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A Bird Story

A Bird Story is a fantastic and short pixel art visual novel that you need to experience.
A Bird Story Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
story, music
grinding, replayability
84% User Score Based on 3,779 reviews
Critic Score 69%Based on 11 reviews

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A Bird Story Game Cover

About

A Bird Story is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Freebird Games and was released on November 7, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"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.

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A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
A Bird Story screenshot
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84%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,779 reviews
story1.4k positive mentions
grinding41 negative mentions
  • Beautiful visuals and soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience.
  • Touching story about friendship and loneliness, effectively conveyed without dialogue.
  • Short and sweet, making it a perfect quick play for those looking for a heartfelt narrative.
  • Limited gameplay with minimal interactivity, often feeling more like a passive experience.
  • Pacing can be slow, leading to moments of boredom during the story.
  • Not as impactful or engaging as To the Moon or Finding Paradise, potentially disappointing for fans of those titles.
  • story
    4,821 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "A Bird Story" is a poignant, wordless narrative that explores themes of childhood loneliness, imagination, and companionship through the relationship between a boy and an injured bird. While the game is minimal in gameplay and heavily reliant on visual storytelling and music, it effectively evokes emotion and nostalgia, 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 feelings about its overall impact compared to its predecessor, "To the Moon."

    • “The game has a beautiful storyline and keeps your attention to want to do a whole playthrough in one sitting.”
    • “A bird story's use of art, animation, and music to tell a story without any dialogue succeeds at evoking emotion just as well as the other games from Freebird.”
    • “It is a reminder that storytelling in games does not always require words or grand designs; sometimes, all it takes is a small boy, a wounded bird, and the unspoken language of empathy.”
    • “The story is very fragmented and nonsensical at times, but retroactively it makes a lot more sense after playing the sequel.”
    • “The story is cute, but the gameplay is nonexistent.”
    • “The story is short, simple, and sweet, but ultimately banal.”
  • music
    1,255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "A Bird Story," composed by Kan Gao, is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively conveying the game's narrative without any dialogue. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the storytelling, creating a poignant atmosphere that resonates with players. While some note that the music can feel repetitive, the overall consensus is that it significantly elevates the experience, making it a key element of the game.

    • “The soundtrack, composed by Kan Gao himself, is arguably the soul of the game.”
    • “The music never overpowers the story; instead, it rises and falls like breath, perfectly synchronized with the pacing of the scenes.”
    • “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 was a level down from 'To the Moon', although it was still fairly good.”
  • emotional
    978 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "A Bird Story" is widely praised for its ability to convey a touching narrative without any dialogue, relying instead on minimalist visuals and a beautiful soundtrack to evoke feelings of empathy and nostalgia. Many players report experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, often culminating in tears by the end of the short, one-hour experience. While some reviews note that it may not reach the emotional depths of its predecessor, "To the Moon," it still resonates deeply with those who appreciate heartfelt storytelling and the themes of childhood, friendship, and loss.

    • “Created by Kan Gao, best known for the emotional masterpiece To the Moon, this standalone narrative acts as a thematic bridge between that game and its sequel, Finding Paradise.”
    • “The absence of dialogue allows the visuals and music to carry the full emotional weight, and in this regard, A Bird Story excels.”
    • “It's a touching experience that explores themes like loneliness, friendship, and imagination.”
    • “A drawn-out, boring story about a dreamy boy finding a hurt bird.”
    • “This was just a boring story with a bad soundtrack.”
  • gameplay
    626 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "A Bird Story" is minimal and primarily serves as a vehicle for its narrative, featuring simple mechanics such as walking and pressing a few buttons to progress the story. Many reviewers describe it as more of an interactive animation or visual novel than a traditional game, with little to no challenge or engagement, making it suitable for those who prioritize storytelling over gameplay. While the emotional depth of the story resonates with some players, the lack of substantial gameplay elements has led others to question its classification as a game at all.

    • “Unlike its predecessors, however, A Bird Story takes a bold minimalist approach—it strips away dialogue, complex mechanics, and narrative exposition in favor of pure visual storytelling.”
    • “The gameplay is very simple, focusing more on the story than on complex mechanics.”
    • “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.”
    • “Gameplay in 'A Bird Story' is intentionally minimal, functioning primarily as a framing device for the narrative rather than a challenge or test of skill.”
    • “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 consists mainly of exploring and solving small puzzles, and the focus is on the touching narrative.”
  • graphics
    447 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "A Bird Story" are characterized by charming pixel art that effectively conveys emotion and narrative without the need for dialogue. While some players appreciate the nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic reminiscent of classic RPGs, others find the visuals simplistic and lacking in detail. Overall, the art style is praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, despite some critiques regarding its limitations.

    • “Its pixel art style is soft and expressive, blending muted tones with dreamlike transitions that blur the boundaries between reality and imagination.”
    • “A bird story has beautiful visuals and perfectly encapsulates the magic of a child's imagination.”
    • “The graphics are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.”
    • “Graphics are pixelated and ugly.”
    • “The graphics/art can either be good or bad, depending on the player's taste.”
    • “Overall great story, but let down by underwhelming visuals and lack of user interactivity.”
  • humor
    75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of light-hearted moments and poignant emotional beats, often conveyed through visual storytelling rather than dialogue. While some players found the humor charming and effective, others noted that it lacked the witty dialogue and character-driven jokes present in its predecessor, "To the Moon." Overall, the game successfully balances humor with deeper themes, providing both laugh-out-loud moments and heartfelt experiences.

    • “With little to no dialogue, a funny and melancholic tale unfolds, a boy and a bird, with solid work from Freebird Games.”
    • “The game is littered with thoughtful imagination, poignant emotion, and even some laugh-out-loud moments of blissful humor.”
    • “Funny, heartwarming, and touching all at the same time.”
  • atmosphere
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 calming and immersive environment, which effectively conveys themes of friendship and imagination without the need for dialogue. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and touching music creates a captivating experience that resonates deeply with players.

    • “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

    The reviews consistently highlight 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. Overall, the grinding is viewed as a significant drawback, making the game feel more like a passive experience than an engaging one.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game's lack of engagement extends to its exploration segments, where limited interactivity combined with a lack of clear objectives render them a tedious exercise in aimlessness.”
    • “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

    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 emotional impact, the consensus is that there is virtually no replay value, making it unsuitable for those seeking a more substantial or challenging gaming experience.

    • “ Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Very little replay value, but short enough that some might enjoy a second time through.”
    • “However, the story only lasts for around 1 hour with little replay value except for finding a few easter eggs.”
    • “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
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some reviewers praising its depth and emotional resonance, while others criticize its lack of growth and attachment due to the short length and minimal dialogue. While certain titles showcase strong storytelling and character attachment, others fall short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters. Overall, the effectiveness of character development varies significantly across different games, with some achieving notable success and others failing to engage players.

    • “Character development is strong, fostering quick attachment to the cast and showcasing Kan'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

    Overall, the optimization of the game is generally positive, with users reporting no significant performance or resolution issues. However, some players suggest that the game could benefit from better controller support, as disconnecting peripherals like gamepads or webcams may resolve control glitches.

    • “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
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game's stability is inconsistent, with some experiencing occasional bugs while others report a smooth experience without glitches. A single patch could potentially resolve the issues noted by those who encountered bugs.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any major glitches or crashes.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it rarely lags or freezes.”
    • “The developers have done a great job ensuring a consistent experience throughout.”
    • “A bit buggy at times.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 inclusion of microtransactions.

    • “You don't have to spend money on microtransactions.”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model without forcing players to make purchases.”
    • “I appreciate that the game allows you to enjoy it fully without the pressure of spending money.”
    • “This feels like a cash grab; €0.99 would have been a more reasonable price.”
    • “There shouldn't be any microtransactions in a game like this.”
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69%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews
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2h Median play time
8h Average play time
1h Main story
1h Completionist
1-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

A Bird Story is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

A Bird Story is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

The main story can be completed in around 1 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 1 hours to finish. On average players spend around 8 hours playing A Bird Story.

A Bird Story was released on November 7, 2014.

A Bird Story was developed by Freebird Games.

A Bird Story has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

A Bird Story is a single player game.

Similar games include To the Moon, Finding Paradise, Rakuen, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Impostor Factory and others.