Owlboy
2016
Audio: German, Spanish, Norwegian Bokmål, English, Japanese, French, Italian, Korean, Polish, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese · Subtitles: Korean, English, Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Portuguese, Norwegian Bokmål, Spanish
- platform
- puzzle
- adventure
- indie
- action
- fantasy
- science fiction
- single player
The story
Owlboy is a platform/action-adventure video game created by Norwegian developer D-Pad Studio. Explore a vibrantly crafted pixel world in this flying adventure platformer. Being a mute, Otus struggles living up to the expectations of owl-hood. Things spiral from bad to worse with the sudden appearance of sky pirates. What follows is a journey through monster infested ruins, with unexpected encounters, and burdens no one should have to bear.
What it’s like
Hand-drawn pixel art gives Owlboy a painterly softness: lush skies, cloud banks lit warm and pale, mossy ruins and snowy peaks rendered in layered parallax so the world feels deep and breathable. Flight is the centrepiece, and the sensation of gliding through open air over drifting islands is buoyant and tactile, with the wind-up of wingbeats and the rush of a long dive. The score is orchestral and gently melodic, rising into warm swells during aerial stretches and softening into quiet, reflective passages among ruins. Its vibe is wistful adventure with a bittersweet undertow, suited to a relaxed evening, a comfort replay, or a stretch of time when you want to feel carried through something beautiful. Pacing is brisk in the air and more deliberate in the caves, with playful banter lightening darker beats. Emotionally it follows a shy, silent young owl learning to be seen and to trust his own worth, with a supporting cast that grows warmer as the story deepens. Violence is cartoonish and mostly confined to battles with pirates and creatures; there's no gore, and some scenes carry quiet sadness rather than fear. It suits players who want heartfelt, gentle-hearted action and a world that feels generous to explore.
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