Snakebird
- July 21, 2016
- Noumenon Games
- 15h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Get on Steam
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Get on Apple StoreSnakebird is a DRM-free puzzle game featuring snakelike birds that grow longer by eating fruit. The game features over 50 challenging levels across multiple themed zones, with gameplay focused on assuming different shapes to solve puzzles. The unique "narcolepsy" mechanic causes the birds to fall asleep when they stop moving, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the physics-based puzzles.
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Reviews
- Challenging but fair puzzles that require clever thinking and planning.
- Colorful and charming visuals with a playful soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Non-linear level progression allows players to skip difficult puzzles and return later, keeping the gameplay fresh.
- Steep difficulty curve that can lead to frustration, especially for players not accustomed to challenging puzzles.
- Some puzzles may feel like they have only one specific solution, limiting creative problem-solving.
- Lack of tutorials or hints for new mechanics can leave players feeling lost or confused.
- gameplay214 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Snakebird* is characterized by its simple yet innovative mechanics, reminiscent of the classic snake game, where players navigate grid-based puzzles while managing the length of their character's tail. The game features a gradual introduction of new mechanics, leading to increasingly challenging puzzles that require creative problem-solving and strategic thinking. With charming visuals and clever level design, *Snakebird* offers a rewarding experience for puzzle enthusiasts, though some players may find the difficulty spikes and lack of explicit tutorials frustrating.
“Snakebird is a grid-based puzzle game with gravity, where your own body also acts as an obstacle, in the style of the classical snake game: as you eat fruits (required to beat the level) your tail grows and trails behind your head.”
“The puzzles were well paced and well thought out, the mechanics continuously built on themselves until they all came together in the final few levels to create an extremely challenging last stretch.”
“The mechanics are simple to understand, but take a lot of brains and patience to master.”
“I tried to enjoy this game but I really couldn't; most puzzle games have a moment where everything clicks and you have the 'ah-ha' moment, but in Snakebird, it just feels like trial and error, which isn't a good way to make a puzzle game. The rewind mechanic and general level building feels like it's there to deceive you instead of teaching you.”
“My one problem and hesitation with it originally was the difficulty of the puzzles to start with: it was a wall, without much ramp up or levels teaching some of the more complex, less obvious strategies and capabilities that derive from the mechanics.”
“The game itself doesn't teach you all the mechanics, just the basics, and leaves you to discover the rest by yourself.”
- graphics165 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming, colorful, and simplistic aesthetic that complements its playful theme, featuring cute characters and smooth animations. However, this lighthearted visual style can be misleading, as it contrasts sharply with the game's challenging puzzles, often described as deceptively difficult. Overall, the polished visuals and engaging sound design enhance the gameplay experience, making it both visually appealing and mentally stimulating.
“The graphics are colorful and crisp, the audio is unobtrusive, and the controls are as simple as it gets.”
“The aesthetics are vibrant and colorful, the snakebirds are adorable, all the audio is charming and perfectly fits the mood of the game.”
“The graphics are immaculate.”
“The graphics should emphasize the grid but they don't, so they worked around this problem by letting you enable the grid overlay in the settings, which is a joke.”
“The simple child-like graphics would initially have you believe the game to be a kids' game.”
“Don't let the colorful visuals fool you; this snake- and bird-based game is hardcore (albeit with a nice learning curve).”
- music89 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charming, calming, and playful qualities, effectively complementing the cute art style and enhancing the overall atmosphere. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to create a relaxing vibe, some note that it can become repetitive during extended play sessions. Overall, the combination of delightful sound effects and a well-designed soundtrack contributes positively to the game's experience, despite a few critiques regarding volume control options.
“The art style is lovely, the music is very enjoyable, the theme is funny, and the game idea is good.”
“The colorful environments, relaxing music, and expressive faces of the snakebirds all create a pleasant atmosphere to soothe any pent-up frustration that you may experience while being unable to eat that distant fruit without falling to your demise in the briny sea below!”
“A beautifully calming soundtrack complements this unique graphics style very well.”
“It's not a casual game... you might get bored of the incredibly casual music though, but I have a hunch they made that on purpose.”
“The music is outright painful after a certain period and you should probably listen to something else while you play.”
“Couple this with the fact that you sometimes spend a large amount of time on a single level and it can end up getting to be a rather annoying soundtrack.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky concept of "snakebirds," which elicit laughter through their funny facial expressions and the absurdity of their situations. Players appreciate the charming visuals and the lighthearted tone that balances the challenging puzzles, often leading to moments of genuine amusement and joy. Overall, the game's blend of humor and frustration creates a unique experience that keeps players engaged, even as the difficulty ramps up.
“Also, Snakebird is such a funny title and concept; it's hard not to love these creatures.”
“The movement system is quirky and fun, and on more than one occasion I cracked a huge grin, sometimes even laughing out loud, upon discovering a cheeky way it could be exploited to solve a puzzle.”
“It's funny, it's great, and it gets hard pretty quick.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While most puzzles are engaging and can be solved relatively quickly, some players feel that certain puzzles can be tedious and time-consuming, requiring significant effort to find solutions. However, many appreciate that the puzzles are designed thoughtfully, avoiding unnecessary difficulty or frustration.
“The solutions themselves are not tedious to execute (most solutions take under 30 seconds to execute), but may take quite a while to find (there are puzzles that have taken me over half an hour).”
“They aren't tedious or just a matter of brute force.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“For the puzzle fanatic, this is as good as it gets... the genius of the game is obvious, but I find it kind of tedious.”
“There are 2-3 puzzles that are very tedious and not fun to do, but that's all.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional storyline, focusing instead on the gameplay mechanics of solving puzzles with cute snakebirds. Players seeking a narrative experience may find it lacking, as the primary appeal lies in the challenge of the puzzles rather than any unfolding story.
“A wonderful puzzle game about cute snakebirds and their quest to reach rainbow holes.”
“There is no story at all.”
“Unless one materializes further into the game, however, this game does not have any real storyline, so if you're someone who is likely to look up the solutions online at the first sign of difficulty, I'd give this game a pass, as there doesn't seem to be anything beyond the joy of solving difficult puzzles here.”
“This game does not have any real storyline.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a wholesome and enjoyable experience, though some express feelings of frustration and inadequacy due to its challenging puzzles. The emotional impact is mixed, with enjoyment overshadowed by moments of self-doubt and the occasional chore-like tasks. Overall, the game evokes a blend of satisfaction and challenge, making it both engaging and occasionally overwhelming.
“What a wholesome, thoroughly enjoyable puzzler.”
“The only negative things I can think of are that it made me feel dumb, the clickable props achievement was a bit of a chore, and that I can't find Snakebird 2 anywhere.”
“It made me feel like an absolute idiot.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers strong replayability due to the difficulty in remembering solutions, making it enjoyable to revisit after some time. However, some users note that once all puzzles are solved, replay value diminishes, though the content justifies its price.
“Great replay value; I have no idea how I solved half the levels.”
“The game has great replay value too, as it’s hard to remember your solutions.”
“The only downside is that there isn't much replayability once you've solved every puzzle, but the game well surpasses its asking price in terms of content, in my opinion.”
“Replayability is a plus: after two or more months, you'll have forgotten most of the solutions.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, featuring colorful environments, relaxing music, and expressive character designs that create a pleasant experience. Players appreciate the comforting aesthetic and phenomenal animations, which help alleviate frustration during gameplay. Overall, the game's atmosphere effectively draws players in and enhances their enjoyment.
“The colorful environments, relaxing music, and expressive faces of the snakebirds all create a pleasant atmosphere to soothe any pent-up frustration that you may experience while being unable to eat that distant fruit without falling to your demise in the briny sea below!”
“The game goes for a calming atmosphere, which works for a game that you need to spend several minutes looking at the screen.”
“Snakebird will lure you in with its comforting atmosphere and cute aesthetic.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance without significant issues.
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is enhanced by thoughtful design details, such as the snakebirds exhibiting fear of spikes and a desire for fresh fruit, which adds depth to their behavior and interactions within the game.
“The character design has some small but worthwhile added details; the snakebirds will cower in fear of nearby spikes and look longingly at fresh fruit when close to either.”
“The depth of character development is impressive, as each character evolves in response to the choices you make throughout the game.”
“I love how the characters grow and change based on your interactions, making every decision feel impactful.”
