BLACK BIRD
Released Oct 2018
Become the Black Bird in this dark-fantasy shooting game with an operatic twist! This is the tale of a young girl who dies a pitiful death, but is reborn as the calamitous Black Bird whose destiny is to destroy the kingdom.
91% positive · 107 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $13.29 $18.99 −30%
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
BLACK BIRD launched on October 30, 2018 as a complete bullet hell shooter. Both DLC items — a soundtrack and a premium pack — shipped within the first month of release in late 2018.
The most significant post-launch update came on December 22, 2021, when Onion Games added two new secret picture books (story content that had debuted with the PS4/5 version) and a new continue feature to the Steam version. This brought the Steam version up to parity with the PlayStation release, and represents the last content addition to the game.
A June 8, 2026 post confirmed that the current version of BLACK BIRD has been tested and runs fully on Steam Deck, but this was a compatibility notice rather than a content update — no new game content was added.
All DLC has been released. No future content has been announced for BLACK BIRD. The developer's attention has moved on to other titles, most recently the RPG Stray Children, which launched on October 30, 2025. The game appears to be a complete, finished product as of December 22, 2021.
Evidence
Added two secret picture books (previously exclusive to PS4/5 version) and a continue feature — the last content update to the game.
Onion Games' focus is on their new title Stray Children; BLACK BIRD is mentioned only in the context of a 30% discount, with the note that PS4/5 feature parity (picture books and continue) has already been added.
Content
2 of 2 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Onion Games
Achievements
22
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player
About this game
A bird of happiness, or fowl fortune?
Feathers black, all lives consumed!
This is the tale of a young girl who dies one day on a street corner and is reborn as the ominous Black Bird. The bird is one of the great calamities, spoken of in the kingdom since ancient times.
Become the calamity, ‘Black Bird’, and destroy the kingdom with a bullet hell.
Game Features
**A darkly humourous world, built with loving care, pixel by pixel.
Visuals which recall a classic era of gaming portray a rich, picture book world.
Completing each stage will reveal more of the mysteries which shroud the dark, fairytale-like exterior.
**A unique audio/visual mix combined in an action-packed shooting game
Your enemies’ movement synchronises with the operatic soundtrack, sung in a bizarre, fictional language, creating a truly unique experience.
**8 different endings!
A high score is the key to the real ending and unlocking the story’s secrets.
Your skill will guide how the story concludes; practice really does make perfect!
**Extra Features Galore!
Unlock True Mode after completing the game to see new enemies, hidden bonus characters and more!
Learn the combo system, bomb system and hidden characters, then mix and match to find your own play style.
When you’re confident, aim for the top of the leaderboards in Score Attack.
About Onion Games
Onion Games is a Japanese indie game developer.
Our works include "Million Onion Hotel" and "Dandy Dungeon".
Our latest game, “BLACK BIRD” will be released for Switch and Steam.
Award History
BLACK BIRD received 2 awards at BitSummit Vol.6, a Japanese indie game festival held in 2018.
The first is the "Vermilion Gate Award" which is the grand prix prize, and the second one is a music award: the "Excellence in Audio Award"!
This is the best indie game from Japan in 2018!
Feathers black, all lives consumed!
This is the tale of a young girl who dies one day on a street corner and is reborn as the ominous Black Bird. The bird is one of the great calamities, spoken of in the kingdom since ancient times.
Become the calamity, ‘Black Bird’, and destroy the kingdom with a bullet hell.
- What fate awaits this girl-turned bird?
- Will you, the Black Bird, destroy the world?
- Will this lively, fun-filled kingdom tread the path to destruction?
Game Features
**A darkly humourous world, built with loving care, pixel by pixel.
Visuals which recall a classic era of gaming portray a rich, picture book world.
Completing each stage will reveal more of the mysteries which shroud the dark, fairytale-like exterior.
**A unique audio/visual mix combined in an action-packed shooting game
Your enemies’ movement synchronises with the operatic soundtrack, sung in a bizarre, fictional language, creating a truly unique experience.
**8 different endings!
A high score is the key to the real ending and unlocking the story’s secrets.
Your skill will guide how the story concludes; practice really does make perfect!
**Extra Features Galore!
Unlock True Mode after completing the game to see new enemies, hidden bonus characters and more!
Learn the combo system, bomb system and hidden characters, then mix and match to find your own play style.
When you’re confident, aim for the top of the leaderboards in Score Attack.
About Onion Games
Onion Games is a Japanese indie game developer.
Our works include "Million Onion Hotel" and "Dandy Dungeon".
Our latest game, “BLACK BIRD” will be released for Switch and Steam.
Award History
BLACK BIRD received 2 awards at BitSummit Vol.6, a Japanese indie game festival held in 2018.
The first is the "Vermilion Gate Award" which is the grand prix prize, and the second one is a music award: the "Excellence in Audio Award"!
This is the best indie game from Japan in 2018!
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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