The Merlies FAQ

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

The game was developed by French studio Darjeeling together with Blue Ramen and ARTE France, and is published by ARTE France and GCORES PUBLISHING. The original idea is by Cosmografik, the creator of Type:Rider and Vandals.

English is the only language with full audio support. Subtitles or text support is listed for French, Italian, German, European Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese — seven languages in total.

Yes to both. The Steam page lists Full controller support, Keyboard Only Option and Custom Volume Controls as shipped launch features — all three confirmed after the keyboard-first community feedback during the demo cycle.

Very light: Windows 7 or newer, an Intel i5 quad-core CPU, 4 GB of RAM, an Intel HD 4000 integrated GPU and just 500 MB of storage. Almost any PC from the last decade runs it — the full details are on the system requirements page.

Yes — the Steam store page lists 34 achievements (confirmed consistently across the US and China store regions after launch). The full list and unlock conditions will be documented here once the community has mapped them.

Playtime has not been announced. The demo suggested a relaxed, exploration-first pace with no fail-forward pressure, and the game is built around return trips as your squad grows. A concrete hour count will be added here once players have measured the launch build.

The price is $19.99 in the US and ¥74.00 in China — the 20% launch discount has ended as of mid-October 2026. It is a premium single-purchase game with no microtransactions — check the Steam page for the current price in your region.

As of October 31, 2026, The Merlies has 40 user reviews on Steam with 90% positive. Steam displays "Positive" rather than "Very Positive" while the sample is under 50 reviews — the sentiment itself is up from the launch-window figure. The score will keep shifting as more players weigh in.

Not officially. The Steam version is Windows-only at launch, with no macOS or Linux builds listed, and no Steam Deck verification has been announced. The Nintendo Switch is the confirmed console platform.