Image credit: Studio Ortica
Nature is always applauded for its healing qualities, yet the great outdoors is far from a salve in Birds Watching. Having survived humanity’s downfall, isolation atop a mountain, surrounded by birds, sounds idyllic, albeit lonely. Living out your days as the last human, your character has made peace with the simple life that fate chosen for them. Yet, peace is so easily shattered.
I went into Birds Watching expecting a narrative akin to Rear Window, in which you witness an event that your eyes were never meant to see. But what I found was something wholly different. Within its short but tense demo, Birds Watching sets itself apart from the birding horrors that have gone before it, and in doing so, has left me nervously excited to venture deeper into its lore.
Freakishly disconcerting
In a world ravaged by fire, nature becomes your safe haven, and its creatures your friends. Consequently, although you’re the last human in Birds Watching, you’re never alone. This should provide comfort; however, knowing this quickly becomes a source of fear, as the world you thought you knew alters around you in a matter of minutes.
Although you’re given frustratingly little time to grapple with the realities of the protagonist’s situation, Studio Ortica’s demo leaves you reeling. In under 10-15 minutes, you experience a rollercoaster of emotions, ending with a jarring burst of terror. No time is wasted before disrupting the protagonist’s status quo.
Demos have but a small window of opportunity to pique your interest, especially short indie titles such as Birds Watching, and thus, every second needs to count. Studio Ortica has managed this, not least of all because it understands the need for quick, precise pacing. We saw the developers pull off a similar feat with Loan Shark, another succinct foray into the fantastical side of horror.
Far too many horror games forget that the horror genre is about so much more than viscera – it’s a multifaceted beast that transgresses the rational world. While gore has its place in its expression, so too does the bizarre. It’s in this absurdity that Loan Shark, and now Birds Watching, is destined to shine.
Due to the nature of its parting revelation, I’m loath to discuss in greater detail the emerging narrative of Birds Watching beyond the simple premise that the developers themselves have provided. This is an experience that you need to go into armed with only minimal knowledge.
If you’re looking for a tightly-packaged horror adventure that isn’t quite what it seems, then I implore you to play Birds Watching’s demo. Naturally, without having played the full 60-minute game, the jarring world Studio Ortica has crafted could falter at the final hurdle. However, having played both Loan Shark and this demo, I’d be surprised if the developers don’t stick the landing.
FAQs
Birds Watching will be released on March 6, 2026.
Putting aside the subjectivity of horror, yes, I believe Birds Watching is scary. However, its emphasis is on an unsettling atmosphere with the odd jumpscare as opposed to heart-pounding terror.
I’m happy to report that Birds Watching runs well on the Steam Deck.
The Birds Watching demo is short. Very short, even. You can easily complete it in under 15 minutes, though please don’t be put off by that fact. Even though the demo is brief, it’ll still ruffle your feathers.
