About Kiwis Can’t Fly
Kiwis Can’t Fly is such a wonderfully sweet and unexpectedly touching little game. It’s essentially a short, interactive musical story that revolves around an adorable flightless kiwi bird who harbors one huge, seemingly impossible dream: to soar through the sky like all the other birds. Since kiwis, by their very nature, can’t fly, your role in the game is to lend this determined little critter a helping hand. You do this by dragging various objects – like bouncy mushrooms or springy leaves – into its path, creating a sequence of platforms that allow it to bounce higher and higher, continuing its upward journey for as long as you can manage. It’s a very simple gameplay mechanic, but it’s wrapped in this incredibly heartfelt and charming narrative that just kind of pulls you in emotionally.
What’s particularly fascinating about this game is its origin story. It was actually developed incredibly quickly, in just 72 hours, by a small, talented team (DDRKirby(ISQ) and Kat Jia, under the Cocoa Moss label) for a game development competition called Ludum Dare. The theme for that particular game jam was “Delay the Inevitable,” and you can clearly see how beautifully that theme is woven into both the gameplay and the overarching story. You are, quite literally, helping the little kiwi delay its inevitable descent back down to earth. The game’s enchanting music and its soft, appealing visuals contribute massively to its touching and almost bittersweet atmosphere.
Kiwis Can’t Fly offers a truly unique and memorable blend of simple, intuitive gameplay and genuinely moving storytelling. Its incredibly straightforward controls make it accessible to everyone, but the emotional depth it achieves in its short playtime is what makes it stick with you. If you’re looking for something a bit different from the usual action-packed or complex strategy games – something that’s short, incredibly sweet, and might just tug at your heartstrings a little – then this game is an absolutely delightful and memorable experience.