Songbird Symphony

A solid first-time attempt from Joysteak Studios, Songbird Symphony is a lighthearted, well, symphony of spectacular aesthetics, an endearing narrative, and simple, fun gameplay.

84%Game Brain Score

music, story

replayability, atmosphere

89% User Score Based on 313 reviews

Critic Score 79%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

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About

Songbird Symphony is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Joysteak and was released on July 25, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Songbird Symphony is a 2D musical adventure game about a young bird named Birb exploring the world and discovering new songs. This update features more emphasis on exploration, environment interactions, and access to songs. New songs and birds have been added to enhance the gameplay experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 313 reviews

music100 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Charming and heartwarming story about self-discovery and belonging, resonating with players of all ages.
Beautiful pixel art and animations, creating a vibrant and engaging world filled with adorable characters.
Fun and varied rhythm gameplay that keeps players engaged, with the ability to replay songs for better scores without penalizing progress.

Some rhythm sections can become frustratingly difficult, especially as the game progresses, potentially discouraging less experienced players.
Platforming puzzles can feel tedious and may require restarting if mistakes are made, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
Lack of a map or fast travel options can make navigation confusing, leading to unnecessary backtracking.

music
419 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The music in *Songbird Symphony* is a central element that enhances the game's charm, featuring catchy tunes and engaging lyrics that resonate with the narrative of family and self-discovery. While many players appreciate the diverse musical styles and the integration of rhythm-based gameplay, some have noted issues with overlapping notes and high-pitched sounds that can detract from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as delightful and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's whimsical atmosphere, though opinions vary on its complexity and replay value.
- “Beneath its lighthearted surface, the game weaves a touching narrative about family, self-discovery, and finding harmony in difference—a theme that resonates as warmly as the music that drives its world.”
- “The music is alive—woven into the fabric of the world—and it’s through rhythm that birb connects with others, learns, and grows.”
- “The joy of hearing the soundtrack evolve as birb’s repertoire grows is one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.”
- “The music wasn't memorable, and the music minigames were really brought down by the fact that the protagonist's voice is incredibly piercing, especially on held notes.”
- “Those high-pitched whistling sounds can get quite irritating after a while, and the fact that in some songs the notes just keep overlapping each other is simply annoying to listen to; it feels like pure chaotic noise.”
- “Unfortunately, this might be the worst sounding rhythm game I've ever played - while the (classic midi synth sounding) soundtrack is usually decent, the character's chirps are shrill and don't fit with the music, missing notes emits a loud midi horn honk, and the notes you're meant to repeat back simon says style sometimes keep coming after you start playing, turning the big rhythm battles into cacophonous clusterfucks.”
story
217 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The story of "Songbird Symphony" centers on a charming and heartwarming journey of a young bird named Birb, who embarks on a quest to discover his true identity and where he belongs. While the narrative is simple and somewhat predictable, it resonates emotionally with players through relatable themes of acceptance and self-discovery, enhanced by expressive character interactions and delightful music. Overall, the storytelling is engaging and suitable for all ages, making it a touching experience despite its straightforward plot.
- “The story is touching and unique, and the songs are a lot of fun!”
- “The story unfolds as you explore its puzzle platform style map.”
- “The story itself is a feel-good heartwarming tale of self-discovery and finding acceptance in a world you feel you have no place in.”
- “The characters weren't super fleshed out and I didn't feel all that interested in the story as a result, though the story that was presented was pretty cute, I suppose.”
- “The story is incredibly predictable and I pretty much had everything figured out by the second boss.”
- “The environmental puzzles are mostly busy work, and the story didn't resonate with me at all.”
gameplay
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay of "Songbird Symphony" is a charming blend of platforming, puzzle-solving, and rhythm mechanics, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that integrates seamlessly with the narrative. Players engage in a variety of rhythm challenges that change with each song, providing a fresh experience, while the overall mechanics are designed to be accessible, allowing for enjoyment without the pressure of failure. Despite some critiques regarding the depth and polish of the gameplay, the game is praised for its delightful art style and heartwarming story, making it a joyful experience for players.
- “The gameplay structure is a charming mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and rhythm mechanics.”
- “What makes Songbird Symphony so special is the seamless connection between its mechanics and its message.”
- “The gameplay is extremely varied, and the developers have done an exceptional job of keeping things different and interesting for players without it becoming repetitive.”
- “The overworld gameplay is also kind of boring.”
- “I can't help but feel like the devs put together the song mechanics, found they were kind of hard to follow along for casual players, and rather than figure out how to improve this, simply corrected the issue by allowing an inordinate amount of missed notes.”
- “The rhythm timing is rather ambiguous, and the gameplay is somewhat distracting, but the overall game experience is good.”
emotional
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Songbird Symphony" is widely praised for its heartwarming narrative centered on themes of acceptance, belonging, and self-discovery. Players resonate with the touching story of the protagonist, Birb, as they navigate a charming world filled with delightful music and expressive animations that enhance the emotional depth. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings, often leading to tears, making it a memorable experience that combines engaging gameplay with a heartfelt journey.
- “Beneath its lighthearted surface, the game weaves a touching narrative about family, self-discovery, and finding harmony in difference—a theme that resonates as warmly as the music that drives its world.”
- “The emotional payoff of Birb’s journey—learning not just where he came from but what it means to belong—is both uplifting and bittersweet.”
- “The story itself is a feel-good, heartwarming tale of self-discovery and finding acceptance in a world you feel you have no place in.”
graphics
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and colorful pixel art style, which enhances the overall charm and appeal. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful animations and vibrant visuals that create a delightful atmosphere, making it a standout title for fans of cute aesthetics. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's relaxing and enjoyable experience, complementing its engaging music and heartwarming story.
- “Absolutely beautiful game, both story and visuals.”
- “The art style is really charming and the story is heartwarming too.”
- “Stunning pixel animation and graphics, and riveting gameplay.”
- “Good idea and cute graphics ruined by poor design and tone-deaf story beats.”
- “The music isn't good either - rather than being charmingly retro as the pixel graphics would suggest, the soundtrack comes off as cheaply made and poorly executed - but I could've forgiven that if it actually played well.”
- “Those play styles begin with Simon Says - easy enough - before devolving into a mess of visuals that are sometimes completely desynchronized from the music you're hearing.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Birb's journey is characterized by quirky, heartwarming moments and a cast of funny characters, including a wise owl and proud peacocks, that enhance the themes of acceptance and identity. Players appreciate the blend of cute artwork, amusing animations, and clever jokes, making the experience both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with a touching narrative, appealing to those who enjoy lighthearted adventures.
- “Birb’s journey is filled with humor and tenderness, and every character he meets, from the wise owl conductor to the proud peacocks, contributes to a broader theme about acceptance and identity.”
- “The adventures of a little curious orphan bird, which is so different from others, but loves to sing and dance, in a forest full of surprises, funny inhabitants and many new outlandish discoveries.”
- “The animations are hilarious and the birds are too cute!”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game offers limited story-driven replayability, but it compensates with a robust song compendium that encourages players to perfect their performance on various tracks. While it may not be as innovative as other titles in the genre, the challenge of achieving higher scores and mastering songs provides significant motivation for repeated play. Overall, players can find enjoyment in refining their skills, even if the narrative itself doesn't invite multiple playthroughs.
- “Not so much replay value story-wise, though it is an adorable and moving plot (I cried sometimes), but lots of value in the song compendium you unlock afterwards, which allows you to grind through the songs as much as you want until you get them perfect.”
- “Adding a different level of challenge, instead of the character being damaged, this title adds replay value to the concept of getting a perfect hit rate on the songs.”
- “It is not extremely innovative as a 2D exploration/puzzle game, and definitely won't replace your favorite rhythm game (nor does it invite as much replayability as those games tend to do), but this is definitely a case of the result being greater than the sum of its parts, at least for a while.”
- “Not too long though, but there's a lot of replay value in trying to master the song events.”
- “+ all songs are replayable and are graded C, B, A, S which motivates players to achieve better scores.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy, Disney-like charm, enhanced by beautiful colors, catchy music, and festive sound quality. Players appreciate the focus on discovery and enjoyment rather than difficulty, creating a joyful and immersive experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as phenomenal and visually appealing, making it a delightful setting for the gameplay.
- “If you can get into a cozy Disney movie-like story and atmosphere, with catchy songs, cool level design, and overall cute graphics and animations, this game was made for you. Plus, it costs less than a Snickers bar right now!”
- “The colors are very beautiful and the atmosphere is absolutely phenomenal.”
- “Much like the joyous experience of the characters, the sound quality is very good, managing to create an atmosphere with festive tones throughout its denouement.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is overshadowed by repetitive design choices, making it hard to stay engaged.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly across all platforms with impressive visuals, responsive controls, and no reported performance issues or bugs. Players appreciate the satisfying gameplay experience, enhanced by the absence of failure mechanics in song performance.
- “Technically, the game runs smoothly and looks beautiful on all platforms, with crisp animation and responsive controls that make even the simplest actions satisfying.”
- “At least you can't fail any of the songs and only get a rating on your performance.”
- “[Performance/Bug Related Incidents]”
- “No performance issues or bugs found during my playthrough.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development is highlighted by charming and cute designs, enhanced by stellar pixel art and lively animations. However, some players feel that despite the initial appeal, their enjoyment of the game diminishes over time.
- “The character designs are really charming and fun, complemented by (in no small part) the stellar pixel art and bouncy animations.”
- “Story is charming and character designs are cute.”
- “Turns out the graphics were indeed cute and pretty, especially the character designs and dance animations, but unfortunately the more I played, the less I liked the game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in the platforming and rhythm sections, which initially offer enjoyment but quickly become frustrating due to their difficulty and the need for frequent restarts. While the pixel art is appreciated, it does not compensate for the overall lack of engaging gameplay.
- “The pixel art is quite charming, but every other aspect falls flat, whether that be the janky rhythm sections, tediously easy puzzles, or awkward world design.”
- “The platforming rhythm puzzles are fun at first and then become tedious and rote when you inevitably mess up a puzzle or a platforming section and have to restart.”
- “Platforming sections can be a chore and tedious, but the rhythm sections more than make up for it.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits high stability, with negligible glitches noted. The only significant issue mentioned was a minor collision glitch that caused a brief dialogue miss, indicating that major stability problems are rare.
- “Negligible glitches too, only one I've experienced was a minor collision glitch that had me miss a single and short bit of dialogue.”
- “Bugs and glitches.”

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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

7h Average play time

5h Main story

7h Completionist

4-9h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Songbird Symphony is a platformer game.

Songbird Symphony is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Web Browser, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 5 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 7 hours to finish. On average players spend around 7 hours playing Songbird Symphony.

Songbird Symphony was released on July 25, 2019.

Songbird Symphony was developed by Joysteak.

Songbird Symphony has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its replayability.

Songbird Symphony is a single player game.

Similar games include Wandersong, Crossing Souls, Owlboy, Seasons after Fall, Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians and others.

Songbird Symphony

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