Star Birds

About

Star Birds is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by Toukana Interactive and was released on September 10, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Early Access Roadmap a kurzgesagt universe The universe is a fascinating, yet unexplored place – it's about time to change that! Join your flock of Star Birds on a mission across the great beyond, establish a thriving mining operation, and discover new technologies to advance even further. And who knows? Maybe you'll encounter something that's truly out of this world ... About the GameSta…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,339 reviews

graphics98 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

Charming art style and engaging gameplay that captures the essence of Kurzgesagt.
Relaxing and fun, with a good balance of challenge and accessibility for both new and experienced players.
The game features a unique 3D space environment that adds complexity to resource management and logistics.

The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, especially with limited content in early access.
Some mechanics, like the inability to cross pipes, can lead to frustrating logistical challenges.
The story and character interactions may feel simplistic and not as engaging as expected.

graphics
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their charming and vibrant "kurzgesagt" art style, which translates beautifully from the popular YouTube channel into a 3D environment. Players appreciate the polished visuals, cute character designs, and relaxing atmosphere, although some have noted that the focus on aesthetics occasionally detracts from gameplay functionality. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience and appeal to fans of the kurzgesagt aesthetic.
- “The graphics are beautifully crafted in the style and universe of kurzgesagt (the 'in a nutshell' YouTube channel).”
- “Visually, Star Birds is a love letter to the kurzgesagt art style, with its pastel color palette, clean lines, and precise geometry.”
- “The art style is awesome, as a long-time lover of kurzgesagt's art style, this game hit the right spots on that front.”
- “Repetitive and boring gameplay, and the graphics are just so ugly and bright (looks like something from the late 90s).”
- “If it weren't for the visuals this would be a 1/10.”
- “The gameplay runs smoothly, even on my graphics damaged laptop, but the cutscenes stutter and skip repeatedly, even on the lowest graphics setting.”
gameplay
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay is generally praised for its addictive and relaxing nature, complemented by a charming art style and satisfying mechanics. However, many users note that it suffers from a lack of depth and variety, with some mechanics feeling simplistic or poorly explained, leading to a repetitive experience. While the game shows potential for growth and improvement, particularly in quality of life updates and additional content, it currently appeals more to casual gamers rather than those seeking complex gameplay.
- “The gameplay is engaging and progressively makes you think more.”
- “It's vibrant, imaginative, and bursting with personality, all wrapped in a gameplay loop that is as addictive as it is joyful.”
- “The gameplay loop is quite short, and I wish there was some longevity or endless modes, customization, more buildings, etc. similar to games like Astroneer.”
- “But the gameplay is very primitive and boring.”
- “The gameplay just isn't there at all.”
- “Yes, the game is beautifully animated and colorful, but there's no good gameplay here at the moment.”
story
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
72%
2%
The game's story is generally described as charming and engaging, featuring a cute, educational narrative reminiscent of Kurzgesagt's style, though some players find it simplistic and lacking depth. While the storyline provides a pleasant backdrop for gameplay, many reviewers note that it can feel repetitive and is often overshadowed by the mechanics of resource management and mission completion. Overall, players express excitement for future updates and expansions to the story, indicating a desire for more content and complexity.
- “The story seems nice.”
- “Amazing game play, compelling story, and exciting concept!”
- “The story is great so far.”
- “The story is also very bland which could have set this game apart from other games in this genre.”
- “Unfortunately, since it is an early access game, the story just cuts off at some point.”
- “The story and characters are charming but simple and don’t do much to pull you through the game.”
music
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
35%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, perfectly complementing the beautiful art style and gameplay. While many players appreciate the soothing soundtrack, some note that it can be repetitive and lacks diversity, suggesting a desire for more varied musical themes. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the cozy atmosphere, making it an enjoyable experience for players looking to unwind.
- “Enjoy the visuals immensely and the soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The music makes me feel like I'm in an episode of Bee & Puppycat.”
- “The atmosphere and music are just so relaxing and chill!”
- “Controls are clunky, sound effects are annoying, and music is minimal at best, consisting of 2 themes, each of up to 8 notes, underlying the repetitiveness of what you’re doing.”
- “I don't know what's happening, but my autosaved game (and a lot of others' games as well) just won't progress beyond the black music screen of nothingness.”
- “About two hours in, and my only complaint is the music.”
humor
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charming and quirky style, reminiscent of the beloved kurzgesagt YouTube channel. Players appreciate the funny references, clever writing, and amusing character interactions, which contribute to an overall delightful and engaging experience. While some wished for voice acting to enhance the comedic elements, the game's lighthearted tone and humorous gameplay have resonated well with fans.
- “If you're looking for a game that blends heart, humor, and high-flying fun, Star Birds absolutely soars.”
- “The game captures the Kurzgesagt humor, colors, and birds, which was enjoyable as a fan of the channel.”
- “Star Birds is an absolute delight – funny, thought-provoking, and at the same time incredibly cozy.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while gameplay runs smoothly on various hardware and offers a charming aesthetic, cutscenes suffer from stuttering issues. Some players report high GPU consumption and performance hiccups, particularly on older systems, but many find the core mechanics and optimization challenges engaging. Despite these issues, the game is polished and not in early access, indicating a solid foundation with potential for future improvements.
- “If you like this kind of game but want a more laid-back play focusing on optimization rather than survival, this is your game.”
- “A perfect blend of the optimization of Path of Exile and Factorio's grinding with beautiful visual elements and interesting progression and quests.”
- “The gameplay revolves around exploration, construction, and optimization.”
- “Holy crap, it's so annoying to accidentally delete the wrong bit of pipe or whatever when you get to the last level, which is a space-optimization and routing puzzle more than anything.”
- “However, I do have one minor issue: the cutscenes aren't optimized at all.”
- “Not optimized well sadly, so my old hardware can't run it without stuttering even though it looks like a mobile game.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive after a few hours, likening it to a frustrating puzzle rather than an engaging challenge. While some appreciate the game's visual appeal and the optimization elements reminiscent of titles like Factorio, the necessity to repeatedly perform mundane tasks, such as managing resources and routing pipes, detracts from the overall enjoyment. Ultimately, players feel that the grind can overshadow the fun, making it a chore rather than a rewarding experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It stopped being fun after a few hours and started feeling tedious.”
- “The second problem is that the core game is cute and fun, but the secondary game - required to finish later stages and complete challenges - is tedious and annoying.”
- “Completing story objectives is pretty easy and you burn through maps fast; most of the 'replayability' comes from redoing the same maps to complete challenge objectives, but I found that this always just boils down to a game of 'untangle the spaghetti', which is quite tedious instead of engaging.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the randomness and challenge of unlocking achievements and experimenting with upgrades, others find the puzzle format tedious and lacking in engaging replay value. The potential for replayability exists, particularly for fans of similar cozy games, but many feel that the current system requires tuning to enhance the experience.
- “There's a bit of replayability to get all the achievements for this level.”
- “Something that gives enough replayability and challenge, but also motivation to be challenged (random perks to unlock for your run gives fun for experimentation).”
- “High replayability and matches the kurzgesagt art style perfectly; if you like games like Factorio or Satisfactory, this game is the coziest, easiest buy ever.”
- “The levels themselves have no discernible replay value that I can tell.”
- “You're on the right track with features like randomized planets & upgrades in between levels... but the game severely lacks replayability due to the puzzle format.”
- “Completing story objectives is pretty easy and you burn through maps fast; most of the 'replayability' comes from redoing the same maps to complete challenge objectives, but I found that this always just boils down to a game of 'untangle the spaghetti' which is quite tedious instead of engaging.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game's stability is generally positive, with users noting that it runs well on Linux with Proton Experimental. However, it is still in early access, leading to occasional bugs and glitches, which can affect gameplay. While some players report significant issues, many find the experience enjoyable despite these minor setbacks.
- “Runs great on Linux with Proton Experimental <3”
- “Major bug-free experience.”
- “Fun, challenging, but a bit buggy at times.”
- “I got 2 of them buggy, so I can't use or delete them; they ramp up against the whole wall but clip into the ground.”
- “Game is a bit buggy currently and needs some fine tuning, but overall I like it.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a deeply emotional experience, describing it as "wholesome," "cozy," and "heartwarming." The sense of satisfaction from achieving goals and the developers' responsiveness to feedback contribute to a feeling of connection and care, making it a genuinely enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Overall, the game evokes positive emotions and a sense of intelligence in its design.
- “The game is truly a work of art because it is so wholesome and obviously made with heart.”
- “Very cozy and heartwarming game.”
- “It feels very cute and wholesome.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming visuals and relaxing soundtrack, reminiscent of the classic kurzgesagt art style. Players find it to be a cozy and enjoyable experience, effectively capturing a serene and engaging environment that enhances the gameplay. Overall, the combination of artistic design and soothing music creates a captivating atmosphere that draws players in.
- “I love the graphics and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The classic Kurzgesagt art style is charming, and the soundtrack really pulls you into the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and music are just so relaxing and chill!”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real depth or engagement.”
- “Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere fails to create a compelling experience.”
- “The game has a nice aesthetic, but the atmosphere doesn't draw you in as much as it should.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
80%
The monetization aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases and a modest upfront price of $20, others criticize the misleading advertising and find the game boring despite the lack of ads. Overall, the approach to monetization seems to be a point of contention among users.
- “The game offers a fair pricing model that respects players' wallets.”
- “I appreciate that there are no pay-to-win mechanics, making it accessible for everyone.”
- “No BS ads, microtransactions, etc.”
- “It's a boring mobile game without ads, but it costs $20.”
- “A modest price with no in-game purchases.”