Flock Around
A cooperative birdwatching photography game set in a nature reserve.
Flock Around is a birdwatching and photography simulation game released for Windows and macOS on April 24, 2026. It was created by Friend Shaped Games and co-published with Outersloth. Players explore a nature reserve, photograph birds, complete a guidebook, and use in-game earnings to buy items and cosmetic upgrades.
The game supports solo play or online cooperative sessions for up to ten people. Set in Goose Lake Sanctuary, players search for birds across various biomes, photographing species based on real birds from the Pacific Northwest. The guidebook requires multiple poses per bird—front, back, side, and in flight. Birds may flee if players get too close or make noise via proximity chat. Photos are developed for in-game currency, with scores influenced by factors like distance and whether the bird has been photographed before. Money can be spent on clothing, bird seed, camera upgrades, and binocular upgrades. Players can also customize their birder’s colors, facial features, and clothing.
Friend Shaped Games, based in Victoria, British Columbia, developed the title. In April 2026, the studio received $50,000 from Creative BC’s Video Games Early Stage Growth Program, which distributed $300,000 total among six British Columbia studios for development, staffing, technical infrastructure, business operations, marketing, community engagement, and localization. NextPlay Australia reported in February 2026 that Outersloth had joined as publisher, with funding intended for additional maps and regions after launch. A demo was available on Steam prior to release. The full game launched on Steam on April 24, 2026, alongside a paid supporter pack featuring “Dapper” cosmetics—suits, top hats, and a monocle.
Reviewers compared the demo to *Pokémon Snap*. Writing for *PC Gamer* in December 2025, Lincoln Carpenter called it a multiplayer photography game centered on birdwatching. Kara Phillips, also for *PC Gamer*, noted the demo’s guidebook contained 20 birds to find and photograph, and that its cartoon style still used recognizable bird appearances and songs. Riley MacLeod of *Aftermath* said the game required skills similar to real birdwatching, such as spotting, approaching, framing, patience, and timing. Giovanni Colantonio of *Polygon* described it as a low-priced cooperative birdwatching game akin to *Pokémon Snap*.
- Developer
- Friend Shaped Games
- Publisher
- Friend Shaped Games and Outersloth
- Release date
- 24 April 2026
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS
- Genre
- Birdwatching and photography simulation
- Setting
- Goose Lake Sanctuary, Pacific Northwest-inspired biomes
Lore & Background
Flock Around was developed by Friend Shaped Games, a studio based in Victoria, British Columbia. In April 2026, the studio was named as one of six recipients of $50,000 from Creative BC's Video Games Early Stage Growth Program, which awarded a total of $300,000 to six British Columbia studios for development, staffing, technical infrastructure, business operations, marketing, community engagement, and localisation. In February 2026, NextPlay Australia reported that Outersloth had joined as a publisher and that the funding would support additional maps and regions after launch.
The game can be played alone or cooperatively online with up to ten players. Players explore Goose Lake Sanctuary, search for birds across different biomes, and use a camera to photograph them; the species are based on birds from the Pacific Northwest. The guidebook asks players to photograph each bird in several poses, including front, back, side, and in flight. Birds may fly away if approached too closely or if players make noise through proximity chat. Photographs are developed for in-game money, with scores affected by factors such as distance and whether a bird has already been photographed. Money can be spent on clothing, bird seed, camera upgrades, and binocular upgrades. Players can also customise their birder with different colours, facial features, and clothing.
Reader's Guide
Flock Around represents a niche intersection of simulation, photography, and cooperative gameplay, drawing comparisons to Pokémon Snap from multiple critics. Its significance lies in its focus on realistic birdwatching mechanics—such as approaching birds carefully, framing shots, and capturing multiple poses—while maintaining a cartoon presentation that still uses recognisable bird appearances and songs. The game's cooperative mode for up to ten players and its use of proximity chat add social dynamics to what is typically a solitary activity.
The game's development was supported by a provincial funding program in British Columbia, highlighting the role of regional arts funding in indie game production. The involvement of Outersloth as a publisher and the planned post-launch maps and regions indicate an ongoing commitment to expanding the game's content. The release of a paid 'Dapper' themed supporter pack on the same day as the full game suggests a monetisation model that includes optional cosmetic items. Critically, early previews from PC Gamer, Aftermath, and Polygon praised the game's translation of real birdwatching skills into a digital format, though full reviews were not available at the time of the source article. Flock Around's legacy may be as a gentle, accessible introduction to birdwatching for a gaming audience.
Did You Know?
- Flock Around was released for Windows and macOS on 24 April 2026.
- A demo was made available on Steam before the full release.
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