If you’ve ever played a game and thought, “I wish I could be a troublesome bird and make everyone’s day a little worse,” then Bad Magpie might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase, Bad Magpie is the debut title from newly formed UK studio Milktooth, and it looks set to deliver a wonderfully odd mix of exploration, puzzle-solving and feathered mischief. The narrative adventure is heading to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox on PC and Steam next year.
At A Glance
- Bad Magpie announced during Xbox Games Showcase
- Launching in 2027
- Coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Steam
- Available day one on Xbox Game Pass
- Play as a one-winged magpie on a quest for shiny treasures
- Explore a non-linear open world packed with secrets
A Bird With A Mission
Bad Magpie casts players as an unusually determined magpie who has been separated from her flock and left searching for a sense of belonging. Her solution? Collect as many shiny trinkets as possible in an attempt to impress a mysterious fallen star.
It’s an admittedly questionable plan, but then again, this is a game that actively encourages players to poke, peck, steal and interfere with just about everything they encounter.
The result is an adventure that looks equal parts charming, chaotic and completely unpredictable.
“We can’t wait to share Bad Magpie with the world,” says Milktooth. “We’re a small team making a ridiculous open world narrative sandbox game. We only have ourselves to blame.“
A Playground Built For Mischief
Rather than offering a huge open world, Milktooth is focusing on a smaller environment packed with interactions, secrets and opportunities for experimentation. The world operates on what the developers describe as cartoon logic. Players can shatter glass by screaming into a megaphone, create fire by pecking together the right materials and generally meddle with the environment in ways that feel deliberately playful.
Importantly, puzzles won’t lock players into a single solution. Most situations can be approached in different ways, rewarding curiosity and encouraging players to embrace their inner troublemaker.
More Than Just A Comedy Adventure
And beneath the light-hearted chaos sits a deeper mystery. As the magpie searches for treasures and attempts to win over the fallen star, she is also haunted by strange visions that hint at something larger unfolding behind the scenes. Questions surrounding her missing flock and the true nature of the star appear set to drive the story forward.
That blend of humour, exploration and emotional storytelling could help Bad Magpie stand out from the growing crowd of quirky indie adventures.
Just Crow Things Fans Should Pay Attention
Watching the reveal trailer, it’s difficult not to be reminded of Just Crow Things, the delightfully silly bird-based adventure that we enjoyed when it launched. Like that game, Bad Magpie appears to embrace the joy of being a feathered nuisance, but layers in a stronger narrative focus, a more handcrafted world and a mystery that stretches beyond simple chaos.
If you’ve ever wanted to solve puzzles, steal shiny objects and annoy absolutely everyone around you, this could be one to keep firmly on your radar.
Bad Magpie launches next year on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC and Steam, and will be available day one through Xbox Game Pass.
