The end of the world sounds like it should be loud. But not in Birds Watching, as it launches on Xbox.
Now available on Xbox Series X|S for £4.99, this psychological horror game leaves you alone on an isolated mountain after a global fire has consumed the planet – with nothing but your binoculars, the local wildlife and an increasingly uncomfortable feeling that something is watching back.
At A Glance
- Game: Birds Watching
- Developer: Studio Ortica
- Publisher: Dark Product
- Platform: Xbox Series X|S
- Price: £4.99
A Quiet Mountain At The End Of The World
There are no hordes of enemies to mow down here, nor an obvious monster waiting around every corner. Instead, Birds Watching builds its atmosphere around solitude. You are apparently the last human alive, stranded on a mountain peak that escaped the flames consuming the world below. Your days are spent exploring the handcrafted mountain reserve, discovering hidden locations and watching the birds that have gathered there.
Using your binoculars, you’ll observe different species, identify them and catalogue what you find. It sounds almost peaceful – and that’s precisely what makes the shift in atmosphere all the more intriguing.
You see, something changes during your time on the mountain, and the feeling of being alone fast disappears.
The birds may be able to help you understand what is happening, but their assistance comes with conditions. You’ll need to observe them, understand their behaviour and satisfy their needs while trying to uncover the secrets surrounding your new home. There is also an animal companion to follow as you investigate, adding another presence to an experience that otherwise deliberately embraces isolation. Just don’t get too comfortable with everything you see.
Be sure you understand though – not everything on the mountain is a bird.
A Different Kind Of Psychological Horror
Birds Watching is certainly not your conventional horror game, and that’s probably its biggest appeal. It takes the familiar idea of cataloguing wildlife and places it against the bleakest backdrop imaginable, then asks what happens when the creatures you’re observing might know considerably more than you do.
The game originally arrived on Steam in March, where it has picked up a Very Positive reception. Its arrival on Xbox now gives console players the opportunity to discover what happens when a seemingly relaxing pastime becomes considerably more unsettling.
For £4.99 from the Xbox Store, Xbox Series X|S players can head up the mountain, grab their binoculars and start looking for answers. Just remember to keep your eyes open – because in Birds Watching, you may not be the only one doing the observing.
