Birthdays the Beginning

 PlayStation 4
Birthdays the Beginning Image
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: A garden game in which players create cube-shaped worlds that give rise to diverse and unique lifeforms. Shape the geography and alter the temperature of each world to create the conditions for life and witness the birth of an entire ecosystem.
Buy On

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. Digitally Downloaded
    May 5, 2017
    100
    Properly articulating what Birthdays means to me is difficult. It is the embodiment of the pure joy of gaming, where I can sit down and simply immerse myself within this space without feeling pressure or tension. There’s nothing to “win,” but everything to enjoy while, at the same time, the game is pointing out, in its very innocent and heartfelt way, a very simple but so important environmental message. To Yasuhiro Wada, the environment itself has always been the real protagonist of his games, and Birthdays The Beginning is the ultimate realisation of that philosophy.
  2. Hardcore Gamer
    May 7, 2017
    80
    Birthdays: The Beginning is a cute and clever world-builder where simple actions can have deep, complicated results. While it was never apparent that life evolved by the guiding hand of a super-sentai hero, Birthdays shows how much all of Earth owes to their climate-controlling wisdom. Flying around the planet raising and lowering the land has far more complex results than would be expected thanks to the interlocking systems, and it’s always a treat to see what new life pops up as the result of the latest round of tweaking. The main story is plenty big enough but is also joined by a sandbox and goal-based modes, providing plenty of world-building fun. As cute as it is deep, Birthdays is a purely charming life-sim.
  3. DualShockers
    May 8, 2017
    75
    I would have enjoyed more interaction between me and my organisms, but the game draws the line of interaction with the world to merely altering the land. With that said, the systems introduced in the game work well for a game that is supposed to the “beginning” of a much larger idea.
  4. IGN Italia
    May 17, 2017
    65
    Birthdays: The Beginning is a nice simulation game with really cute art direction, which fans of the genre and people who seek a relaxing gaming experience will probably enjoy. Unfortunately it has its flaws, like poorly detailed graphics, slight frame rate drops and clunky controls, that we hope will disappear in the next titles of the series.
  5. Eurogamer Italy
    May 25, 2017
    60
    We cannot say that Birthdays is one of the best God-game available. The ground modeling represents basically the whole gameplay. For the rest of the time you will stand still, waiting for the life to blossom.
  6. IGN Spain
    May 8, 2017
    60
    Birthdays the Beginning may be fun but it also has a very plain gameplay. A game that may be fun for the usual management players, but with a very modest visual look.
  7. GameCritics
    May 22, 2017
    45
    While I absolutely love the concept of Birthdays: The Beginning, the execution leaves much to be desired. It’s too passive and too finicky, and doesn’t do enough with the core concept of life appearing and evolving over time. There’s not much here for seasoned players or curious kids, and as someone who’s been playing games for a while, I can say that this formula was done far, far better on the SNES back in 1993 with EVO: Search For Eden. Look it up!

See all 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. JenL
    May 15, 2017
    8
    Yes, it's simplistic. But it's also intensely complicated. To even play it, you have to really, actually play attention to the training.Yes, it's simplistic. But it's also intensely complicated. To even play it, you have to really, actually play attention to the training. When is the last time that happened? Oh- and there is so much they DON'T spell out. So that air of mystery survives. Did I mention educational? Inspirational? (takes a moment to cry about the environment and the current state of affairs.)… Expand
  2. Saisuke
    May 10, 2017
    6
    The game is really cute, there are some interesting things to do until you finish it, like trying to make humans and dinosaurs exist at theThe game is really cute, there are some interesting things to do until you finish it, like trying to make humans and dinosaurs exist at the same time, but it gets old after a while.

    it doesn't last long either.
    If this was priced at 15, it would be an ok game, but priced at where it is... I can't really recommend it unless you're really into this types of games or have some cash to "burn".
    Get it when it's at discount if you want a chill simulation game sorta like simearth back in the days.    … Expand
  4. CanadianYeti
    Jul 28, 2017
    5
    I’ll give Birthdays this: I like the concept. Building a world from the very start sounds like it could be a lot of fun. The big problem comesI’ll give Birthdays this: I like the concept. Building a world from the very start sounds like it could be a lot of fun. The big problem comes with how little interactivity and control you have over the world. The most you can do is raise and lower the terrain to change the temperature. Everything else is done for you, making it really hard to get invested in. I think if this was an iPad game you checked up on once every few hours instead of a PS4 game where you need to set aside time to play it would’ve been more successful.… Expand

Current PS4 Games

Full List »
91 Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
89 It Takes Two
84 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
84 Yakuza: Like a Dragon
84 Hitman 3
83 Sackboy: A Big Adventure
83 Persona 5 Strikers
82 Fuser
82 Little Nightmares II
82 Katamari Damacy REROLL
82 Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
81 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
80 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
80 Helheim Hassle
77 Pacer
77 Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
76 Unto The End
65 Ray's the Dead
60 Twin Mirror
57 Cyberpunk 2077
All Current Games »