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OWLBOY
review | PLAYSTATION 4
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Publisher: Soedesco.
Developer: D-Pad Studio. Released: April 2018. Genre: Adventure. Other versions: PC; SWI; XONE. Posted 11th November 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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Owlboy represents one of the most impressive passion projects of recent times. That’s not to say most developers don’t take pride in their work, but the exhaustive decade-long journey to release for the independent D-Pad Studio is a remarkable story. Conceived in 2007, long before the indie revival was kickstarted by digital storefronts, and taking inspiration from Nintendo classics like Super Mario Bros. 3, an incubation period of nine years and turmoil saw this 2D adventure finally arrive in 2016 for PCs. Console owners would see a port just shy of two years later, and needless to say, the wait was worth it. Few games are as emotionally stirring, mechanically satisfying, or aesthetically pleasing: it’s a superb game.
Otus is a young owl residing in Vellie, one of many floating settlements after a tremendous incident sent landmasses into the sky. A mute who struggles with the burdens laid upon him, things only grow more challenging when pirates invade his home while on a warpath of destruction. Otus, along with several companions he recruits along the way, must stop these pirates in their tracks, while learning a little about the Owl’s past and what caused this calamity that reshaped the world.
Owlboy is a beautiful ode to old-school adventures, with stunning visuals and exemplary storytelling
Owlboy proudly displays the many feathers in its cap. As well as regular walking, Otus can also fly, and this proves a spritely, responsive function. A spin attack does help stun some foes, but it’s really his grab that proves more useful. Objects such as jars, bombs and healing items can be picked up and thrown with a clear directional aim proving super accurate. More crucially, your companions serve as your main offensive power. Starting with Geddy initially, and with two further companions as you progress, each comes with unique offensive moves that combat enemies and open up more of the game. Geddy’s pistol fire can destroy blockades, for example. This proves a novel mechanic, with a handy teleport function allowing the player to summon Otus’s allies. This function factors into some of the puzzles, with some switches requiring timed pushes. Tight controls and weighty movement ensure it feels as good as any competing retro throwback.
On top of this, each level feels intricately crafted, such as hub area Tropos, which houses a bonfire to rest and chat with your allies before jumping into the stages. Smart level design takes advantage of these unique strengths, with fantastic puzzles forcing players to think outside the box. The Owl Temple, replete with water-based tests and rideable clouds, proves a particular highlight. Like a good Metroidvania, gratifying progression sees you returning to certain areas to find more secrets and coins, of which there are just shy of 3000. These offer upgrades that boost firepower and health, as well as cosmetic items. Though you can finish the game without these, tough bosses and later encounters with more aggressive foes can grow overwhelming without them. A couple of segments can be more trying, such as a stealth section with instant deaths, but no segment sticks around long enough to leave you wanting to quit. It’s immensely satisfying across the twelve hours it takes to fully complete the game.
On top of this, each level feels intricately crafted, such as hub area Tropos, which houses a bonfire to rest and chat with your allies before jumping into the stages. Smart level design takes advantage of these unique strengths, with fantastic puzzles forcing players to think outside the box. The Owl Temple, replete with water-based tests and rideable clouds, proves a particular highlight. Like a good Metroidvania, gratifying progression sees you returning to certain areas to find more secrets and coins, of which there are just shy of 3000. These offer upgrades that boost firepower and health, as well as cosmetic items. Though you can finish the game without these, tough bosses and later encounters with more aggressive foes can grow overwhelming without them. A couple of segments can be more trying, such as a stealth section with instant deaths, but no segment sticks around long enough to leave you wanting to quit. It’s immensely satisfying across the twelve hours it takes to fully complete the game.
FOCAL POINT: A STORY FOR THE AGES
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The glue that holds all these elements together is the storytelling, a genuinely emotional thread that sticks with you. Despite not featuring voiceovers, superb writing gifts every character (both major and minor) a personality to remember, be it stern tutor Asio, or loyal friend Geddy. There’s also a careful exploration of darker themes, including a poignant examination of depression, the cruel nature of bullying, and the burden of failure. The opening sequence, in particular, is almost heartbreaking. The story feels genuinely hard to predict, with a harrowing moment near the beginning and a surprising twist in the late game. Owlboy’s dark yet gripping story will stick with you long after your initial completion, and it’s simply fantastic.
This adventure also benefits from a fantastic presentation, an ode to gaming’s past that uses modern tech to evolve it. The pixel art is breathtaking: the colour palette is wonderfully bright, the depth of detail in the animations and background movement is incredible, and Otus himself is visually impressive, showcasing numerous expressions and animation quirks. The art style is also tremendous, a mix of old-world tradition, future tech, and aerial landmasses. Performance is also rock solid at 60fps. The sound is high quality too, with a soundtrack that mixes melancholy orchestral with catchy 16-bit throwbacks, while clean sound effects have an old-school feel, but without the crunch or poor mixing of older games.
It’s just a shame there are some issues with a lack of polish. On a couple of occasions, Otus became stuck, his frozen animation preventing interactions, which rendered progress impossible, forcing a checkpoint restart. This isn’t too much of an issue, as checkpoints are fairly frequent. I experienced two crashes seemingly out of nowhere, but again, ample save points ensured the progress lost wasn’t too significant. It’s just a few small blemishes in an otherwise pristine package.
It’s just a shame there are some issues with a lack of polish. On a couple of occasions, Otus became stuck, his frozen animation preventing interactions, which rendered progress impossible, forcing a checkpoint restart. This isn’t too much of an issue, as checkpoints are fairly frequent. I experienced two crashes seemingly out of nowhere, but again, ample save points ensured the progress lost wasn’t too significant. It’s just a few small blemishes in an otherwise pristine package.
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Make no mistake, Owlboy is a superb game despite these technical hiccups. Showcasing a strong reverence for gaming’s past while innovating and refining everything to a mirror shine, the lengthy development from D-Pad Studios paid off in spades. Tight gameplay mechanics, fantastic level design, a wonderful story and potent presentation combine to form an excellent game. Although some moments are a touch frustrating, they’re still satisfying to overcome, and the rewards prove worth the effort. If you are craving an indie game that will resonate with you long after completion, this one is simply a must-play.
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VERDICT"Few games feel as emotionally stirring, mechanically satisfying and aesthetically pleasing as Owlboy. It's a superb game on the whole." OVERALL: 9/10 |
OTHER EIGHTH-GEN PIXEL ART GAMES REVIEWED
Demon's Tilt (2019, PlayStation 4)
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Carrion (2020, Xbox One)
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