Merlies.wiki - The Merlies Guide & Wiki
Guides, wiki pages and reference material for The Merlies - the cozy post-apocalyptic bird-squad adventure by Darjeeling, Blue Ramen and ARTE France, released September 29, 2026 on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Official Game Trailer
Watch the official trailer
Popular Guides
Walkthroughs and reference for The Merlies.
New to The Merlies? Start here: core loop walkthrough, first-session checklist, bird squad basics, controls (controller + keyboard), and the fragility rule that shapes everything.
The Merlies exploration walkthrough: five biomes, three traversal verbs (bounce, climb, squeeze), map tips and how passages unlock as your squad grows.
Everything about the bird squad in The Merlies: how combined abilities unlock paths, where the lost Merlies are scattered, and how rescuing birds grows both your flock and your map.
The village loop in The Merlies explained: turning scraps into homes, the official upcycling examples, accommodating and training Merlies, and why comfort is the win condition.
Start Here
What players look up most
Beginner Guide
The core loop, the one fragility rule that matters, and a first-session checklist
Birds
The squad compendium: plumage variants, lost Merlies and the flock system
Biomes
All five biomes from the village to the underground pipes
Abilities
Mushroom bounces, cable climbs, pipes and the squad-combo progression
Scraps
Junk as the only currency: what to collect and the upcycling conversions
Village
Building, decorating and training - the cozy home loop
Popular Questions
When does The Merlies release?
It released on September 29, 2026, on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. The date was confirmed in the developers' September 8 launch announcement after appearing on the Steam page earlier.
What is The Merlies about?
A cozy post-apocalyptic adventure about a community of tiny birds rebuilding after a huge storm scatters them. You explore a colorful 2D world reclaimed by nature with your bird squad, rescue lost Merlies, and turn the scraps of a forgotten human civilization into a village. The developers describe it as a solarpunk game — bright and hopeful rather than dystopian.
Is The Merlies on Nintendo Switch?
Yes — the official launch announcement confirms a simultaneous September 29 release on PC and Nintendo Switch. The Steam version is Windows-only (no macOS or Linux builds are listed).
Is there combat in The Merlies?
No. The official store text is explicit: "No creature or fight will be on your way" — every thorn, rock and tree is an obstacle to overcome instead. It is a "wholesomevania": metroidvania-style exploration and clumsy platforming with the fighting removed, played at your own pace.
Is The Merlies multiplayer or co-op?
No — it is a single-player game. The Steam page lists only Single-player among its categories, and nothing in the official announcements mentions co-op or online play. The multiplayer question is common for family-friendly games, but this one is a solo cozy adventure.
Is there a demo for The Merlies?
There was one, timed to festivals: an exclusive demo launched April 17, 2026 for the Earth Appreciation Day event, was featured at the Galaxies Showcase, and received two updates during the June 2026 Steam Next Fest (an in-game map, upgraded cutscenes, then full keyboard support). The demo is no longer listed on the store page ahead of launch.
Featured Birds & Abilities
Latest Updates
- Exploration & Traversal Guide - Routes & SecretsGuideOctober 19, 2026
- How to use Mushroom BounceAbilityOctober 19, 2026
- Beginner Guide - First Session Checklist & TipsGuideOctober 12, 2026
- How to use Squad Ability CombosAbilityOctober 7, 2026
- How to use Cable & Billboard ClimbingAbilityOctober 7, 2026
- How to use Pipe ExplorationAbilityOctober 7, 2026
- How to use Map & NavigationAbilityOctober 7, 2026
- How to use Village TrainingAbilityOctober 7, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
See all FAQWhen does The Merlies release?
It released on September 29, 2026, on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. The date was confirmed in the developers' September 8 launch announcement after appearing on the Steam page earlier.
What is The Merlies about?
A cozy post-apocalyptic adventure about a community of tiny birds rebuilding after a huge storm scatters them. You explore a colorful 2D world reclaimed by nature with your bird squad, rescue lost Merlies, and turn the scraps of a forgotten human civilization into a village. The developers describe it as a solarpunk game — bright and hopeful rather than dystopian.
Is The Merlies on Nintendo Switch?
Yes — the official launch announcement confirms a simultaneous September 29 release on PC and Nintendo Switch. The Steam version is Windows-only (no macOS or Linux builds are listed).
Is there combat in The Merlies?
No. The official store text is explicit: "No creature or fight will be on your way" — every thorn, rock and tree is an obstacle to overcome instead. It is a "wholesomevania": metroidvania-style exploration and clumsy platforming with the fighting removed, played at your own pace.
Is The Merlies multiplayer or co-op?
No — it is a single-player game. The Steam page lists only Single-player among its categories, and nothing in the official announcements mentions co-op or online play. The multiplayer question is common for family-friendly games, but this one is a solo cozy adventure.
Is there a demo for The Merlies?
There was one, timed to festivals: an exclusive demo launched April 17, 2026 for the Earth Appreciation Day event, was featured at the Galaxies Showcase, and received two updates during the June 2026 Steam Next Fest (an in-game map, upgraded cutscenes, then full keyboard support). The demo is no longer listed on the store page ahead of launch.