Birth (video game)

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Wikipedia

Birth
DeveloperMadison Karrh
PublisherWings Interactive
EngineUnity[1]
Platforms
Release
  • Win, macOS
    • WW: February 17, 2023
  • Xbox
    • WW: July 28, 2023
GenrePuzzle
ModeSingle-player

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

Gameplay

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

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

Rock Paper Shotgun's reviewer said it is "weirdly the most wholesome yet creepy game I've ever played", and that 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.[7][8] The Guardian said it is "a simple yet profound exploration of loneliness".[6]

References

  1. ↑ Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (January 4, 2024). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Watts, Rachel (February 20, 2023). "Birth review: a comforting puzzle game about death and decay". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Donlan, Christian (January 28, 2023). "A chat with the creator of Birth". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Birth". Gamepressure. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Donlan, Christian (February 24, 2023). "Birth review – a deft and creative exploration of loneliness". Eurogamer. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Parkin, Simon (March 4, 2023). "Birth review – make your soulmate from spare bones and organs". The Guardian. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  7. ↑ Castle, Katherine (June 29, 2023). "Our 22 favourite games of 2023 so far". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Our personal top-five games of 2023". Eurogamer. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.