Birth is a 2023 puzzle video game developed by Madison Karrh and published by Wings Interactive.

Birth
Developer(s)Madison Karrh
Publisher(s)Wings Interactive
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • Win, macOS
    • WW: February 17, 2023
  • Xbox
    • WW: July 28, 2023
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

edit

Players control a lonely character who has decided to create a friend out of body parts and castaway objects. Birth is a puzzle game in which players receive these parts after solving puzzles. They can also explore their surreal city and interact with the unusual denizens.[2]

Development

edit

Karrh, who lives in Chicago,[3] said she listened to Frankenstein audiobooks and played the Shenmue video game series while making Birth. There is little dialogue in Birth. Karrh said this was a conscious decision, and she tried to convey as much information as she could without stating anything outright.[3] Wings Interactive released it for Windows and macOS on February 17, 2023, and for Xbox One on July 28, 2023.[4]

Reception

edit

Rock Paper Shotgun's reviewer said it is "weirdly the most wholesome yet creepy game I've ever played". They said its humor offsets the grossness and creepiness.[2] In recommending Birth, Eurogamer called it an "elegant and empathetic study of solitude".[5] Both Rock Paper Shotgun and Eurogamer subsequently included it in their list of favorite games from 2023.[6][7] The Guardian said it is "a simple yet profound exploration of loneliness".[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (2024-01-04). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  2. ^ a b Watts, Rachel (2023-02-20). "Birth review: a comforting puzzle game about death and decay". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  3. ^ a b Donlan, Christian (2023-01-28). "A chat with the creator of Birth". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  4. ^ "Birth". Gamepressure. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  5. ^ Donlan, Christian (2023-02-24). "Birth review – a deft and creative exploration of loneliness". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  6. ^ Castle, Katherine (2023-06-29). "Our 22 favourite games of 2023 so far". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  7. ^ "Our personal top-five games of 2023". Eurogamer. 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  8. ^ Parkin, Simon (2023-03-04). "Birth review – make your soulmate from spare bones and organs". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
edit