Owlboy

About

"Owlboy" is a single-player, fantasy platformer game with an intriguing story and ingenious game mechanics. As the mute Otus, you'll explore a vast world in the clouds, carrying friends who fight as gunners with unique abilities. The game boasts good visuals, phenomenal music, and large dungeons with challenging boss battles, resulting in a masterful and highly emotional atmosphere.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+17

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,934 reviews

story1.2k positive mentions

grinding88 negative mentions

Gorgeous pixel art and stunning visuals that create an immersive experience.
Engaging story with well-developed characters that evoke strong emotions.
Beautiful soundtrack that complements the game's atmosphere perfectly.

Clunky controls and frustrating mechanics, especially during combat and boss fights.
Lack of a map and fast travel options, making exploration tedious.
Some gameplay sections feel overly simplistic or repetitive, detracting from overall enjoyment.

story
2,853 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The story of "Owlboy" is a heartfelt and engaging narrative that follows the journey of Otus, a mute owl, as he seeks to prove himself and save his world from a pirate threat. While the plot features familiar tropes and some predictable elements, it is enriched by well-developed characters and emotional moments that resonate with players. However, some reviewers noted that the story can feel rushed or incomplete at times, particularly towards the end, leaving certain plot points unresolved. Overall, the combination of beautiful pixel art, a captivating soundtrack, and a touching story makes "Owlboy" a memorable experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.
- “Owlboy is a heartfelt game that soars high with its beautiful pixel art, touching story, and enchanting gameplay.”
- “The story is engaging with bosses, which isn't so hard but fun.”
- “The story is well-crafted (albeit somewhat predictable) and there's an interesting theme of grief throughout.”
- “The story is okay, but not great and the controls can feel clunky in certain areas.”
- “The story and characters don't feel like they're fully fleshed out; overall, that aspect of the game just feels rushed.”
- “The story fails to engage me, and the emotional moments feel overly contrived.”
gameplay
1,852 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The gameplay of "Owlboy" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique mechanics, such as the ability to fly and carry companions, which adds a fresh twist to traditional platforming. However, several players noted that the gameplay can feel simplistic and repetitive, with some mechanics lacking depth and leading to frustrating moments, particularly during boss fights. While the art and music are widely celebrated, the gameplay is often seen as the weakest aspect of the game, with some players feeling it doesn't fully capitalize on its innovative ideas.
- “Overall a fun experience gameplay-wise, and I had no complaints from it as I enjoyed the combination of changing between characters on the fly to solve puzzles or to fight bosses.”
- “The gameplay cleverly incorporates the friendship theme by arming Otus with one of his companions, whose various projectiles collaborate to circumvent the obstacles you'll encounter.”
- “The gameplay is fun, and I've been enjoying the different puzzles.”
- “But goddamn the gameplay is a total mess.”
- “What would be a simple 30-second puzzle, if the mechanics had been explained or shown beforehand, instead becomes 5 minutes of messing up the puzzle before understanding what needs to happen and feeling like an idiot for taking so long to realize.”
- “The gameplay is a confusing mess that is just not fun.”
music
1,563 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
31%
1%
The music in "Owlboy" has been widely praised for its beautiful orchestral compositions that enhance the game's emotional depth and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to perfectly match the mood of various scenes, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players. Many express a desire to listen to the music outside of the game, indicating its quality and memorability, while some note that the music's emotional impact is a standout feature of the overall artistic package.
- “The soundtrack of the game is a lovely orchestra where it fits the mood perfectly for every area/level you explore.”
- “The music is consistently solid, and clicks into the atmosphere exactly the way you'd want and expect, with strong variety ranging from existential ambience to goofy upbeat tracks.”
- “The music is beautiful, the graphics - though pixelated - are still engaging and wonderful to look at.”
- “The music is not outstanding but it hits where it's needed (and every BGM should be like this).”
- “The music glitched 50% of the time so that was a shame!”
- “The music was uniformly well composed and performed, but often felt out of place.”
graphics
1,131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The graphics of "Owlboy" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and vibrant colors, showcasing meticulous attention to detail that elevates the game's aesthetic experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful animations and the emotional depth conveyed through the visuals, which are complemented by a captivating soundtrack. However, some critiques note that while the graphics are exceptional, they may overshadow gameplay elements that are less polished, leading to a mixed overall experience.
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, with a healthy mix of pixel art and a semi-modern platformer feel to it.”
- “The visuals and art direction are stunning and remind me of the Minish Cap-era Zeldas.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the soundtrack is stellar.”
- “As a verdict, this game has good pixel graphics, very naive but still a plot and awfully boring gameplay and pacing.”
- “No doubt, the artwork is jaw-dropping in quality, and I have nothing but the highest of praise for the skills of the artists behind it, but the decision to use such talented individuals to create unending, empty hallways of rocks is a gargantuan disappointment.”
- “The visuals, art, and story of a game are important, and Owlboy does all of those well, but what's important about a game is the gameplay.”
emotional
305 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "Owlboy" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, beautiful pixel art, and evocative soundtrack, which together create a deeply immersive experience that resonates with players. Many reviewers noted that the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, often leading to tears during poignant moments. However, some critiques mention that certain emotional beats feel rushed or unearned, detracting from the overall impact of the narrative.
- “Playing as Otus was both immersive and emotional, with moments that truly tugged at my heartstrings.”
- “Owlboy is a beautiful, retro-inspired platformer that delivers fun and emotional storytelling, a neat twist on platforming, and a wonderful roster of characters.”
- “The story is fantastic, the emotional moments feel emotional and the thrilling moments feel thrilling.”
- “It's frustrating to play because it keeps stopping you to tell its boring story (and show you what a whimpering coward your character is) every time you start to build momentum.”
- “The game wastes character and world potential with a boring story that doesn't go anywhere.”
- “The story is relatively simple, and while I think the ending was lackluster (no spoilers), the bad guys are fun, the allies are fun, and there are some seriously emotional moments, and 'holy crap' visuals.”
humor
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and effectiveness, with many players highlighting the hilarious dialogue, quirky character interactions, and funny situations that enhance the overall experience. While some found the humor to be a delightful balance to the more serious themes, others felt it occasionally detracted from the narrative's emotional weight. Overall, the game successfully combines light-hearted moments with deeper storytelling, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “The soundtrack beautifully underscored moments of tension and humor, making the experience even more immersive.”
- “It's packed to the brim with charm, humor, and even some heartfelt story moments.”
- “The characters are cute, charming, and humorous.”
atmosphere
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning pixel art, immersive soundtracks, and emotional depth, creating a captivating experience that resonates with players. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music to enhance various scenes, from quiet moments to intense encounters, contributing to a rich and memorable world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating it beyond its gameplay mechanics and leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “This game absolutely nails its atmosphere; it feels like a childhood adventure movie.”
- “The atmosphere, the worldbuilding, the art, the soundtrack, this game has it all, and if I was given the option to play it again for the first time, I would take that chance in a heartbeat.”
- “Owlboy is a beautifully animated, atmospheric game with a rich, detail-filled story, deep and lovable characters, and music that will absolutely knock your socks off.”
- “In this case specifically, the atmosphere of the world cries out for much more exploration and depth.”
- “The developers made a wonderful world with great music and atmosphere, only to fill it with boring block puzzles and monotonous combat, over and over and over.”
- “It's hard to say why exactly, but despite really putting an effort into getting involved with the game, I found myself completely detached throughout - from the characters, the atmosphere, and especially the gameplay.”
grinding
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and frustrating, with many players noting the lack of a map and the necessity for backtracking as significant drawbacks. While some aspects of gameplay and exploration are enjoyable, the repetitive nature of certain tasks, such as collecting coins and navigating poorly designed areas, detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging adventure. Despite its beautiful art and story, the game suffers from design choices that lead to a grindy and often unfulfilling experience.
- “The game is very interesting and has some really cool ideas, but executes them in a tedious and boring way.”
- “The gameplay itself can be a bit tedious and frustrating at times, but overall works well enough.”
- “The art and music are absolutely gorgeous, but I find the game more tedious than fun.”
character development
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the well-crafted character designs and engaging dialogue that bring the characters to life. While some players noted that certain characters lacked backstory or development, the main cast is often described as charming and memorable, contributing to an immersive narrative experience. Overall, the combination of expressive animations and thoughtful writing enhances the game's artistic vision, making the character development a standout aspect despite some criticisms of pacing and depth.
- “What looks to be childish on the surface has amazingly deep character development with fully fleshed out and realized characters, and for that, huge kudos to the devs.”
- “From beginning to end, the writing and character development is dripping with brilliant pathos.”
- “All of the characters have a lot of personality, aided by top-of-the-line character design and animation and a masterfully detailed text-based dialogue delivery system that really gets across cadence and tone in a way that few games of its kind have done before.”
- “As a consequence, many interesting aspects of the game’s universe feel unexplored and character development sometimes rushed, with barely enough time for players to fully process everything that seems to be going on in the background before the game is already over.”
- “You'll probably enjoy the main cast and the humor, but you'll never see any kind of deep character development or any kind of backstory for them.”
- “It could have used more character development.”
replayability
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
63%
21%
Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, primarily due to its linear structure, short playtime (around 5-10 hours), and lack of significant collectibles or new content for subsequent playthroughs. While some players find enjoyment in exploring the story and visuals again, many agree that the absence of a map and fast travel options detracts from the experience. A few reviewers noted that completionist challenges and character voice acting can add minor replay value, but these elements are not enough to elevate the game's overall replayability.
- “Making up voices for the characters is a lot of fun, and adds some replay value on top of trying to find all the chests.”
- “Partly because the game is replayable on the basis of its amazing story and charm, partly because the secrets are not just ceremonial trinkets but tied to the game's lore.”
- “Replay value is of course up to you, but I personally could see myself playing this game many times over and looking for every single detail of the art, secrets of the story, or just kicking back and listening to the music.”
- “The game has almost no replayability and sometimes it felt like I had to do the same thing over and over again.”
- “For $25 you get a 5-7 hour adventure that has very little to no replayability.”
- “It's only about 8 hours long and there's no replayability.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting occasional bugs and glitches, particularly related to camera controls and gamepad support. While many users experienced minor issues, a few encountered more significant problems that required restarts. Overall, the game is described as mostly stable, but not entirely free of technical flaws, especially on ultrawide monitors.
- “Rare chance to be free in a perfect and beautiful bug-free world, becoming part of a great adventure in the strange and incredible world of owls.”
- “The game is mostly bug-free, providing a smooth experience for players.”
- “The stability of the game allows for an immersive experience without frequent interruptions.”
- “But on the other hand, it was clearly made with visuals first: the game feels very clunky, some design decisions are questionable or bad, it is buggy on occasion, and they actually made the cannon minigame into a reality, the mad people.”
- “Also, the one saving grace about this game (the fact that it looks cute) is ruined if you play on an ultrawide monitor, since graphical glitches are more common on 21:9 monitors.”
- “There's still glitches several months after release - most notably collision.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance even on lower-powered devices like the Steam Deck, achieving impressive battery life. Players noted flawless technical performance, maintaining a steady 60 fps without any frame drops, and highlighted the effective controls and user-friendly setup. While some technical improvements are still in progress, the current performance has not raised significant concerns among users.
- “I appreciated that it was hardware-optimized enough to run smoothly on the Steam Deck, even with its TDP setting limiting power usage to the minimum of 3 watts, so battery life on this one was remarkably good.”
- “I experienced no performance problems, and my Steam controller worked out of the gate with a great setup.”
- “There's no performance issues, as the 60 fps never dropped a single frame, at least from what I saw.”
- “Despite not being a traditional platformer, and despite how dearly this game screams to be optimized for user-friendliness, this game is good thanks to its unique feel, its top-quality aesthetics, and its epic ending.”
- “Technical performance:”
- “They're working on it, and I've had no issue with performance outside having to reinstall WMP.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game does not include microtransactions or a season pass, which some players found surprising given the current industry standards. This absence of additional monetization methods means players won't face ongoing costs after the initial purchase of £18.99.
- “The game doesn't contain microtransactions or a season pass, so you won't be nickel-and-dimed for more money after spending your £18.99. It's refreshing to see a game that respects your initial investment.”
- “I appreciate that there are no hidden costs or paywalls in this game. It feels great to enjoy the full experience without worrying about additional expenses.”
- “It's nice to see a game that offers a complete package without the pressure of in-game purchases. You get your money's worth right from the start.”
- “The problem is that the developers did not set expectations correctly in their advertisements.”
- “Warning: the game doesn't contain microtransactions or a season pass, so you won't be nickeled and dimed for more money after spending your £18.99. Just thought I should warn people about that fact, as every game seems to have those features to be considered worth it.”
- “The monetization strategy feels misleading and leaves players feeling cheated.”