Project Songbird review: An emotionally-driven horror game that lingers in the mind

For a 4-5 hour gaming stint, this project from talented developer Conner Rush covers big emotional themes like angst and depression through the eyes of a struggling musician

This cut-price psychological horror game on the PS5 and Xbox consoles is gripping.

You play Dakota, a career musician who, amidst writer’s block, decides to isolate themself in a cabin in the remote Appalachian forest in order to record their next album.

And for a fairly short horror experience, it does a great job of lingering in the mind long after you put the controller down.

A first-person game, the narrative from developer Conner Rush is the big winner here, featuring heavy themes like suicide, angst and depression.

Cinematically designed, and with tip-top voice acting, you’ll find yourself very much in the midst of Dakota’s trauma as you try to survive a nightmarish journey across dark and diverse environments.

Think eerie woods, big scary red doors and looming monsters you have to battle or stealth your way around in haunting dreamscapes.

The gameplay itself is nothing you haven’t seen before.

Simple puzzle-solving sections make way for fairly average lumbering combat moments. Lots of running and hiding.

There’s your standard survival-horror weaponry at hand, often not enough to take down baddies, forcing you to dash instead.

But it’s responsive and engaging enough.

It’s the storytelling that really shines here and will evoke emotions from the players throughout on tough but honest themes we’ve all felt at points.

It’s beautifully told and has a lovely medium pacing to it, rarely too frantic and mostly set just right to give you thinking time about the big themes at play.

For £15 this is well worth a look if you’re keen on an emotional rollercoaster, rather than an all-out blockbuster action by-the-second one.

VERDICT 4/5