The Last Birdling

About

In "The Last Birdling," players control Bimonia, one of the last of the bird-like Birdlings, who becomes friends with a human child named Tayo. As they grow up together, they must navigate the challenges of their forbidden friendship in a world on the brink of war. The game features dual perspectives, following both Bimonia and Tayo's journeys from childhood to adolescence, and explores themes of acceptance and understanding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

story24 positive mentions

The Last Birdling features a compelling and emotional story that explores deep themes of friendship and conflict between different races, with choices that significantly impact the narrative and character relationships.
The artwork and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's atmosphere.
The game offers multiple endings and a well-structured choice system, allowing players to explore different outcomes and encouraging replayability.

The story can be quite dark and depressing, dealing with heavy themes that may not be suitable for all players, which could be a turn-off for those seeking a lighter experience.
There is no voice acting, which some players may find disappointing, as it could have added an extra layer of immersion to the narrative.
Some players noted that the pacing can feel slow at times, particularly during the initial chapters, which may affect engagement for those looking for a faster-paced experience.

story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The story of "The Last Birdling" is a compelling and emotionally charged visual novel that explores themes of friendship, conflict, and personal growth against a backdrop of dark and twisted events. Players navigate a narrative filled with moral dilemmas and impactful choices that shape the characters' relationships and outcomes, leading to multiple endings that evoke a range of emotions. While the story begins with a lighthearted tone, it quickly delves into deeper, more somber territory, making it a poignant experience that resonates long after completion.
- “The story is narrated through two main points of view (Tayo, a human girl expert in archery, and Bimonia, a young bird-like hybrid) and your choices affect the relationship between the characters and how the endings will play out.”
- “It was heart-wrenching at moments, full of hope and longing as the story progresses, pleading internally that something will save the situation and not knowing how it will turn out; trying to read faster and faster to see how things will unfold, while not skipping a single detail or dialogue because they're all so fitting and well-suited for the story.”
- “The seemingly innocent concept of a forbidden friendship between two young girls of different races escalates to a heavy story with a few dark twists, but also very emotional and heartwarming.”
- “The story is solid, albeit overall very depressing.”
- “The story starts off a bit slow though but trust me once it starts picking up the pace you won't be able to stop until it's done.”
- “[spoiler] or, to state it more clearly, the story is needlessly gritty, goes above and beyond to break its characters, every ending is a downer, and the one ending where the girls live and escape falls super flat.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
23%
12%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, effectively complementing the artwork and story. Many reviewers highlight the chill and relaxing soundtrack, noting its ability to evoke strong emotions and memories associated with the gameplay. While some mention that the music is minimalistic and features oriental themes, it is generally regarded as a significant strength of the overall presentation, enhancing the immersive experience.
- “The music is exceptionally beautiful.”
- “The overall presentation, music and sound effects are also well done and contribute to some of the more powerful moments.”
- “The art is adorable and the music is stunning!”
- “The music is minimalistic and is composed of oriental style tracks using oriental instruments, in fitting with the setting, which is very effective in the majority of places, but I feel like the instrument choices prevent the game from fully realizing the potential of many of the sad scenes.”
- “I can't describe how beautiful the plot and the writing style as well as the art and music was.”
- “Just hearing the menu screen soundtrack after playing through brings back such strong feelings and memories of the game, as if I wish it would never leave me.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"The Last Birdling" is a deeply emotional visual novel that evokes strong feelings of hope, longing, and heartache throughout its narrative. Players report being profoundly moved by the story of a forbidden friendship between two girls from warring races, which unfolds with both dark twists and heartwarming moments. The game's well-crafted dialogue and character development create an immersive experience that leaves a lasting emotional impact, making it one of the most powerful entries in the genre.
- “The last birdling, written by Invert Mouse, is an emotional and tear-jerking visual novel.”
- “It was heart-wrenching at moments as you progress, full of hope and longing as the story unfolds, pleading internally that something will save the situation and not knowing how it will turn out; trying to read faster and faster to see how things will turn out, while not skipping a single detail or dialogue because they're all so fitting and well-suited for the story.”
- “The seemingly innocent concept of a forbidden friendship between two young girls of different races escalates to a heavy story with a few dark twists, but it is also very emotional and heartwarming.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their quality and distinct anime art style, complemented by a fitting and relaxing soundtrack. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant color schemes and overall visual presentation, noting that the artwork enhances the storytelling experience. The combination of strong visuals and engaging character design contributes to a compelling atmosphere, making it a standout in the genre.
- “The graphics are nice and the soundtrack is chill and relaxing... I recommend it.”
- “I liked the art style as well, especially the color schemes.”
- “In its core, this game is a blend of some of the stronger point-and-click games and visual novels here on Steam, mixed with an anime art style.”
- “Initially drawn in by the defined art style and promising concept, this visual novel proved to be so much more.”
- “The graphics and animations leave much to be desired, lacking the polish expected from modern titles.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is engaging and structured around a visual novel format, featuring twenty-one choices that lead to five distinct endings based on player decisions. It offers a user-friendly experience with multiple save slots and visual aids to track affection levels and required choices for each ending, enhancing replayability.
- “Mechanically, it's interesting too, with twenty-one choices through a linear path, and five endings that depend on the choices you make. The game is quite open, with the progress screen showing you which levels of affection will result in which endings.”
- “The game has plenty of save slots to allow different gameplay choices to be made during the game, with popup icons of a red/green feather and a portrait of Bimonia/Tayo to help players reach all five possible endings. The number of red and green feathers required to reach each ending is clearly shown.”
- “Gameplay - it's a visual novel.”
- “The game has plenty of save slots to allow different gameplay choices to be made during the game, with popup icons of a red/green feather and a portrait of Bimonia/Tayo to help players reach all the 5 possible endings where the number of red and green feathers required to reach each ending will be shown.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Character development in the game is criticized for being uneven and poorly executed, with clunky writing and erratic tone undermining the narrative. While the visuals and soundtrack are praised, the overall storytelling suffers from significant flaws in worldbuilding and internal logic.
- “The character development is rich and engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters throughout the story.”
- “The characters evolve in meaningful ways, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “The writing beautifully captures the complexities of each character, enhancing the overall narrative experience.”
- “The writing is clunky and erratic in tone, with many events feeling clumsily dark. The character development is uneven, and the worldbuilding and internal logic have holes you could drive a Star Destroyer through.”
- “Character arcs feel rushed and lack depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and their growth throughout the game is minimal, leaving players feeling uninvested in their journeys.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its strong and immersive music, which effectively contributes to the overall experience.
- “The music was good and created a truly atmospheric experience.”
- “The game's environment is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “The sound design enhances the atmosphere, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”