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78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Project Songbird is a first-person cinematic narrative psychological horror game from Conner Rush and his studio FYRE Games, the developer behind the critically praised games Summerland and We Never Left (from Dread X Collection 5).

    Take control of Dakota, a career musician who, amidst
    Project Songbird is a first-person cinematic narrative psychological horror game from Conner Rush and his studio FYRE Games, the developer behind the critically praised games Summerland and We Never Left (from Dread X Collection 5).

    Take control of Dakota, a career musician who, amidst writer's block, decides to isolate themself in a cabin in the remote Appalachian forest in order to record their next album. Take in this gripping tale, explore the natural environment and haunting dreamscapes, and fight to survive in this short horror experience.

    FEATURES

    A dark, enthralling 4-5 hour narrative to keep you hooked and guessing until the end.
    Gorgeous visuals as you traverse numerous and diverse environments, presented with a cinematic, film-like aesthetic.
    Ranged and melee combat with upgradeable weapons to help you survive your nightmarish journey
    A stellar voice cast, starring Valerie Rose Lohman (What Remains of Edith Finch, Wolfenstein: Youngblood), Jonah Scott (Dying Light 2: Stay Human, Beastars), and Aleks Le (Persona 3: Reloaded, Demon Slayer)
    A permadeath system that brings real weight and tension to every encounter.
    A beautifully dynamic soundtrack composed and performed by Jacob Noska, Jonah Henthorne, and Erwin Dorsainville: members of the band Auric Echoes
    Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. 95
    Project Songbird is truly special. While it doesn't push the envelope forward gameplay-wise, it pushes your emotions into overdrive. Anyone who has ever experienced depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, or questioned their life decisions will find something here. And if you're like me, who experiences these emotions daily, along with some tragedy, you will be completely seen and heard with this game. Project Songbird is truly healing, and I appreciate every moment I have had with it.
  2. Mar 23, 2026
    85
    Project Songbird is a personal reflection of the difficulties of continuing to create art that fans with love at the expense of artistic integrity in the guise of a narrative horror, and it's great.
  3. Mar 19, 2026
    80
    Project Songbird soars onto the horror scene as one of the scariest indie games in recent memory. It’s also an incredibly moving title, aided by a heartfelt story and cozy compositions. Its various feathers of combat, puzzles, and traversal mechanics sometimes get ruffled, but they fly high in ambition for such a small game.
  4. Mar 30, 2026
    80
    Project: Songbird is a survival horror game that prioritizes introspection over cheap scares. Its narrative, visual style, and atmosphere set it apart, though its controls and puzzles can be frustrating. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it does offer a unique, intense, and deeply personal experience within the current horror landscape.
  5. Mar 20, 2026
    76
    Project Songbird is a psychological horror experience that blends exploration with tense dreamlike encounters in the Appalachian wilderness. As a struggling musician retreats to a remote cabin to rediscover their creativity, strange visions and hostile manifestations begin to blur the line between reality and memory. While a few experimental storytelling choices and pacing issues hold it back at times, the strong atmosphere, voice acting, and unique setting make it a memorable entry in narrative driven horror.
  6. Mar 29, 2026
    75
    Project Songbird delivers a profound, intimate narrative that masterfully explores trauma through atmospheric horror. Its evocative art direction and powerful message resonate deeply, although the experience suffers from clunky combat and broken stealth mechanics. Despite these technical frustrations and cumbersome inventory management, the emotional journey remains a compelling, hauntingly beautiful achievement in indie storytelling.
  7. Mar 26, 2026
    55
    Project Songbird is a title that collapses under the weight of its own ambitions. While it bravely tackles mature themes like creative block and depression, the narrative is ultimately derailed by intrusive authorial narcissism. The gameplay fares no better, suffering from a disjointed mix of superfluous combat, poorly executed stealth mechanics, and frustrating inventory bugs. Despite an excellent soundtrack and stellar voice acting that perfectly capture the protagonist's musical soul, these technical merits aren't enough to save an overall derivative experience. It is a bitter disappointment for a game with such sadly wasted potential.

See all 14 Critic Reviews