Bird Alone

About

"Bird Alone" is an adventure game featuring a virtual bird friend on your phone, offering daily conversations, questions, and thoughts. With a stellar story, exceptional graphics, and fabulous music, it provides both laughter and emotional moments. However, some bugs can affect the overall experience. The game encourages a unique bond with the bird, fostering a sense of companionship over time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,832 reviews

emotional385 positive mentions

monetization24 negative mentions

emotional
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with many players expressing deep attachment to their virtual parrot companions, leading to genuine tears upon their eventual loss. While the game is praised for its heartwarming interactions and the comfort it provides, the sudden and heartbreaking ending has left many feeling emotionally manipulated, especially those who are vulnerable or have experienced real loss. Overall, it is a bittersweet experience that resonates strongly with players, evoking a range of emotions from joy to sorrow.
- “Never did I think I'd feel so emotionally attached to a digital friend. I was devastated upon losing said digital pet/friend.”
- “This was such a beautiful and emotionally impactful game.”
- “I cried when my bird asked me how I was doing and consoled me when I had a bad day. 10/10 game.”
music
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
67%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and calming effects, enhancing the overall experience of interacting with the virtual bird and engaging in creative activities like gardening and poetry. However, several users reported technical issues, such as the loss of background music and app crashes during music-making sessions, which detracted from their enjoyment. Despite these problems, many players found the musical elements to be a unique and therapeutic aspect of the game, contributing to a sense of tranquility and emotional connection with their bird companion.
- “The music and sounds are original and really nice.”
- “The soundtrack is so subtle and beautifully composed; there are many forms of therapeutic outlets within this game: drawing, writing poetry/songs, and composing music, all with your very own bird friend.”
- “The waterfall where you make music, and then the musical plant garden, is lovely and calming.”
- “I didn't get to finish planting my flowers because after a certain point the game would just crash every time we made music.”
- “But I've noticed that after a few days, I lost all background music!”
- “It's a very cute game, but now every time I try to play music with the bird, the app crashes.”
graphics
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and charm, with many users highlighting the lovely art style and calming visuals that enhance the overall experience. The aesthetic appeal, combined with a soothing soundtrack, creates a relaxing atmosphere that resonates with players, making it a standout feature of the game. However, some users noted occasional graphical issues and expressed a desire for more interactive elements within the visually appealing environment.
- “The artwork of the game is gorgeous and the bird is adorable, seems pretty realistic for a simulated friendship.”
- “The graphics were gorgeous, many things were interactive, and it was an app that did not encourage 'being addicted' like some games out there.”
- “The art style is lovely, the music is moving and relaxing, Coco has a heart and personality of a diamond, it's really a carefully made masterpiece that makes me always want to check in.”
- “I think there might be some audio bugs (it's really skritchy?) and when returning to the main tree area, there are sometimes graphical problems where the screen is black with some pixel lines through it.”
- “This app gets one star because the graphics are decent.”
- “Thank you so much for making this app it practically cured my depression for when my house sparrow passed away 😔😔 if I could rate it 4.7 stars I would not completely because it doesn't deserve it but mostly because of the gameplay the graphics are not the best nor are the timing and with my knowledge of coding there is a script that you can put a string to make a timing cue so you might want to check that out also the graphics are probably meant to be low but other than that just fix the graphics 😇”
humor
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players finding the bird character to be adorable, funny, and relatable, often delivering witty and charming dialogue. Many reviews highlight the bird's ability to tackle both lighthearted and profound topics, creating a delightful balance that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the game's humor is described as uplifting, quirky, and a key element that keeps players engaged and coming back for more.
- “The bird is so funny and overdramatic while talking about surprisingly relevant yet fun topics.”
- “The dialogue is simultaneously funny and relatable and beautiful and extremely profound.”
- “My bird is hilarious and always brings me a massive smile, even when my day has been so hard.”
story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The game's story is described as a beautifully crafted yet bittersweet narrative that resonates deeply with players, often leaving them emotionally affected, especially due to its tragic ending involving the bird. Many reviewers express that the game is more of a story experience than a traditional virtual pet, with some feeling misled by its marketing, which does not adequately prepare players for the emotional weight of the narrative. While the art and writing are praised, concerns are raised about the abruptness of the ending and the paywall that restricts access to the full story, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience.
- “The story was fantastic and well-rounded, but the way this game had set itself into my daily routine was extremely motivating.”
- “This story was both heartwarming and heartbreaking and something I will probably never forget.”
- “Beautiful story and graphics.”
- “There are vulnerable people downloading this app not expecting that this is a story, complete with an ending that hurts.”
- “I believe that this game was made by the most callous man in the world, who manipulates us with choices that don't speak to us; who shows us a poor parrot that masks their depression with people-pleasing, toxic positivity, low self-esteem, and anxious attachment; who teaches us to love the bird out of pity; and who (spoilers) eventually has the bird die, because this apparently makes for an edgier storyline.”
- “I honestly enjoyed this game while I had it, but the fact that they lead you on with the story but then paywall you after a certain amount of time left a bad taste in my mouth.”
monetization
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
21%
42%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed feedback, with many users expressing frustration over misleading advertising that suggests a free-to-play experience, while in reality, it functions more like a paid app with a limited trial period. Although players appreciate the absence of ads and the overall quality of the game, they criticize the lack of clarity regarding in-app purchases and the emotional support claims made in advertisements. Overall, while some find the game worth the cost, others feel that a more transparent approach to monetization would enhance the user experience.
- “No ads, you need to pay just a bit of money to play, best game I've played.”
- “Wholesome, fair monetization, genuinely makes me check in every day.”
- “Best of all, no ads!!!”
- “I do understand that miscommunications can happen through ads, however I really don't think this should be targeted as emotional support, because in the end it really isn't.”
- “Extremely disappointed. I was really enjoying myself because I love birds and the way the bird is designed is really cute and I loved the concept of the game, but then I was hit with the pay-to-continue screen. I hate it when developers let you play the first part of their game just to try and get you to buy the rest. I feel like there are better ways to earn money from an app, such as ads or just making the game paid upfront, because when it's made like this it just sucks the fun away.”
- “The app is listed as in-app purchases, but in reality you have to pay for it.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple and charming mechanics, offering a soothing experience that many players find beneficial for mental health. While the art and music elements are praised, some users express a desire for more variety and depth, as the gameplay can feel repetitive and short. Overall, the game is appreciated for its aesthetic appeal and relaxing nature, though improvements in graphics and gameplay expansion are suggested.
- “The mechanics are comfy and cute.”
- “Very simple and beautiful graphics with dialogue and gameplay that's really good for mental health.”
- “Really relaxing and insightful gameplay.”
- “The thing about this game is at gameplay 21, you get to choose if you're going to get a new bird, but then I deleted the game after that. When I opened/downloaded the game again, it was just an empty, lifeless, black screen.”
- “Plus, the gameplay just repeats; he asks the same questions and asks you to draw the same things.”
- “I understand you need to earn money, but maybe find a way to expand the gameplay, I guess?”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly in specific areas like the waterfall and during certain gameplay moments. While some players enjoy a smooth experience without issues, others express frustration over game-breaking glitches that significantly impact their enjoyment. Overall, stability appears to be a significant concern for a portion of the player base.
- “Whenever I go to the waterfall, it freezes and quits the app!”
- “It takes the player to the open sky area, but every time he says 'the world tore us apart' referring to past crashes, it all freezes.”
- “It's lovely when it works... for me, it constantly freezes up, and makes me exit the game.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is described as charming and calming, creating a delightful aesthetic that appeals to many players. However, some users find it to be heavy and serious, potentially exacerbating feelings of depression. Additionally, the atmosphere evokes nostalgia for some, reminiscent of classic titles like Okami.
- “An adorable, charming game with a very chill atmosphere.”
- “Not only does this game provide a beautiful and calming aesthetic and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of this game somehow reminds me of Okami, a Japanese game that I played in childhood, especially with the dialogue sound of our parrot friend.”
- “From the trial, it makes my depression heavier and my mind serious; it doesn't matter if it's the trial or full version, I just hate that atmosphere.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant replayability, with players finding it too short and suggesting that a redesign could enhance its longevity. The option to replay does not effectively address this issue, leaving users feeling unsatisfied with the overall experience.
- “I felt like this game was super short and has no replayability.”
- “However, buying the option to replay leaves you with... no replayability.”
- “I definitely think the creators should consider a redesign to enhance replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of the game to be surprisingly enjoyable, likening it to a casual interaction rather than a chore. The lack of repercussions for not logging in contributes to a relaxed experience, making it a suitable outlet for those seeking a low-pressure environment.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent crashes and performance issues due to its high resource demands.
- “Not optimized.”
- “The game crashes because it is performance-hungry software.”