narrative without the use of dialogue. Composed by Kan Gao, the soundtrack features soothing piano and orchestral elements that enhance the storytelling and create a poignant atmosphere. Many reviewers recommend purchasing the soundtrack alongside the game, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings and complement the charming pixel art visuals.
- “Captivating soundtracks perfectly merged with excellent plot without any dialogues.”
- “The music is beautiful, the art style is lovely, and the story is dreamy.”
- “The music is enchanting and perfectly complements the story, enhancing the overall emotional impact.”
- “The sporadic musical cues and minimal sound effects do little to augment the narrative's emotional undercurrent, leaving moments that should have been emotionally resonant feeling muted and underwhelming.”
- “The music is pretty but entirely forgettable.”
- “The music is repetitive and boring.”
emotional
938 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "A Bird Story" is widely praised for its heartfelt and touching narrative, which effectively conveys deep feelings without any dialogue. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, often culminating in tears, particularly during poignant moments that highlight themes of friendship and loss. While some feel it lacks the emotional depth of its predecessor, "To the Moon," many still find it to be a beautifully crafted, short experience that resonates on a personal level.
- “It's a touching experience that explores themes like loneliness, friendship, and imagination.”
- “The story is touching and illustrates the heartfelt part of friendship along with the painful factor perfectly.”
- “A bird story is a beautiful emotional game with a perfect story <3”
- “A drawn-out, boring story about a dreamy boy finding a hurt bird.”
- “This was just a boring story with a bad soundtrack.”
gameplay
609 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
80%
10%
The gameplay in "A Bird Story" is minimal and primarily consists of simple mechanics such as walking and interacting with objects, resembling more of an interactive story or visual novel than a traditional game. Many players noted that the experience is heavily focused on narrative and emotional engagement, often feeling like a series of cutscenes with little meaningful interaction, which may disappoint those seeking more gameplay depth. Overall, while the story and visuals are praised, the lack of substantial gameplay elements leads to mixed reviews regarding its value as a game.
- “Chillaxing gameplay that you can play with a keyboard or a gamepad.”
- “The focus is on the narrative and the connection between the boy and the bird, so the simple gameplay allows you to fully immerse yourself in the story without any distractions.”
- “Light and beautiful, the game uses simple mechanics, beautifully fitted music and playful and striking moments to tell a friendship story of a boy with a bird.”
- “Most of the gameplay involves merely walking from location to location to view cutscenes.”
- “The gameplay is essentially a walking simulator with almost no optional interactions, which leads me to question why it is a game in the first place rather than a machinima you can watch online.”
- “The gameplay is almost non-existent.”
graphics
433 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
3%
The graphics of "A Bird Story" are characterized by charming 16-bit pixel art that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic RPGs. While some players appreciate the simplicity and emotional expressiveness of the visuals, others find them lacking in detail and sophistication, often comparing them to RPG Maker standards. Overall, the visuals effectively complement the game's narrative, which is conveyed entirely through imagery and music, creating a unique storytelling experience despite the limitations of the graphical style.
- “The graphics retain their familiar charm, and the music remains a standout feature.”
- “A bird story has beautiful visuals and perfectly encapsulates the magic of a child's imagination.”
- “The visuals wonderfully transition the flow of reality and dream in combination with the music very similar to 'To the Moon' beautifully.”
- “Graphics are pixelated and ugly.”
- “The game may have worked as a cute video (with better graphics for sure), but not as a game.”
- “The graphics/art can either be good or bad, depending on the player's taste.”
humor
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of light-hearted moments and deeper emotional undertones, often evoking laughter alongside sadness. While some players appreciate the whimsical and surreal comedic elements, others feel it lacks the sharp wit and engaging dialogue found in its predecessor, "To the Moon." Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor into its narrative, creating a charming experience that balances comedy with poignant storytelling.
- “The game is littered with thoughtful imagination, poignant emotion, and even some laugh-out-loud moments of blissful humor.”
- “Moving, humorous, and beautiful in oh so many ways, this is truly an experience you need to have.”
- “A bird story is a story about a bird and a boy, and it is deeply emotional; it succeeded in making me go from laughing to crying and back to laughing in a few minutes.”
atmosphere
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dreamlike quality, enhanced by a beautiful and evocative soundtrack that complements the simple yet emotional story of a boy and a bird. Players appreciate the lack of dialogue, which allows the music and visuals to create a calming and immersive experience, reminiscent of the developers' previous work, "To the Moon." Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia and whimsy, making it a captivating journey through imagination and emotion.
- “The dreamlike atmosphere and absence of any dialogue work well in conveying both the unfathomable character of loneliness, as well as the mysterious unspoken bonds we make with animals, who despite not sharing our pain can somehow bring us some measure of relief.”
- “The soundtrack is stunning, and conveys the atmosphere and story of the game perfectly connecting with the scenes transpiring before you.”
- “The music touching, the atmosphere stunning - everything around me melts and I can only focus on the screen as a beautiful story plays out.”
- “Unfortunately, a bird story lacked atmosphere compared to To the Moon, but saying that, this is still a great small creation with a sweet story.”
- “Though not an incredibly interactive game, I think A Bird Story makes up for this with the atmosphere.”
- “The game has an imaginative and adventurous atmosphere that just might make you feel like a kid again.”
grinding
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
98%
The reviews consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and monotonous, with many players feeling that the limited interactivity and repetitive tasks detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the story, they often find the gameplay elements unnecessary and frustrating, leading to a sense of aimlessness and boredom. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, making the game feel more like a passive experience than an engaging one.
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
- “Both those things would work great in their own media format, but you can't expect players to sit through tedious predictable sequences and take away control for 80% of the playtime just so you can tell the story the way you like it.”
- “The story can be summed up in one sentence: the progression was very tedious and the little detail that it had was arbitrary nonsense.”
- “It's a series of tedious sprite animations about a melancholy child, connected by brief segments in which nothing happens unless you press the arrow keys.”
replayability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
38%
54%
The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that its linear story and short duration (approximately one hour) leave little incentive for a second playthrough. While some players may appreciate the experience for its narrative, the consensus is that it offers virtually no replay value, making it unsuitable for those seeking a more substantial or challenging gaming experience.
- “It's far too short to recommend full price and doesn't have much, if any, replay value.”
- “However, the story only lasts for around 1 hour with little replay value except for finding a few easter eggs.”
- “Very little replay value, but short enough that some might enjoy a second time through.”
- “No replay value as the story is linear.”
- “The game is also really short, it took me an hour to finish and after that there's no replay value so don't expect a second playthrough.”
- “If you are looking for something with substance and replayability this game is not for you.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some reviewers praising its depth and emotional resonance despite the brevity of the experience, while others criticize the lack of sympathetic characters and minimal growth. While some players felt a strong attachment to the cast through nuanced storytelling, others found the character development insufficient, often attributing this to the game's short length and limited dialogue. Overall, the effectiveness of character development varies significantly among players, with opinions ranging from commendable to lacking.
- “Character development is strong, fostering quick attachment to the cast and showcasing the developer's storytelling prowess.”
- “Eschewing combat and other gameplay mechanics commonly found within RPG Maker titles, Freebird Games has instead stripped the game down to its core to deliver a linear, tour de force of narration and character development within a two-hour window.”
- “There's also quite a bit of character development, always told through little details.”
- “There is no character development, because the boy is barely a character at all.”
- “Poor story with minimal character development.”
- “It could be from the lack of any dialogue, text or spoken, and the fact there's no growth or character development.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, the game performs well with no significant issues reported, although some users suggest disconnecting gamepads or webcams to avoid control glitches. While the game is designed primarily for keyboard use, there are calls for better optimization for controller support to enhance the experience.
- “No performance issues, and no resolution issues like with To the Moon.”
- “I experienced no performance issues.”
- “Make sure that if you have a gamepad or webcam that you disconnect it if you are having problems with the controls glitching out; then it will run smoothly.”
- “A Bird Story is really at the fringe of what constitutes a video game, as here, interactions neither provide any kind of choice or even the illusion of freedom, nor require any sort of performance. They are only there to reinforce identification and make you enact the story of the character.”
- “I know it was probably meant to be played with the keyboard and not with a controller, but as long as it has controller support, I think it should be more optimized for it.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report experiencing bugs, others have not encountered any glitches. A patch could potentially address the existing issues and enhance stability.
- “The game runs smoothly without any major glitches or crashes.”
- “I've experienced very few bugs, making for a stable gaming experience.”
- “The developers have done a great job ensuring the game remains stable after updates.”
- “It is buggy as well.”
- “A bit buggy at times.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users suggesting that a price of €0.99 would have been more appropriate, and expressing discontent with the presence of microtransactions.
- “You don't have to deal with microtransactions.”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players to spend.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization is optional and doesn't affect gameplay.”
- “This feels like a cash grab; €0.99 would have been a more reasonable price.”
- “The game doesn't need to rely on microtransactions.”