BIRDHOUSE

About

BIRDHOUSE is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by helllst4r and was released on September 12, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

BIRDHOUSE is a narrative-driven single-player horror interactive fiction featuring hand-drawn graphics, animated cutscenes, and an original ambient soundtrack. Players follow Wick, a young creature living in a secluded forest home, as he uncovers eerie mysteries surrounding an abandoned egg and unsettling visions. This short, atmospheric experience combines exploration and collectible lore in a haunting, story-rich setting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

graphics20 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features stunning hand-drawn visuals and an impressive soundtrack that create a captivating atmosphere.
The lore and storytelling are intriguing, leaving players wanting to explore more of the world and its mysteries.
It's a free game that offers a charming and unique experience, making it accessible for everyone to enjoy.

The gameplay can feel overwhelming and lacks meaningful changes upon replaying, leading to a sense of underwhelm.
There are several bugs that can disrupt the experience, including crashes and issues with character interactions.
The game is quite short, which may leave players wanting more content and a deeper exploration of its themes.

graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
30%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn visuals and unique art style, which effectively enhance the atmospheric and eerie tone of the gameplay. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games, complemented by a beautiful soundtrack that adds to the overall experience. While the visuals are praised for their beauty and creativity, some users expressed a desire for additional content or graphic options to enhance replayability.
- “A fantastically made horror game, down to an extremely impressive soundtrack and stunning hand-drawn visuals.”
- “The hand-drawn visuals create such a personal and home-like atmosphere, and the presentation of worldbuilding is absolutely phenomenal.”
- “Beautiful graphics, animated cutscenes, and enough strange occurrences to keep me thinking after I closed the game.”
- “Especially if you love the artwork and the windchime music, but other than that... it's not replayable unfortunately.”
- “The graphics and controls remind me of the OG Pokémon games, which was a little boost of nostalgia I didn't know I needed.”
- “The combination of the music and visuals made for a very lonely and somewhat desolate feeling.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
45%
14%
The story is described as short, simple, and effective, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and world-building that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique art style and the gradual build-up of tension, though some feel the narrative could be better conveyed in a different medium due to its brevity. Overall, the storytelling is atmospheric and engaging, leaving players wanting more despite its concise nature.
- “The story is short, simple, and effective.”
- “Did a great job building up dread and I loved the storyline so much.”
- “In such a short amount of time, it paints a truly vivid and deeply emotional picture of a larger story, as if glimpsed through a window.”
- “It is possible to avoid the default ending by performing a particular action that brings the game to a premature halt, but otherwise the outcome of the story cannot be changed.”
- “The setting of the story is something I was a fair bit interested in, and it presents some fun ideas but they ultimately fall a little flat in a game so small.”
- “Birdhouse is definitely a beautiful looking little indie game, and while I can't really complain since it is totally free and can be beat in about 30 minutes, I can't help but feel the story trying to be told here would be better conveyed through a different medium.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its impressive and unique soundtrack, which effectively complements the stunning hand-drawn visuals and enhances the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the eerie yet calming balance of the music, which contributes to a sense of loneliness and desolation, making it a memorable aspect of the experience. Many reviewers express a desire for the soundtrack to be released separately, highlighting its significance in the game's appeal.
- “A fantastically made horror game, down to an extremely impressive soundtrack and stunning hand-drawn visuals.”
- “I really enjoyed the game’s soundtrack; it strikes a strange balance between eerie and calm, an oxymoron that somehow captures the mood of the world beautifully.”
- “The art, music, and sound direction is impeccable.”
- “Especially if you love the artwork and the windchime music, but other than that... it's not replayable, unfortunately.”
- “Release the darn soundtrack already so I can give you money, pretty please.”
- “The combination of the music and visuals made for a very lonely and somewhat desolate feeling.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its exceptional audio-visual design, creating a haunting yet charming experience that captivates players. The hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric soundscapes contribute to a unique blend of sweet and spooky elements, effectively immersing players in its eerie world. Overall, the attention to detail in the art and atmosphere enhances the storytelling, leaving players wanting more despite the game's brevity.
- “The mix of sweet and spooky with pitch-perfect art and atmospheric sound design makes this a worthy entry in what is, to my mind, a niche cultural tradition that means a lot to the weird kids of the world.”
- “The hand-drawn visuals create such a personal and home-like atmosphere, and the presentation of worldbuilding is absolutely phenomenal.”
- “Amazing visuals and atmosphere, and the tense moments were very effective.”
- “Endearing and surreal artwork, a calm and charming atmosphere with an eerie concept and foreboding presence.”
- “Really good audio and visual design to create a haunting atmosphere.”
- “Short but sweet, a very simple game with a haunting atmosphere.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is visually appealing and features a rich lore, but many players find it overwhelming and underutilized, leading to a lackluster experience. While it meets expectations, those seeking more engaging mechanics may find it less satisfying. Overall, it caters to players who appreciate ambiance and storytelling over intense gameplay.
- “Very visually pleasing with a nice ambience and engaging mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is about what you'd expect, providing a solid experience.”
- “I loved the lore with the gods and deities; it was really fun to read about!”
- “However, I must say the actual gameplay was rather overwhelming.”
- “The point is there are a lot of things not utilized in the gameplay, but it makes the player feel as though they can.”
- “The gameplay was lackluster, though I didn't expect something amazing or thrilling from this.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical nature, often highlighted by the amusing antics of a comical bird character. Players find the humor to be engaging and entertaining, adding a delightful charm to the overall experience.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious!”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and funny characters.”
- “The comedic timing and clever jokes really made my day!”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been widely criticized for its numerous bugs, with players reporting issues such as partial freezing while still receiving input responses. Despite these stability problems, some users noted that the non-buggy content is enjoyable.
- “Very, very, very buggy.”
- “Once again, very buggy, but the non-buggy content was good.”
- “Sometimes the game will 'half freeze', as in it freezes on an image but the inputs still respond; you can hear it.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game's artwork and music are appreciated, many users feel that it lacks sufficient replayability, making it less engaging for multiple playthroughs.
- “Especially if you love the artwork and the windchime music, but other than that, it's not replayable unfortunately.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively conveys a profound emotional experience in a brief timeframe, offering players a vivid glimpse into a larger narrative.
- “In such a short amount of time, it paints a truly vivid and deeply emotional picture of a larger story, as if glimpsed through a window.”