Owlboy

 Switch
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
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  1. Cubed3
    Feb 22, 2018
    70
    Owlboy is impressive if anything for its amazing visuals and animation. The gameplay gets by thanks to it being competent enough, but won't really inspire anyone. This is a pretty straightforward 2D action-adventure game that does a bit more heart than the average. Do not expect much replay value since it seems the developers poured their heart and soul into the main story and could not spare much more to have side content or any diversions to mix up the action. Also, do not go in expecting a metroidvania, because it is not.
  2. App Trigger
    Feb 12, 2018
    65
    Owlboy has a lot of charm but suffers from a convoluted control scheme and some serious game-crashing bugs. The best way to play it is still on the PC, even though the Nintendo Switch seemed like it would be the most ideal place to play it.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best Switch Game of 2018
33
#33 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
63
#63 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 175 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 93 out of 175
  2. Mixed: 63 out of 175
  3. Negative: 19 out of 175
  1. KevoKazooie
    Mar 20, 2018
    2
    This is easily the most over-rated indie game I have ever played. My disdain for it only grew the longer I played. I very rarely have such aThis is easily the most over-rated indie game I have ever played. My disdain for it only grew the longer I played. I very rarely have such a strong negative reaction to a game, but this nearly had me throwing my Switch into the wall. I couldn't even finish it, and I tried really had to motivate myself since Nintendo doesn't do eShop refunds. But I just couldn't get through more than half of it. I am completely baffled by how much praise it's gotten; I've never felt so out of sync with the hive mind.

    First off, the story is dull and unengaging; I could barely pay attention when the text dialogues popped up. Second, it's infuriatingly hard at times, not because it's challenging, but because it's terribly designed. If you get hit you get knocked to the ground, and the way many enemies and sections are designed, it can be nearly impossible to get back up flying and shooting back without getting hit a bunch more times—or dying altogether. There's ridiculous bullcrap like lava that kills you instantly if you accidentally touch it or get knocked down into it. The control scheme is awful; I frequently found myself pressing the wrong button in the heat of battle and never got it down. It's just horrible game design. It's not fun and when it's not infuriating, it's pretty boring.

    The art direction and music are the only positives to a terrible experience.    … Full Review »
  2. JoveMak
    Jul 10, 2018
    4
    overrated, I beat it on the first day I bought it.
    short story, difficult control scheme
  3. flowqi
    May 16, 2018
    6
    The good:
    - beautiful graphics and animations, very detailed pixel art
    - a nice story with some twists (if you care to dig deeper) - some    The good:
    - beautiful graphics and animations, very detailed pixel art
    - a nice story with some twists (if you care to dig deeper)
    - some event-driven sections to mix things up
    The bad:
    - Control scheme is very unintuitive
    - Bad world design, the sections lack cohesion in terms of traversal
    - Very unstable with lots of game-breaking bugs    … Full Review »
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