Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Nintendo Switch
Genre: Cosy wildlife-filled Amazon jungle exploration game

Have you ever wished to escape the bustle of the city and experience the serenity of the Amazon Rainforest? If so, Flutter Away is a great way to escape city life and be amongst nature and wildlife (digitally), without the need to pay a fortune for a flight ticket or risk your safety.

This cosy short exploration game offers a surreal rainforest sound experience, great graphics, and a heartfelt story between a human and an animal. Not only that, the gameplay mechanic is fairly easy however it has its moments of challenging your exploration wits and subconsciously having you need to complete the journal (or is that just me?).

Starting Fresh

Flutter Away puts you in the shoes of a butterfly researcher embarking on a brief five-day camping trip equipped with a journal and a camera, ready to document all the species encountered. Players get to set up a tent in a peaceful corner of the forest that features three different paths for exploration. As you continue your journey, each path will become unlocked, revealing exciting discoveries.

Capture pictures of flora, fauna, animal footprints, enchanting views and more. There is no limit on how many pictures you can take so snap away! You can even replace the old picture taken with a new one to make your journal exciting. Moreover, you can take notes on the special qualities of each animal in the rainforest. These notes will unveil the researcher’s thoughts, emotions, and drawings that will warm your heart. Before you doze off for the next day, you’ll get to pick your “Picture of The Day” to be showcased on the last page of the day in your journal.

In this game, you won’t encounter any aggressive animals or need to engage in combat. Instead, the focus is on connecting with nature. Although the darkness of the rainforest at night may seem intimidating, as you explore, you’ll meet stunning creatures that have adapted to thrive in this environment, and you can enjoy their natural habitat in a safe and peaceful environment.

Leave Nothing But Footprints

In terms of gameplay, each day the researcher is given a total of 8 tasks to complete for the day. These tasks are then divided in half to be completed during the daylight and nighttime. Some are easy to do such as documenting butterflies, and some require you a bit of exploration to find certain species. The hardest I’ve experienced was a task to take a picture of an orchid which took me back and forth walking all the paths.

I was flabbergasted having to find out it was hidden somewhere near my base camp. This took me nearly 30 minutes to complete it. Rather than being frustrated, it made me laugh and I felt a significant achievement to tick it off the “to-do list”. In addition to taking pictures and documenting wildlife, you learn about the animals you met, written in the journal in a way that is easy to understand. Explore, soak up the serenity, have fun, and learn science all at the same time!

Two things that stood out in the game are the stunning audio and the main storyline. The sounds of the rainforest have been perfectly captured. You can hear the hushed rushing of water, the chirping of crickets, and the melodies of wild birds. It’s a natural symphony that can instantly relax your senses and uplift your mood. There is no doubt that anyone can now instantly search for “Rainforest sounds” on Google or Youtube, however, having to listen and interact inside a game is a different experience on its own. One of the famous sayings from William Shakespeare is, “The earth has music for those who listen.”

In terms of its main storyline, Flutter Away lets you meet a particular shy Capybara and build an unlikely friendship. This peculiar friendship fosters and eventually unfolds the Capybara’s ultimate secret. What took me by surprise is how the Capybara slowly lets its guard down and trusts the human companion enough to be pat! Well, I’m no expert in wildlife but having heard Capybara made a purring sound was something new that I’ve learnt in this game. And yes, Capybara does purr when it feels content and joy. After petting for some time, the Capybara slowly falls asleep, snugging near you and it’s the perfect time to take a couple of photos to be stored on your journal.

Glorious Green

The folks from Runaway Play did an amazing job with the game’s technical aspect as I’ve experienced no bugs or any minor glitches in it. Even though it was a relatively short game, taking only 1-2 hours to complete, I found myself wanting more of the exploration, wildlife, and scenery within it.

I kept wondering if I could befriend an exotic monkey, climb the hills to find beautiful plants or swim in remote waterfalls. These are the questions I have kept asking if the game was made longer and more areas to explore. Nonetheless, these are positive signs that the game is headed in the right direction.

If you are looking for a short escape away from the city and surrounded by the evergreen of nature without having to step out of your comfort zone, Flutter Away is for you. This cosy game is also perfect for casual players who would rather not spend hours on end fighting, completing missions, or questing like most games do. While this gem may not be for everyone, its relaxing and immersive wholesome vibe and non-confrontational gameplay has something special to offer those searching for a relaxing adventure that is out of the ordinary.

Pros

• Immersive and relaxing nature sounds.
• Wholesome story
• Eye-catching visuals
• Interesting wildlife discoveries

Cons

• Short gameplay
• It could be enhanced by featuring more wildlife.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100

Review copy provided by the publisher.