Owlboy

 Switch
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
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  1. thehairyscreame
    Jun 29, 2021
    8
    This is a very good game made by talented people who put their hearts and souls into this. However there are a few issues with the game, for example the game is really easy for the majority of the game, but the last two boss fights and the last section of the game are really difficult out of no where. The story is really good and the music is even better but the random difficulty spikes isThis is a very good game made by talented people who put their hearts and souls into this. However there are a few issues with the game, for example the game is really easy for the majority of the game, but the last two boss fights and the last section of the game are really difficult out of no where. The story is really good and the music is even better but the random difficulty spikes is what really brings owlboy down a few pegs.… Expand
  2. nusco
    Mar 26, 2018
    9
    People come to Owlboy because of the graphics. It's been often described as the best pixel art ever, and it's certainly amongst the best. The gorgeous music doesn't come far behind. This is one of the very few games whose soundtrack entered my Spotify albums list.

    The gameplay is hit-and-miss–a liberal blend of platforming and shooting. In classic metroidvania style, you unlock areas in    People come to Owlboy because of the graphics. It's been often described as the best pixel art ever, and it's certainly amongst the best. The gorgeous music doesn't come far behind. This is one of the very few games whose soundtrack entered my Spotify albums list.

    The gameplay is hit-and-miss–a liberal blend of platforming and shooting. In classic metroidvania style, you unlock areas in the extensive map as you gain new abilities. The difficulty level is uneven, and Owlboy is probably going to frustrate you at times. Interestingly, however, each player seems to be frustrated by a different part of the game. Some people complain about the stealth sections, or the “bullet sponge” bosses. I was fine with both, but got intensely frustrated by a sequence that most players seem to just breeze through. (Those damn monkeys!)

    All of that, however, doesn't really explain why Owlboy became an instant cult classic. That's all down to the story. So many games try very hard to come up with a meaningful story, and fall flat. Owlboy puts them all to shame by delivering a story and characters you deeply care about–and doing it all so well, it makes it look easy. This game constantly surprises you with its depth and originality. When it courts gaming cliches, it's only to subvert them later on.

    It's quite surprising how much emotional buy-in this game can elicit from you. People talk a lot about the brilliant first few minutes, the shocking ending, or that mid-game tearjerker. To me, the most unforgettable moment came very unexpected. It was an optional sequence that other players might well have missed, where I was made privy to the fate of a minor character. (Non-spoilery hint: that talk about the wife). That dialogue, the vast loneliness of the environment, and the music–oh, my, that music.

    Many games (and movies) aspire to give you moments to remember. That's a though call. That moment in Owlboy, however, I won't forget.    … Expand
  3. ToastyBoii
    Aug 18, 2018
    10
    Owlboy is a straight up masterpiece with amazing art, world building, lore, great music, unique but simple controls and general veriety in gameplay.
    The story is not what is seems and in a good way, it surprises you with a hard hit to the gut, but lifts you up a bit later. the tone is always right and the game is just straight up my second favorite game of all times.
  4. SileSixEcho
    Mar 20, 2018
    9
    Great game. Sure it's not for everyone but however enjoys classic plattformers with some new touches, great art and music and an enjoyable story should get this. I feel sorry for the haters that spent their money on it but more because they were not able to embrace Owlboy's beauty.
  5. AllySky
    Aug 31, 2018
    9
    A metroidvania game with overwhelming charm, lovable protagonist, and adorable side characters that join you on a memorable journey. Interesting lore that gets you even more intrigued are hidden through out the world, in dungeons that you must challenge. On a down note the game feels too short, and I feel so though it should have been much longer, but never the less this game deserves toA metroidvania game with overwhelming charm, lovable protagonist, and adorable side characters that join you on a memorable journey. Interesting lore that gets you even more intrigued are hidden through out the world, in dungeons that you must challenge. On a down note the game feels too short, and I feel so though it should have been much longer, but never the less this game deserves to be in your library, and I wonder what D-Pad Studio has in store next.… Expand
  6. SuperkenGaming
    Jun 4, 2018
    8
    Owlboy
    ridiculous heart
    Youre a young mute owl that everybody underestimates reguarded as unworthy and a disappointment by your villiage but you set out to prove yourself with your best friend geddy and take down the pirates that are out here tryna collect some relics and use their power for evil Owlboy is a very unique 12 hour long platformer like game wit ha ridiculous amount of    Owlboy
    ridiculous heart
    Youre a young mute owl that everybody underestimates
    reguarded as unworthy and a disappointment by your villiage
    but you set out to prove yourself with your best friend geddy and take down the pirates that are out here tryna collect some relics and use their power for evil
    Owlboy is a very unique 12 hour long platformer like game wit ha ridiculous amount of heart put into it.
    There is so much charm and care put into the pixilated annimations, in the characters you meet throughout your journey both in their personality and their diolog…
    this is basically a platformer where youll be flying and shooting instead of jumping..
    at first you have your best friend geddy with you..
    you can carry him and use him to help you shoot through obstacles and shoot enemies in your way as you make it through this games different levels, doing small puzzles and throwing switches, collecting as many coins as you can to spend on upgrades..
    and as the game goes on youll unlock more characters to handle other obstacles, and you can switch through these characters freely,
    The level design here starts out really charming but for me I liked the game less and less as it went on..
    levels stopped feeling like a treat to get through and more like a chore…
    they just drag on forever..
    all of them containing multiple boss fights which are the most frustrating but most satisfying aspect of this game..
    regular enemies are challenging enough.. though there are fruits you can grab to refill your health.. in boss fights theres no fruit grabbing, you gotta beat them with the health that you have at that point… all of them taking multiple tries for me to defeat… some of them making me want to stop the game.. but at the same time fair enough to make me feel like im losing because of me.. its my fault,, I can get back in there and beat this boss and once I did it was a great feeling of relief getting to continue through the level or go onto the next…
    The charm of the characters and the challenge of the boss fights waiting for me is what really pulled me through this game as after about the 2nd level things started to feel like your pretty standard platforming levels… I felt the heart draining the deeper the game got and I feel it over stays its welcome a bit…
    my biggest issue with this game though is its current stability problems…
    the game crashed on me more than 5 times.. theres one spot towards the end where if you die in that spot the game crashes every time without fail, but the most heartbreaking crash was after a hard boss fight that I was on like try number 12, I finnaly beat the boss trophy pops and crash, I have to do it all over again..
    having beat them before beating them again was nothing.. but it was still annoying..
    Owlboy is worth pushing through its crashes and late game level design just for the heart put into its story characters and world…
    it’s a shame I stopped having fun playing the game.. but I never stopped enjoying it…
    I give Owlboy an 8/10    … Expand
  7. Reed618
    Aug 12, 2018
    10
    This game really impressed me. The visuals are really quite special and stand out as an excellent demonstration of pixel art at its finest.
    The characters are all really quite charming in my opinion and the varied bosses and levels kept the experience feeling fresh.
    The story is surprisingly epic for a little indie game and the soundtrack certainly adds to this. I didn't have    This game really impressed me. The visuals are really quite special and stand out as an excellent demonstration of pixel art at its finest.
    The characters are all really quite charming in my opinion and the varied bosses and levels kept the experience feeling fresh.
    The story is surprisingly epic for a little indie game and the soundtrack certainly adds to this. I didn't have particularly high hopes for owlboy but it's the most entertaining indie title i've played since hyper light drifter.
    My only complaints are that it's a bit short (around 8 hours) and during frantic boss battles you may have some hand cramp. Nonetheless it has to be a ten from me. One of the best games i've played this year.    … Expand
  8. Bullish
    May 19, 2018
    9
    Sad this game is not more well known because it has a very EPIC feel to it.

    + incredible pixel art
    + epic music
    + solid story with some good twists and turns

    - questionable moments, like navigating dark tight spaces more than once
    - a boss that is just a lag machine
  9. superfamicom
    May 22, 2018
    10
    Great game. Sure it's not for everyone but however enjoys classic plattformers with some new touches, great art and music and an enjoyable story should get this. The gorgeous music doesn't come far behind. This is one of the very few games whose soundtrack entered my Spotify albums list.
  10. yitus
    Jun 28, 2018
    9
    The history of this game is very good, it transmits certain feelings that many people live in today, making us believe that we are not worth anything, but inwardly we are great people. It makes you reflect on the truth of everything that surrounds us, reality, thoughts, feelings and ways of saying things. Apart from this, the atmosphere is exceptional, both retro-graphic and music,The history of this game is very good, it transmits certain feelings that many people live in today, making us believe that we are not worth anything, but inwardly we are great people. It makes you reflect on the truth of everything that surrounds us, reality, thoughts, feelings and ways of saying things. Apart from this, the atmosphere is exceptional, both retro-graphic and music, characters, history and environment in which the game is developed. I think Owlboy is an indispensable game for Switch.… Expand
  11. DaDamaga
    Jul 27, 2018
    10
    Absolutely magical and stunning. Love the game. I wish it hadn't taken so long to come out, but now that its hear, I sat through it in one sitting. The characters are amazing, the graphics beautiful and the soundtrack is incredibly atmospheric. Big thumbs up
  12. s3cond
    Sep 21, 2019
    8
    Owlboy is almost perfect. Just a wonderful pixel art game with nice graphics. The animations and the story are absolutly nice to see and the music is just great. The control scheme is not that easy and its possible that your game can crash, but this isnt that often. I can recommend you this wonderful game, just buy it!
  13. thryce3
    Apr 9, 2020
    9
    Beautiful throwback graphics, endearing characters, and a touching and fairly deep story. The gameplay is interesting and fun. Damn that cannon mini-game though.
  14. Deckard2
    Nov 12, 2018
    9
    You would be forgiven for assuming this is just another in the long list of metroid-vania's to hit the Nintendo Switch. However, once the initial first steps are taken into young Otus' journey to save his home land of Advent your heart will be warmed as you start to care about the tale that unfolds before you.

    A story of an underdog overcoming adversity, it is once a gain a testament to    You would be forgiven for assuming this is just another in the long list of metroid-vania's to hit the Nintendo Switch. However, once the initial first steps are taken into young Otus' journey to save his home land of Advent your heart will be warmed as you start to care about the tale that unfolds before you.

    A story of an underdog overcoming adversity, it is once a gain a testament to the game and its writing as to how much you begin to care about your pixelated heroes. The music is soaring, the gameplay satisfying and by the time the credits rolled I was well and truly invested in my merry band of adventurers.

    Don't let the fact that this is another in a long line of 2D side-scrolling metoridvania's put you off. This is an adventure worth taking and a rare gem that should be experienced if you have a Switch.    … Expand
  15. IFLiden
    Oct 18, 2018
    8
    Owlboy is a fantastic game. The story and the characters are charming and you have an absolute gem of a soundtrack. The music is incredible. The art is pretty and you can really tell the developers took their time with this game.

    To be able to pick this up for 18 euros factory sealed was a no-brainer for me and it plays so well on the Switch. The only down-side of the game - in my    Owlboy is a fantastic game. The story and the characters are charming and you have an absolute gem of a soundtrack. The music is incredible. The art is pretty and you can really tell the developers took their time with this game.

    To be able to pick this up for 18 euros factory sealed was a no-brainer for me and it plays so well on the Switch. The only down-side of the game - in my opinion - is that although the great story, the game kind of plays by itself.

    The sense of exploration wasn't really there for me, but the world still feels rich. The story kept me intrigued until the end.

    Definitely worth your moneys.    … Expand
  16. iMustang
    Mar 24, 2019
    8
    This was a cute story about a mute humanoid owl going on an adventure to stop pirates wreaking havoc, while also trying to overcome his own inner demons. While occasionally somber, the colorful cast of characters bring a lot of smiles to your face throughout this small journey. The pixel art found throughout the game is up there with the best classics, but the music is on par with AAAThis was a cute story about a mute humanoid owl going on an adventure to stop pirates wreaking havoc, while also trying to overcome his own inner demons. While occasionally somber, the colorful cast of characters bring a lot of smiles to your face throughout this small journey. The pixel art found throughout the game is up there with the best classics, but the music is on par with AAA titles without question. The gameplay is also a fun challenge and feels like a hybrid of classic Mega Man and Legend of Zelda all in one package. If you’re looking for a fun peaceful journey to go on, Owlboy is worth picking up. It’s not perfect, but it’s a beautiful game made with a lot of soul.… Expand
  17. Corificness
    Apr 28, 2019
    9
    A beautiful game with a great story and even better gameplay. It's a different styled metroidvania game in that you are often flying most places and carrying your friends to use as weapons. The game was never too hard or too easy, very well planned. I think my only complaint was that it was hard to get all the stuff to complete each area 100%. Seemed like you had to find some things theA beautiful game with a great story and even better gameplay. It's a different styled metroidvania game in that you are often flying most places and carrying your friends to use as weapons. The game was never too hard or too easy, very well planned. I think my only complaint was that it was hard to get all the stuff to complete each area 100%. Seemed like you had to find some things the first time through the area or it was forever lost. The game looked great handheld and on the tv and had some great music throughout. I loved exploring each area in the game, trying to find all the hidden nooks and crannies.… Expand
  18. Cedoch
    Aug 30, 2019
    9
    Excellent game ! Worth the price. Musics are beautiful. If you like the 2D games, don’t hesitate!
  19. duey2k
    Sep 6, 2022
    8
    Owlboy is an absolute treasure! It captures the heart of the Gameboy Advance system, tosses in some Shantae and gives you a pirate adventure with a heart of gold!

    This is one of my Top 10 games that most people overlook.
  20. Han_theReal
    Dec 10, 2022
    8
    Nice looking puzzle platformer with beautiful soundtrack, cool story, characters and fun gameplay.

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

Critic Reviews

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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
  1. XGN
    Jun 11, 2018
    90
    Owlboy is amazing thanks to it's fantastic set of characters and an incredible world to explore. The game has beautiful pixel art and great dialogue that will make you laugh out loud. The only downside is that the game crashes for no reason sometimes.
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  2. TheSixthAxis
    Jun 1, 2018
    80
    If you called Owlboy a piece of art, I would nod my head and agree wholeheartedly. This game, in visuals alone, is a masterful achievement. For those breath-taking visuals to be matched by equally beautiful characters and unique gameplay moments just elevates it even further. The beginning of the game is a bit too slow, and sometimes the gameplay was merely okay, but those are minor blemishes on a video game experience that is absolutely worth your time, and definitely worth the decade that it took to bring it to life.
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  3. Everyeye.it
    May 7, 2018
    80
    Too bad that the conversion for Switch brings some problems, as a scheme of commands not always intuitive and annoying crashes that could damage the enjoyment of the experience.
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