Project Songbird

Overall, Project Songbird deserves its very positive Steam rating. The game gets a lot right, particularly its horror and its narrative. The game’s flaws are too minor to outweigh its positives. I can easily recommend this one to anyone who is a fan of psychological horrors with a story. The narrative and deeper message perhaps aren’t life changing, but I do think many creatives will be able to relate in some way—hopefully without the trauma and the monsters. Just remember that your art, whatever that may look like, is for you. Even if there isn’t a whole lot of fans or popularity gained, don’t forget who the artist is—yourself.

Project Songbird will divide gamers, but it’s worth playing. The story premise is well-worn, but it works, and Dakota is a cool character to work with. The narrative goes some weird places, even if the final third doesn’t deliver on the initial promise. The atmosphere is great, especially when players get to run through Dakota's record collection as she delivers her critical evaluation. I wish the experience leaned more on these elements, including the nature sound recording and the photos. The nighttime puzzle sequences and the creature avoidance fail to be as engaging. These sequences, apart from a few jump scares, also don’t deliver on the promise of some solid horror. Project Songbird is worth playing for the story and the vinyl records, as long as players are willing to overlook some clunky gameplay elements.

Project Songbird delivers a thoughtful and emotionally driven horror experience that prioritizes atmosphere and storytelling over traditional gameplay complexity. Its focus on personal themes and artistic struggle gives it a unique identity within the genre. Despite minor technical issues and simple mechanics, the game succeeds in offering a memorable journey. It is a strong recommendation for players who enjoy narrative-focused indie games and psychological horror with a slower pace.

Project Songbird is one of the most interesting and well designed indie horror games of the year so far and shows the sheer range of the genre. Unlike the bombastic Resident Evil Requiem, Project Songbird is not afraid to be more contemplative and intimate in its portrayal of horror and trauma, the narrative carrying you through its puzzles and moments of real peril. Highly recommended for fans of horror and also anybody who appreciates game-making as an artform with a message to convey.

While the pacing can be a bit slow early, the mechanics feel somewhat uninspired, and the lack of direction can hinder you at times, Project Songbird still manages to be a great horror game, one with incredible artistic merit and deep symbolism. Come for a story worth experiencing, and leave with a lasting memory.

Project Songbird is proof that even with a smaller budget, you can create a work that will be etched in the player's memory. It is a title for the more demanding player who, instead of hectoliters of blood, seeks depth and atmosphere. An interesting theme, top-notch sound and the persistent feeling that you are not alone make the game one of the more interesting indie horrors of recent times.

Project Songbird gives up a must-see story, for anyone who wants to understand the negatives of the creative process, or who can relate, with or without Dakota's level of tangible fame. Just because the game initiates a dialogue about creating against expectations doesn't mean it needs to be given credit for doing so when the end result just simply doesn't work, though. Both the actual combat and the stealth options lack satisfaction, and look much worse in contrast to the rest. In hindsight, while the ambition was clearly there, the stripped back version would have been better, and still would have had enough for a complete experience.

Project Songbird is a short psychological horror experience that focuses on telling a personal story rather than throwing jumpscares your way.

If Project Songbird sets out to do one thing, it's pointing out how hard it can be for a developer to please everybody and ultimately end up with a passion project bogged down by undercooked concepts. Conner Rush's love child often teeters between artistically brilliant and genuinely creepy, and mildly disappointing due to frustrating combat/stealth sequences. In the end, going with less could have resulted in so much more.