I am not the biggest Horror game fan, but something about Project Songbird called to me. Maybe it was all the classic horror tropes. A failing musician with past trauma locking herself in the woods, what could go wrong, right? Well, let me tell you what does.
Cabin in the Woods
Project Songbird is a psychological horror game that offers a personal, though sometimes uneven, journey into the mind of a struggling artist. Set against the backdrop of the Appalachian wilderness, the game follows Dakota. A musician from the band Neon Songbird who is battling her fan base over her new musical direction, rooted in personal trauma. Following her producer’s advice, she retreats to a remote log cabin in West Virginia, hoping the isolation will help her finish a new album. While the setup initially feels like a quiet meditation on artistic pressure, the mood shifts dramatically as the sun sets. The story moves from Camp Cosy to nightmare sequences where reality and memory blur, forcing Dakota to confront her own mental state.
What makes a horror a horror?
Visually, Project Songbird blends beautiful lighting with more divisive stylistic choices, such as old-school heavy film grain. Think 8mm or the Kennedy assassination video and bloom effects. On the PlayStation 5, these effects can sometimes make backgrounds look very staticky, but not all is lost, as you can toggle most of them off in the settings for a clearer image. The gameplay itself is a mix of traditional survival horror with a sprinkling of walking simulator. You spend much of your time exploring the woods, solving puzzles that relate to Dakota’s trauma, and managing a limited inventory. However, the combat and stealth mechanics are less refined. Stealth often feels unreliable, and the melee combat can be very clunky, with enemies that sometimes feel more like frustrating obstacles than terrifying threats. Despite the rough edges and occasional framerate drops, Project Songbird’s immersive qualities and the mix of puzzles keep the experience going. I didn’t really see it as a horror game, to be honest. Yes, it had atmosphere, but that’s all, unfortunately.
It’s all about the music
The strongest part of Project Songbird is the audio Department. The music score suits it to the ground. Whether it’s the soundtrack composed by Jacob Noska and Jonah Henthorne, its country-layered tone in the woods really transports you to West Virginia. Or Dakota’s vinyl collection that features real Indie artists (there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the game just for the snitches). When finding or playing these, Dakota provides monologues reflecting on what the music means to her, which is a nice touch. Valerie Rose Lohman is the standout performer as Dakota. She provides all the emotion Dakota needed as the main and only character.
Project Songbird will hit all the right notes for a lot of people. Especially the ones who like games in the line of Life is Strange, but I think it will miss the mark with Horror fans. It is definitely a slow burner, so don’t expect fast-paced action. Hats off to Conner Rush, who wrote, directed, and poured himself into it because you can feel that throughout.
Stay tuned to GamEir. Come talk with us on Twitter (@gam_eir), Facebook (@GamEir), and Instagram (@GamEir).