The Day I Became A Bird (PS5) – Review

The Day I Became A Bird is one of those rare games that feels like it wandered out of a children’s picture book, blinked at the sunlight, and decided to stay a while. Adapted from Ingrid Chabbert’s story and brought to life by Hyper Luminal Games, it’s a short, tender slice‑of‑life adventure about Frank, a shy schoolboy who decides the best way to impress Sylvia, the girl who only has eyes for birds, is to become one himself. On PS5, the experience lands as a warm, whimsical breather from the noise of modern gaming: gentle, earnest, and completely uninterested in being anything other than a small, heartfelt story.

What immediately stands out is the art direction. The game leans into a hand‑drawn aesthetic that feels lifted straight from a sketchbook with its soft pastels, pencil outlines, and scenes that look intentionally unfinished in places, as if the world is still being imagined into existence. It’s a beautiful effect, especially in the quieter moments: the muted colours of Frank’s bedroom, the warm glow of the hilltop where the story peaks, and the charmingly awkward animation of Frank waddling around in his homemade bird costume. The PS5’s crisp output makes the storybook style pop without losing its rough‑edged charm.

Structurally, the game plays out across a single day, moving through static isometric scenes where you explore, interact with classmates, and complete small objectives. These range from feeding the dog to kicking a football to solving simple jigsaw puzzles that act as emotional beats between scenes. None of it is challenging, and that’s very much the point as the game is designed to be approachable for children, families, or anyone who just wants a soft, low‑pressure experience. Accessibility options reinforce this, letting you simplify quick‑time events or reduce input timing entirely.

There are moments where the pacing stumbles. A couple of open areas ask you to fetch multiple items one at a time, which can feel repetitive in a game that barely stretches past an hour. A few mini‑games, especially the paper‑cutting sections are clunky enough to break the flow. And the brief cycling segments, while visually cute, don’t add much beyond variety for variety’s sake. But none of these issues linger long enough to sour the experience; they’re small bumps in an otherwise smooth, gentle ride.

What the game nails, consistently, is tone. The music leans into lo‑fi piano and soft, nostalgic melodies that evoke quiet childhood afternoons. Little environmental interactions like kicking leaves, playing hopscotch, tugging a book from a stack really capture the micro‑dramas of being young in a way that feels sincere rather than sentimental. And when Frank finally steps into his bird costume, the game delivers its most joyful sequence: a hallway walk where classmates turn their heads in subtle admiration. It’s sweet, funny, and unexpectedly moving.

Pros

• Beautiful storybook art style with soft, hand‑drawn visuals that feel warm and intimate.

• Gentle, heartfelt narrative about childhood crushes, awkward bravery, and small emotional moments.

• Relaxed, accessible gameplay suitable for kids, families, and players wanting a calm, low‑pressure experience.

• Lovely soundtrack with soft piano and nostalgic melodies that enhance the emotional tone.

• Charming character moments, especially Frank’s bird‑costume sequence, which lands as funny and sweet.

• Short and digestible, making it a great palate cleanser between bigger games.

Cons

• Very short runtime — most players will finish it in under an hour.

• Minimal gameplay depth, with simple interactions and light puzzles that may feel too basic for some.

• Repetitive fetch‑style tasks in a couple of areas that slow the pacing.

• Some mini‑games feel clunky, especially the paper‑cutting and cycling sections.

• Limited replay value, as the experience is mostly linear and narrative‑driven.

The Day I Became A Bird is not a deep game, nor a long one, nor a mechanically ambitious one. But it is a sincere one. It understands the awkward bravery of young love, the strange rituals we invent to be noticed, and the way childhood feelings can feel enormous even when the world around us is small. For families, for fans of the original book, or for anyone craving a quiet, wholesome hour of play, it’s a lovely little experience. For players seeking complexity or challenge, it will feel too slight, but that’s simply not what this game is trying to be.

XPN Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (SILVER)

The Day I Became A Bird is available now!