Flutter Away (Review)
There’s no denying that the past few years have helped bring “cozy” game to the forefront – games in which the player can simply relax, explore, and take their time. They’re a wonderful reminder that it’s okay to slow down and enjoy the worlds we enter without always being in a hurry or running for safety.
Runaway Games deals exclusively in the cozy game category, with a special focus on the natural world around us and the critters who share it. Their newest title, Flutter Away, takes players to the rainforest for a true natural getaway.
As a city dweller, you’re used to the hustle and bustle and city skylines, but you’re a butterfly researcher and off to the rainforest for five whole days to take a look at the native species out in this little slice of wilderness. It’s a less lonely adventure than you’d think – especially when you realise there’s also a friendly capybara living right nearby.
The game is split into day and night, with a short to-do list for each time of day. Each day, you are challenged with a few different activities, from taking photos of a certain flower species to tracking down butterflies doing specific activities. The game does give a little hint on how to move forward, with subtle beams of sunlight highlighting areas of interest, so you don’t ever have to worry about getting stuck.
Along with your to-do list, the game actively encourages you to keep exploring the area. In your handy-dandy journal, you have spaces for favourite photos, and pages dedicated to hidden discoveries – things that the game doesn’t really require you to find, but that let you engage with the world around you and reward you with cute journal drawings when you find them (think creatures, footprints, and even natural wonders!) Learning the different butterfly types was a lot of fun – there were a few I knew, but plenty of new little surprises that I enjoyed learning more about afterward.
The game will be available on both Steam and Switch, and while I’m sure both are comparable, I have to say I really enjoyed the Switch version. It makes for a lovely handheld experience to take out on the porch, and the controls translated very well to the switch’s setup. It’s very approachable and would be great for players of any age without too much fuss.
Flutter Away won’t take up too much of your time, clocking in at a little over an hour to find and do everything, but its bite-sized adventure was a very enjoyable break from the real world, and some great inspiration to get back outside and enjoy the grass and stars afterward.
Players looking for longer titles or a lot of immediate replayability may not be as interested in this one, but if you’re looking for a quick, cozy adventure that will occasionally have you gasping in delight as you spot a new surprise amongst the trees? This will be a great little journey for you, full of cozy vibes. And even better, its focus on the beauty all around us means you don’t need to keep playing to get more of the magic – you can follow up by heading out into the world to see what you can find.