A Bird Story on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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An experimental short from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise: A simple & surreal 1-hour interactive animation about a boy and an injured bird, told without dialogues.If you're looking for To the Moon-like experience, I'd suggest playing Finding Paradise first.
A Bird Story is a indie, story rich and great soundtrack game
developed and published by Freebird Games.
Released on November 07th 2014 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux
in 11 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Korean, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Russian.
It has received 10,276 reviews of which 8,718 were positive and 1,558 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 3.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Eneba.
The Steam community has classified A Bird Story into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at A Bird Story through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS: XP, Vista, 7, 8
- Processor: > Intel Pentium III 800 MHz
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1024x768 High Color +
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 200 MB available space
- Additional Notes: Usually runs on anything more than a baked potato.
MacOS
- OS: OS X 10.6.8
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: Radeon HD 2400 or comparable
- Storage: 200 MB available space
- Additional Notes: Usually runs on anything more than a baked potato.
Linux
- OS: Ubuntu 12.04 or higher
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: Radeon HD 2400 or comparable
- Storage: 200 MB available space
- Additional Notes: This too usually runs on anything more than a baked potato; but one that you'd have to do the baking yourself and potentially tasting better afterwards.
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
A Bird Story is a quiet little game that made me sit still and feel. Despite the summary suggesting I should play Finding Paradise first, I played this one before anything else in the series And honestly? I don’t regret it at all. This is a short, wordless experience about a lonely boy and an injured bird, told through imagination and small everyday moments. The gameplay is minimal, more like guiding yourself through a moving picture book, but that simplicity works perfectly for the story it wants to tell. It’s a short game, yes, but it does not waste your time and leaves you thinking. When it ended, I just sat there like a loaf, staring at the screen, processing feelings. This little game is the reason I got curious (And emotionally prepared for the rest of the series. Finding Paradise, I’m coming for you!). Highly recommended for interactive story lovers
Expand the review
A Bird Story, developed and published by Freebird Games, is a quiet, meditative journey that explores childhood loneliness, imagination, and fleeting companionship. Created by Kan Gao, best known for the emotional masterpiece To the Moon, this standalone narrative acts as a thematic bridge between that game and its sequel, Finding Paradise. Unlike its predecessors, however, A Bird Story takes a bold minimalist approach—it strips away dialogue, complex mechanics, and narrative exposition in favor of pure visual storytelling. The result is a wordless hour-long experience that feels more like an interactive dream than a traditional game, immersing players in the intimate world of a young boy who finds solace in an injured bird. The story begins simply: a lonely child moves through the monotony of his daily life, largely invisible to those around him. The setting—a blend of ordinary apartments, classrooms, and surreal landscapes—serves as both literal and metaphorical space. When the boy discovers a wounded bird, his world begins to open up, revealing small bursts of wonder and tenderness amidst his isolation. The relationship that forms between the boy and the bird is the heart of the experience, rendered not through dialogue or narration but through quiet gestures, fleeting expressions, and moments of shared stillness. Every interaction feels deliberate and gentle, relying on the player’s empathy to fill in the emotional blanks that words would normally provide. This silent storytelling approach lends the game a universal accessibility—anyone, regardless of language, can understand its message. Visually, A Bird Story is both simple and evocative. Its pixel art style is soft and expressive, blending muted tones with dreamlike transitions that blur the boundaries between reality and imagination. The environments often shift unexpectedly, transforming mundane settings into fantastical ones. A walk through a hallway might dissolve into a flight over a paper landscape, or a bedroom might open into a forest canopy. These transitions feel organic, reflecting how a child’s mind can drift effortlessly between the real and the imagined. The animation is minimalist yet poignant, capturing small details—a hesitant step, a curious glance, the flutter of wings—that give emotional life to its pixelated characters. The absence of dialogue allows the visuals and music to carry the full emotional weight, and in this regard, A Bird Story excels. The soundtrack, composed by Kan Gao himself, is arguably the soul of the game. Gentle piano melodies and subtle orchestral swells guide the player through every emotional beat, from the quiet melancholy of the boy’s solitude to the warmth of his growing bond with the bird. The music never overpowers the story; instead, it rises and falls like breath, perfectly synchronized with the pacing of the scenes. It captures both the whimsy of childhood and the ache of impermanence, conveying emotions words could never adequately express. The use of silence is equally powerful—moments without music feel heavier, forcing the player to sit with the boy’s loneliness or the inevitability of parting. Gameplay in A Bird Story is intentionally minimal, functioning primarily as a framing device for the narrative rather than a challenge or test of skill. The player controls the boy as he moves through environments, occasionally triggering small interactions or transitions. There are no puzzles, no dialogue trees, and no objectives beyond experiencing the story. For some players, this approach may feel too passive, blurring the line between game and animated short film. The slow pacing and lack of interactivity can lead to moments of detachment, especially for those expecting the structure and engagement of a traditional adventure title. Yet this simplicity is central to the game’s design philosophy. By removing distractions, it invites players to reflect and empathize rather than strategize or compete. It becomes less about what you do and more about what you feel. Where A Bird Story truly shines is in its emotional authenticity. The game captures the essence of childhood—its wonder, awkwardness, and solitude—with a sincerity rarely seen in interactive media. The boy’s imaginative escapades, from flying on paper airplanes to exploring surreal dreamscapes, evoke both joy and nostalgia. At the same time, the game does not shy away from melancholy. It reminds players that not every story has a grand resolution; some moments in life are precious precisely because they are fleeting. The ending, understated and bittersweet, reflects this theme beautifully. It closes not with triumph, but with quiet acceptance—a recognition that sometimes, love and connection are meant to be temporary, and that their impermanence is what gives them meaning. Despite its brevity, A Bird Story leaves a lasting impression. Its one-hour runtime may seem short, but the emotional resonance it achieves in that span rivals that of much longer narratives. It’s not a game for everyone—those seeking challenge, dialogue, or complex mechanics will find it lacking—but for players willing to slow down and embrace its reflective pace, it offers an experience that lingers. It is a reminder that storytelling in games does not always require words or grand designs; sometimes, all it takes is a small boy, a wounded bird, and the unspoken language of empathy. A Bird Story is a quiet triumph of mood and minimalism, a delicate prelude to Freebird Games’ broader emotional universe, and a touching testament to the power of simplicity in evoking the deepest human emotions. Rating: 8/10
Expand the review
When I first played A Bird Story, I didn’t understand it. No dialogue, no big choices, no grand explanations — just a lonely boy, a broken bird, and silence. But that silence… it said everything. There’s a kind of ache that lives in the spaces between the frames of this game. You walk through his days — the bullying, the isolation, the tiny moments of wonder — and you start realizing you’re not just playing him. You’re remembering with him. And then, years later, you play Finding Paradise. That’s when it hits you like a tidal wave — That boy wasn’t just a passing story. He grew up. He became the man who sat in that hospital bed, asking for something he couldn’t even put into words. And suddenly every flutter of that bird’s wings in A Bird Story turns into the heartbeat of Finding Paradise. What once felt like a small, quiet story about a kid and his bird becomes a prelude to an entire life — one filled with regrets, wishes, and memories that never stopped chasing him. By the time Finding Paradise ends, you realize A Bird Story wasn’t just a prologue. It was a promise. A promise that every fleeting, beautiful, painful moment matters — even the ones that seem to vanish when we grow up. This isn’t a game you play for mechanics. It’s a game you feel — quietly, deeply, like something you once lost and didn’t realize until it found you again. So if you’re about to start Finding Paradise, please… Play A Bird Story first. Let it break your heart softly — because when it heals, it’ll do so in the shape of wings.
Expand the review
An interesting concept, but the severe lack of interactivity made it hard for me to stay engaged. By the end, I’d lost the emotional connection the story was clearly aiming for. Overall, it doesn’t reach the same heights as To the Moon, but those who enjoyed that game will likely still find something to appreciate here even without any dialogue.
Expand the review
Nice short story to pass the time, definitely worth at 80% off.
Expand the review
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Frequently Asked Questions
A Bird Story is currently priced at 3.99€ on Steam.
A Bird Story is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 3.99€ on Steam.
A Bird Story received 8,718 positive votes out of a total of 10,276 achieving a rating of 8.27.
😎
A Bird Story was developed and published by Freebird Games.
A Bird Story is playable and fully supported on Windows.
A Bird Story is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
A Bird Story is playable and fully supported on Linux.
A Bird Story is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for A Bird Story. Explore additional content available for A Bird Story on Steam.
A Bird Story does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
A Bird Story does not support Steam Remote Play.
A Bird Story is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for A Bird Story.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 25 January 2026 15:21 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 25 January 2026 11:32 |
| Steam price | 28 January 2026 20:43 |
| Steam reviews | 27 January 2026 09:54 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about A Bird Story, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about A Bird Story
- SteamCharts - Analysis of A Bird Story concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck A Bird Story compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
5
Developer
Freebird Games
Publisher
Freebird Games
Release
07 Nov 2014
Platforms
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