Save the Dodos

About

"Save the Dodos" is a puzzle game where you guide dodos through 100 levels across four worlds, reshaping the environment to lead them to safety and prevent extinction. With four special dodos, four game modes, and a unique concept, players must think creatively to save these loveable birds. The game also features six Steam Trading cards.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging puzzle mechanic where players manipulate the terrain to guide Dodos to safety, reminiscent of classic games like Lemmings.
Visually appealing with colorful graphics and a catchy soundtrack, making it enjoyable to play.
Offers a decent amount of content with 100 levels across four worlds, providing a fun and challenging experience for puzzle enthusiasts.

The game lacks depth and variety, with repetitive mechanics that can lead to boredom after a short time.
Technical issues on PC, such as limited graphics options and lack of Steam features like screenshots, detract from the overall experience.
Some players found the game to be more suited for mobile devices, feeling it doesn't meet the expectations of a PC game.

graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the colorful and charming 2D art style and animations, while others criticize the lack of resolution options and the simplistic, low-effort visuals reminiscent of mobile apps. Overall, while the game features appealing aesthetics for some, it falls short of the high standards expected from PC games, particularly in terms of 3D graphics quality.
- “This game makes me speechless, the graphics are amazing, it is the funniest game on Steam and the concept of the game is amazing.”
- “The art style is fantastic and the dodos and the little noises they make are adorable, while the gameplay itself is fun and enjoyable.”
- “+great visuals, colorful and nicely drawn levels, nice animations”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “The game features simple, cartoony 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low-effort mobile apps.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay has been criticized for its repetitive mechanics, particularly the wrap-around sliding-puzzle, which becomes tedious after a few levels without introducing new elements. While some players appreciate the unique tile-swapping mechanic and find the initial levels enjoyable, the lack of variety over 300 levels can lead to a draining experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and frustration, with a charming art style and engaging characters.
- “The gameplay is different, and the mechanic here is tile swapping.”
- “The art style is fantastic and the dodos and the little noises they make are adorable, while the gameplay itself is fun and enjoyable.”
- “Depending on how good you are with puzzles, (and whether you want to unlock all 43 achievements like me) this game will provide you somewhere between 5-15 hours of gameplay.”
- “Same mechanics every level, and the wrap-around sliding puzzle isn't really that great of a mechanic in the first place - it would be good for 10 levels, then it's time to introduce something else.”
- “The premise is fun, the first few levels are fine... but with no change to puzzle mechanics, music, or sound effects for 300 levels, it is needlessly draining and tedious.”
- “(And, more realistically, it's not even a mechanic for the first ten levels; it's a mechanic you introduce later, into a game that's already done some better mechanics you can combine it with.)”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
22%
22%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its catchy and enjoyable soundtrack that complements the gameplay. However, some users noted that the lack of variety in music and sound effects over extended playtime can lead to a tedious experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a positive aspect, enhancing the game's atmosphere without becoming overwhelming.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The art is beautifully done and the soundtrack is one that you can happily listen to in the background without ever feeling the need to mute it.”
- “The music is pretty catchy too!”
- “The premise is fun, the first few levels are fine... but with no change to puzzle mechanics, music, or sound effects for 300 levels, it is needlessly draining and tedious.”
- “It was a struggle to get it to even start on Linux (the start button originally did nothing, forcing Proton Experimental made it play music on a white screen, forcing Proton somewhere in the version 4 area got it working).”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The story emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life, suggesting that perseverance can lead to unexpected outcomes. However, the overall narrative fails to engage players, as many found it lacking in depth and interest, leading to a lack of investment in the game's missions. The gameplay mechanics, while offering some challenge, do not significantly enhance the storytelling experience.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
- “I lost all missions.”
- “Sounds simple, but some missions are quite challenging.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring a charming and funny drawing style, amusing sounds, and a lighthearted approach to gameplay that makes it enjoyable and engaging. Players find it to be a cute and entertaining puzzle experience, with a unique mechanic that adds to the overall fun.
- “Very funny and cute puzzle game, fun to play but challenging.”
- “Funny sounds and soundtrack.”
- “Funny drawing style.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some challenges are easily overcome, others demand significant patience and luck. The initial enjoyment fades over time due to a lack of variety in puzzle mechanics and audio elements, leading to a tedious experience over the course of 300 levels.
- “Some aspects are easily solved, while others require patience and luck; however, many are rather tedious.”
- “The premise is fun, and the first few levels are fine, but with no change to puzzle mechanics, music, or sound effects for 300 levels, it becomes needlessly draining and tedious.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Save the Dodos" resonates with players as it centers on the poignant narrative of protecting the endearing but vulnerable dodo birds from extinction, evoking feelings of empathy and urgency.
- ““Save the Dodos” invites players to prevent the heart-breaking tale of the charming yet unintelligent dodos from extinction.”