Aer: Memories of Old
An indie game about a girl who shapeshifts into a bird.
Aer: Memories of Old (stylized as AER: Memories of Old) is an indie action-adventure open world game created by Forgotten Key and released by Daedalic Entertainment. It launched on October 25, 2017, for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with a Nintendo Switch version following on August 28, 2019. The story follows a girl named Auk, who has the ability to transform into a bird. Players explore floating islands, solving puzzles and uncovering ruins left behind by an ancient civilization. Critics gave the game mixed reviews, praising its visual style and world design but noting its brief playtime and limited action.
In his review, Robert Ramsey of Push Square gave it an 8/10, describing it as "simple, elegant and impactful" and drawing comparisons to Journey and Abzû. Jack Yarwood of PC Gamer awarded a 77/100, calling the graphics beautiful and the flying mechanics "wonderful," though he pointed out the short length and confusing interior areas. Todd Rigney of Adventure Gamers rated it 3/5 stars, finding the world quirky and rich but criticizing the lack of puzzle variety, which made the gameplay feel "weak." He concluded that while the game was charming, it had notable flaws.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Forgotten Key
- Publisher
- Daedalic Entertainment
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / Nintendo Switch
- Released
- Windows, PS4, Xbox One / October 25, 2017 / Nintendo Switch / August 28, 2019
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
- Engine
- Unity
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game's story revolves around a girl named Auk who can shapeshift into a bird. Set on floating islands, the main character must solve puzzles, discovering ruins left by an ancient civilization. The game received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its aesthetic and world but criticized its short length and overall lack of action.
Reader's Guide
Aer: Memories of Old holds significance as an indie title that emphasizes exploration and atmosphere over combat. Its central mechanic—shapeshifting into a bird—allows players to traverse floating islands and discover ancient ruins. Critics consistently praised the game's visual aesthetic and world design, with Robert Ramsey of Push Square calling it 'simple, elegant and impactful' and comparing it to Journey and Abzû. Jack Yarwood of PC Gamer lauded the graphics as beautiful and the flying mechanics as 'wonderful.' However, the game's legacy is tempered by its short length and lack of action, which drew criticism. Todd Rigney of Adventure Gamers noted the world as quirky and rich but found the puzzle diversity weak, calling the game charming yet notably flawed. The mixed reception highlights a tension between artistic ambition and gameplay depth, making it a reference point for discussions of indie game design priorities.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by Forgotten Key and published by Daedalic Entertainment.
- The main character, Auk, can shapeshift into a bird.
- The game was released on Nintendo Switch on August 28, 2019.
- Robert Ramsey of Push Square compared the game to Journey and Abzû.
More in Action-adventure games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced