Feather
- June 3, 2016
- Samurai Punk
Feather provides a relaxing experience that captures the spirit of classics like Flower and Journey. Though it does not offer much replayability, what is here is done well.
Feather is a peaceful simulation game where you play as a bird in a stunning island environment. Experience fluid flight controls and a relaxing ambient soundtrack as you explore and discover nine unique songs across the island. With support for single and multiplayer, immerse yourself in this serene world with no enemies, combat, or threats, available now for gamepads and keyboard/mouse. Stream the exceptional soundtrack on Bandcamp and stay updated on development via Discord.
Reviews
- Feather offers a beautiful and relaxing experience with stunning visuals and a soothing soundtrack.
- The flight mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, allowing players to explore the serene environment at their own pace.
- It's a great game for unwinding and de-stressing, providing a peaceful escape without the pressure of objectives or challenges.
- The game is very short, with most players able to experience all it has to offer in under an hour, leading to a lack of replayability.
- There are minimal interactive elements and no clear objectives, which may leave some players feeling bored or unfulfilled.
- Multiplayer functionality is limited and often doesn't work seamlessly, reducing the potential for social interaction within the game.
- music169 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and beautiful quality, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the ability to change tracks by flying through specific portals, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging. The soundtrack features a variety of calming compositions, including elements like drums, flutes, and piano, making it a standout aspect of the game that complements its serene visuals and exploration-focused gameplay.
“The game is very beautiful and the music makes it even better.”
“The music is serene, the island is beautiful, and there are plenty of little places to explore.”
“Just fly, listen to the gorgeous soundtrack, and explore this serene little world.”
“Neither has very many landmarks and there's very little to interact with apart from a few points where you can change the music or the type of bird you're playing as.”
“- there's no counter to see what song portals or skins you've unlocked and how many are left”
“In the end, I prefer Aer (mostly because of its music, and the ability to just land and chill easier) but this is a good game for chilling with my nephew.”
- gameplay98 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is primarily focused on exploration and relaxation, featuring intuitive flight mechanics that allow players to soar as a bird in a serene environment. While the controls are easy to master and the experience can be calming, many reviewers note the lack of objectives and limited content, with some suggesting that it feels more like a "walking sim" than a traditional game. Overall, it offers a satisfying flying experience but may not justify its price for those seeking more engaging gameplay.
“The mechanics of the game are great and I enjoy finding new places to land and relax, enjoying the scenery around me.”
“A fun, relaxing little game where you fly around as a bird; there is no objective other than to just relax and enjoy the scenery and explore. The flying controls are pretty great and not hard to use; I recommend this game to anyone that enjoys games with flight mechanics to just sit back and chill with.”
“The controls are a dream on gamepad and the gameplay is incredibly relaxing.”
“It's essentially a 'walking sim' where you are a bird, but there is only about 20 minutes of content, so you will have to be really, really into the flight mechanics for it to make sense as a purchase.”
“Frustrating, bad gameplay, and extremely short.”
“No real gameplay, no plot, only flap flap.”
- story57 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional story or lore, offering instead a relaxed experience focused on free exploration without specific goals or progression. Players can enjoy flying around beautiful islands, but those seeking a narrative or structured gameplay will likely be disappointed. While the visuals and ambiance are appreciated, the absence of quests or achievements limits long-term engagement.
“I'd love it if more game modes were created, possibly with more contained areas where you would end up unblocking the rest, and having a connecting story.”
“It won't replace a great story, but it would be a start.”
“If you enjoyed this, I would also recommend Aer, which has a similar flight mechanic but also has a story, objectives, and is a more traditional 'game'.”
“There is no engaging story, no captivating journey or struggle for conflict.”
“Make no mistake, this isn't a 'game' game; you don't have specific goals, quests to finish, or a story to discover; you're simply a bird flying.”
“Just don't expect any story or goals.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as charming and aesthetically pleasing, featuring low-poly models and a fairytale palette that create a serene atmosphere. While many players appreciate the beautiful visuals and relaxing vibe, some note that the graphics can feel outdated and navigation may be challenging. Overall, the combination of lovely art style and soothing music contributes to a delightful experience, despite some technical issues reported by users.
“This game's aesthetic is simply beautiful; a truly relaxing and adorable experience after a long day.”
“The visuals are superb; it's pretty and charming, and the entire vibe with the constantly changing day and night cycle is amazing.”
“Charming low-poly graphics (with a fairytale palette) create an island far offshore, with changing weather and a day/night cycle.”
“Graphics consist of 3D single-colored polygon models, which look a bit outdated but still functional, and you can listen to nice music as you play.”
“Navigation is quite a pain; the graphics are really hard to look at too, not a very relaxing game.”
“[i]Feather was quite a struggle to get working properly. The game constantly froze while setting up the graphics and framerate, and whatever you do, don't keep the framerate unlocked as it will literally max out even an RTX 2060 to the point of interfering with Task Manager trying to kill the frozen game. It also didn't help that windowed fullscreen always minimizes when clicking outside of the game.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players describe the game as a deeply emotional and wholesome experience, highlighting its relaxing atmosphere, beautiful music, and the joy of unguided exploration. Many express how the game allows for personal narrative creation and emotional processing, making it feel unique and fulfilling. Overall, it is praised for its simplicity and the genuine connections formed with other players.
“I can't believe that a game made me emotional with pure unguided exploration and discovery and nothing more, but when I was thinking I had found everything, then suddenly I realized the [redacted] wasn't just a [redacted] but actually a whole system of [redacted] and then I found the [redacted] and was like what a whole new [redacted] and then I became a cockatiel and found the [redacted] just as the sunset hit and looked back at the island and then found another cockatiel and we sang to each other. It was like I had created an entire narrative without any words or guidance that was completely my own experience and wow that was such an amazing feeling.”
“Honestly, this is my emotional processing game.”
“After a good handful of play sessions with Feather, I can say it's the most wholesome and pure game I own.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, enhanced by fantastic soundtracks and art styles. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay and simple interactions that contribute to an immersive experience, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a chill environment. Overall, the combination of great music, refined controls, and a gentle pace allows for enjoyable exploration of the game's world.
“Fantastic music, smooth gameplay, relaxing atmosphere, and simple but wholesome interactions with other players.”
“Great art and music create a nice atmosphere, and well refined controls keep you immersed.”
“If the idea of flight piques your interest, and you can appreciate some good, chill atmosphere, this is one of the better choices you can make.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game has been noted for its low replayability, with many users feeling that it lacks depth and variety compared to similar titles. While some appreciate its simplistic and relaxing nature, they suggest that a larger scope could enhance its replay value. Overall, the consensus is that while enjoyable, the game may not provide enough content for repeated playthroughs.
“It may not have much replayability, but that's fine because it is very simplistic and so relaxing to play.”
“Would really help if it was a lot bigger for more replayability.”
“A zen flying game, but less replayable and far more expensive than the similar Superflight.”
“Low replay value.”
“Though it does not offer much replayability, what is here is done well.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for severe framerate drops in handheld mode, which remain unaddressed months after release. Additionally, the lack of engaging content and a quickly explored world contribute to a disappointing overall experience, highlighting poor execution in both performance and design.
“But with nothing of significance to find, abysmal framerate drops (despite this game being out for months, this was never fixed in handheld mode for some baffling reason) and a boring world that you can pretty much see everything of in mere minutes, this bird sim is a really sad example of a great idea with bad execution, both in performance and scope.”
Critic Reviews
Feather review
Overall, Feather’s a tale of two audiences. Those looking for a deep experience with a complex story akin to Journey will likely find its short runtime disappointing. However, if Feather’s serene gameplay loop appeals to you, the intuitive mechanics and beautiful soundtrack mean it’s hard to not recommend.
60%Feather (PS4) Review – I’ll Only Fly Away
Related
60%Feather (Switch) REVIEW – Light As A
There are a handful of things to really like, but when it comes down to it, there’s an unjustifiable price tag hovering over a game whose content is as light as a feather.
50%