A Bird Story

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,685 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
A Bird Story Game Cover
A Bird Story is a fantastic and short pixel art visual novel that you need to experience.
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"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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,685 reviews
story998 positive mentions
grinding35 negative mentions
  • Beautiful and emotional story told without any dialogue.
  • Captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Charming pixel art and imaginative visuals that evoke nostalgia.
  • Very short gameplay, lasting only about an hour.
  • Limited interactivity, often feeling more like a passive experience.
  • Predictable and simplistic story that may not resonate with everyone.
  • story3,478 mentions

    The story of "A Bird Story" is a touching, wordless narrative that follows a lonely boy who befriends an injured bird, exploring themes of friendship, imagination, and letting go. While the game is short—approximately an hour long—and features minimal gameplay, it effectively conveys emotion through its visuals and soundtrack, resonating with players who appreciate narrative-driven experiences. However, some critics note that the story can feel predictable and lacks the depth found in its predecessor, "To the Moon."

    • “A beautiful story told through engaging visuals and captivating music.”
    • “A bird story is a short, heartwarming story about a boy with a dream, and an unlikely friend that helped him exercise his imagination.”
    • “This game proves that you don't need dialogue to tell a compelling and emotional story.”
    • “A bird story's narrative itself is so devoid of other seasoning (dialogue, interesting characters, plot complexity) that the music is all there really is by way of accompaniment.”
    • “The story is finished in about 1.5 hours, so it is pretty short, but it doesn't really have to be longer, as it is already a good completed story how it is now.”
    • “The pacing of the story is excruciatingly slow, and the interaction consists of pressing space a few times or holding down an arrow key for 30 seconds.”
  • music917 mentions

    The music in "A Bird Story" is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively complementing the game's wordless narrative. Composed by Kan Gao, the soundtrack features soothing piano and orchestral elements that enhance the storytelling experience, often evoking strong feelings in players. Many reviewers recommend purchasing the soundtrack alongside the game, highlighting its ability to stand alone as a captivating musical work.

    • “The music is beautiful, the art style is lovely, and the story is dreamy.”
    • “The soundtrack is comforting and cozy, and the adventures of the child we follow in 'a bird story' evoke that imaginative spirit we all had at one point in our lives.”
    • “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 kept putting my wife and I to sleep, so I don't recommend playing this when you are tired.”
  • emotional704 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "A Bird Story" is widely praised for its touching narrative, which effectively conveys themes of friendship, loneliness, and imagination without any dialogue. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, often leading to tears, thanks to the game's beautiful pixel art and evocative soundtrack. While some feel it lacks the depth of its predecessor, "To the Moon," many still find it to be a heartfelt and memorable experience that resonates deeply.

    • “A tiny interactive story with a touching plot.”
    • “It's a touching experience that explores themes like loneliness, friendship, and imagination.”
    • “This game is just such a stunning example of how you can tell an emotionally moving and in-depth story without writing a single line of dialogue.”
  • gameplay461 mentions

    The gameplay of "A Bird Story" is minimal and primarily consists of walking from one location to another, with very few interactive elements, making it feel more like an interactive story or visual novel than a traditional game. Players can expect a slow-paced experience focused on narrative rather than gameplay mechanics, which some find tedious and lacking in engagement. While the story and visuals are praised, many reviewers note that the limited gameplay may disappoint those seeking a more interactive experience.

    • “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 only consideration is the gameplay: this is an 'interactive animation', and never gives the player control for long.”
  • graphics287 mentions

    The graphics of "A Bird Story" are characterized by a nostalgic 16-bit pixel art style reminiscent of classic RPGs, which some players find charming while others consider it simplistic or outdated. The visuals effectively convey the game's emotional narrative without dialogue, relying on artistic transitions and color palettes to enhance the storytelling experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they complement the beautiful soundtrack and contribute to the game's heartwarming atmosphere.

    • “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, especially when they show the moon and the stars.”
    • “A bird story has beautiful visuals and perfectly encapsulates the magic of a child's imagination.”
    • “The graphics retain their familiar charm, and the music remains a standout feature.”
    • “Graphics are pixelated and ugly.”
    • “The game may have worked as a cute video (with better graphics for sure), but not as a game.”
    • “Overall great story, but let down by underwhelming visuals and lack of user interactivity.”
  • atmosphere54 mentions

    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 friendship between a boy and a bird. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to convey deep feelings without dialogue, creating a calming and immersive experience that invites players to explore its whimsical world. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, soft music, and a touching narrative contributes to a captivating atmosphere that resonates 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 music and atmosphere are top notch.”
    • “The soundtrack is stunning, and conveys the atmosphere and story of the game perfectly connecting with the scenes transpiring before you.”
    • “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.”
    • “Misplaced gags are ruining all atmosphere.”
    • “Though not an incredibly interactive game, I think A Bird Story makes up for this with the atmosphere.”
  • humor45 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of lighthearted and melancholic moments, effectively balancing comedy with emotional depth. While some players appreciated the charming and whimsical humor, others felt it lacked the witty dialogue and character-driven jokes found in its predecessor, "To the Moon." Overall, the game features a mix of funny scenes and heartfelt storytelling, evoking a range of emotions from laughter to tears.

    • “A bird story was at times heartbreaking and others timelessly hilarious as you are reminded the protagonist is indeed a child, with a childlike view of the world.”
    • “How well the surreal visual comedy was implemented caught me by surprise and made me laugh out loud multiple times.”
    • “Funny, heartwarming, and touching all at the same time.”
  • grinding36 mentions

    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.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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 completely tedious and doesn't feel like a full game in the slightest.”
    • “The movie will not continue until you complete these tedious movements, and once you do, it abruptly wrests control back from you and the movie continues.”
  • replayability23 mentions

    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) offer little incentive to play again. While some players may appreciate the experience enough to revisit it, the consensus is that it does not provide substantial replay value or complexity for those seeking a more engaging or challenging gameplay experience.

    • “🔲 Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Very little replay value, but short enough that some might enjoy a second time through.”
    • “An enjoyable game to journey through but doesn't really have any replay value as the story is linear.”
    • “No replay value as the story is linear.”
    • “Fun as a diversion, for about an hour, but has no replay value.”
    • “If you are looking for something with substance and replayability, this game is not for you.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is polarizing; while some reviewers praise its depth and emotional resonance, others criticize the lack of growth and attachment due to minimal dialogue and short playtime. Many feel that the brevity of the experience hampers the potential for meaningful character arcs, leading to a disconnect with the cast. Overall, opinions range from strong appreciation to significant disappointment regarding character development.

    • “Character development is strong, fostering quick attachment to the cast and showcasing Kan's storytelling prowess.”
    • “While I think it is a good story, the entire time I was thinking 'this would make a great indie movie,' rather than 'this is a great interactive story experience.' There's immense amounts of character development, but due to the length (approximately an hour), I didn't become as attached to the characters as I feel I should have been.”
    • “I feel like 'A Bird Story' aims to be just as emotional, but there is a simple fact that it cannot ignore: it's too short and does not have enough character development.”
    • “There is no character development, because the boy is barely a character at all.”
    • “It could be from the lack of any dialogue, text or spoken, and the fact there's no growth or character development.”
    • “There is no character development to speak of.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, users report mixed experiences regarding stability, with some noting occasional bugs while others experienced no glitches at all. A single patch could potentially resolve the existing issues, suggesting that the game is not entirely stable but also not universally problematic.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any major glitches or crashes.”
    • “I've experienced very few bugs, and the overall stability is impressive.”
    • “The developers have done a great job ensuring a stable gaming experience.”
    • “It is buggy as well.”
    • “A bit buggy at times.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, "A Bird Story" runs smoothly without any significant performance or resolution issues. However, while it offers controller support, some users feel that the game could be better optimized for controller use, as it seems primarily designed for keyboard play.

    • “No performance issues, and no resolution issues like with To the Moon.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization model is praised for its lack of mandatory microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend additional money.

    • “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.”
    • “You don't have to include microtransactions.”
    • “The monetization model feels overly aggressive.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
1hMain story
1hCompletionist
1-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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