{"id":898542,"date":"2026-04-11T13:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T18:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/11\/project-songbird-review-an-emotionally-driven-horror-game-that-lingers-in-the-mind\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T13:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T18:13:10","slug":"project-songbird-review-an-emotionally-driven-horror-game-that-lingers-in-the-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/11\/project-songbird-review-an-emotionally-driven-horror-game-that-lingers-in-the-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Songbird review: An emotionally-driven horror game that lingers in the mind"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Music <\/p>\n<div id=\"main-content\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<nav>\n<ul aria-label=\"label\">\n<li><span><a aria-label=\"dailystar Home\" data-tmdatatrack=\"nav\" data-tmdatatrack-location=\"header\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"TopArticle|Subcategories|Home\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"music\" alt=\"music Dailystar Icon\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/assets\/icons\/daily-star.svg\"><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/span><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_1568_352811)\"><path d=\"M10 17L15 12L10 7\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" \/><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_1568_352811\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\" \/><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg><\/li>\n<li><span><a aria-label=\"Tech\" data-link-tracking=\"TopArticle|Subcategories|Tech\" data-tmdatatrack=\"nav\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"Tech\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/tech\/\" tabindex=\"0\">Tech<\/a><\/span><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_1568_352811)\"><path d=\"M10 17L15 12L10 7\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" \/><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_1568_352811\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\" \/><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg><\/li>\n<li><span><a aria-label=\"Gaming\" data-link-tracking=\"TopArticle|Subcategories|Gaming\" data-tmdatatrack=\"nav\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"Gaming\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/tech\/gaming\/\" tabindex=\"0\">Gaming<\/a><\/span><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><g clip-path=\"url(#clip0_1568_352811)\"><path d=\"M10 17L15 12L10 7\" stroke=\"var(--color-sem-icon-primary-default)\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" \/><\/g><defs><clipPath id=\"clip0_1568_352811\"><rect width=\"24\" height=\"24\" fill=\"white\" \/><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg><\/li>\n<li><span><a aria-label=\"Playstation\" data-link-tracking=\"TopArticle|Subcategories|Playstation\" data-tmdatatrack=\"nav\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"Playstation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/playstation\" tabindex=\"0\">Playstation<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<article id=\"article-body\" data-testid=\"body\">\n<h2 data-testid=\"leadtext\">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<\/h2>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This cut-price psychological horror game on the PS5 and Xbox consoles is gripping.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You <a aria-label href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/tech\/gaming\/resident-evil-requim-pre-order-36777428\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">play<\/a> Dakota, a career musician who, amidst writer&#8217;s block, decides to isolate themself in a cabin in the remote Appalachian forest in order to record their next album.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And for a fairly short horror experience, it does a great job of lingering in the mind long after you put the <a aria-label href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/life-style\/ps5-1tb-memory-cheaper-850gb-36803632\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">controller<\/a> down.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A first-person game, the narrative from developer Conner Rush is the big winner here, featuring heavy themes like suicide, angst and depression.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Cinematically designed, and with tip-top voice acting, you\u2019ll find yourself very much in the midst of Dakota\u2019s trauma as you try to survive a nightmarish journey across dark and diverse environments.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Think eerie woods, big scary red doors and looming monsters you have to battle or stealth your way around in haunting dreamscapes.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The gameplay itself is nothing you haven\u2019t seen before.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Simple puzzle-solving sections make way for fairly average lumbering combat moments. Lots of running and hiding.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There\u2019s your standard survival-horror weaponry at hand, often not enough to take down baddies, forcing you to dash instead.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But it\u2019s responsive and engaging enough.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It\u2019s the storytelling that really shines here and will evoke emotions from the players throughout on tough but honest themes we\u2019ve all felt at points.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">For \u00a315 this is well worth a look if you\u2019re keen on an emotional rollercoaster, rather than an all-out blockbuster action by-the-second one.<\/p>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong>VERDICT 4\/5<\/strong><\/p>\n<section data-testid=\"inline-google-preferred-source-ncu\" data-tmdatatrack=\"google-preferred\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"article\" data-tmdatatrack-id=\"article-google-preferred\"><a data-testid=\"clickable\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=dailystar.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Choose Daily Star as a &#8216;Preferred Source&#8217; on Google News for quick access to the news you value.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/section>\n<p><template id=\"B:2\"><\/template><template id=\"B:3\"><\/template><\/div>\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<ul data-testid=\"content-tags\">\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/xbox\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"XBox\" data-tmdatatrack=\"more-on\">XBox<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/playstation\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"Playstation\" data-tmdatatrack=\"more-on\">Playstation<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/ps5-sony-playstation-5-news\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"PS5 Sony Playstation 5 News\" data-tmdatatrack=\"more-on\">PS5 Sony Playstation 5 News<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/latest\/xbox-series-x\" data-tmdatatrack-name=\"Xbox Series X\" data-tmdatatrack=\"more-on\">Xbox Series X<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailystar.co.uk\/tech\/gaming\/project-songbird-review-emotionally-driven-36910074\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Music Tech Gaming Playstation 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&#8217;s block, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":898543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-898542","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business-news"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/898542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=898542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/898542\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/898543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=898542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=898542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=898542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}