The Merlies Cover Art

The Merlies

Meet the Merlies, a tiny birds community trying to find harmony in a cute post-apocalyptic world filled with the remains of a long forgotten civilization. Gather your birdies, explore this wild world with your tiny bird squad and complete your village out of collected scraps!

★Positive· 96% of 25 Steam reviews

Lowest price right now

-20%$15.99$19.99

Screenshots & Gameplay

In-game captures

The Merlies trailer
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Where to Buy

Official digital stores and platform availability

Steam Store
Steam / PC
-20%$15.99$19.99View Store
Nintendo eShop
Nintendo Switch
-20%$15.99$19.99View Store

About The Merlies

The Merlies, a community of tiny birds, got scattered across the land by a huge storm! Explore a colorful charming 2D universe and unlock new hidden passages as your Merlies squad grows and learns new skills, in a metroidvania-like gameplay. Use each Merlies’ specific abilities during your exploration in this poetic adventure game.

While being beautiful, the world of The Merlies isn’t the most welcoming one. Your Merlies remain fragile little fellows exposed to the dangers of Nature. No creature or fight will be on your way but every thorn, every rock, every tree becomes an obstacle to overcome. Sometimes, the path will be hard to find, hidden in this wild and bucolic maze. And be careful not to lose one of your Merlies on the way!

Throughout your exploration, you’ll encounter remains of a long gone civilization. Lucky you! For one man’s junk is a Merlies’ treasure! Collect scraps to create and decorate your village, accommodate your Merlies and train them to get ready for exploration!

Visually inspired by graphic novels and children’s image books, The Merlies is a bright and cozy tale. Befriend cute expressive birds and go out with your new friends to discover the many biomes and uncover their passageways and secrets.

Climb electric cables and fallen billboards, send your Merlies up in the sky by jumping on mushrooms or explore empty pipes. For your small Merlies, everyday objects take on gigantic proportions and get a new purpose for your community: make a cozy house out of a lamp, a huge map out of a slate or a store room out of an ice cube tray!

But their little size isn’t going to stop their adventurous and creative minds to create a new and better community for their kind.

Human civilization is gone and Nature is healing. Discover a calm and comforting adventure and help your community grow through recycling and upcycling human junk. Wacky constructions and clever upcycling are the key to bringing comfort and happiness to your tribe. The Merlies’ way of life is to do a lot, with a little.

The Merlies is a Solarpunk game: post-apocalyptic, sure, but not like you would expect. It’s a bright tale promoting a hopeful future, where your Merlies are brought together by cooperation and solidarity. Community spirit and a clever (re)use of scraps are key features that take the game far from dystopic Cyberpunk often associated with post-apocalypse.

  • An exploration-based poetic adventure
  • A “wholesomevania” gameplay: explore a 2D map at your own pace
  • Exploit the many abilities of a squad of Merlies
  • Stunning and refined visuals with hand-made drawings
  • A solarpunk optimistic take on post-apocalypse games

Based on an idea by Cosmografik, creator of Type:Rider and Vandals.

Developed by Darjeeling, Blue Ramen, ARTE France and published by ARTE France, GCORES PUBLISHING, The Merlies was originally released on Sep 29, 2026. It holds a Positive reception on Steam with 96% positive reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Merlies multiplayer or co-op?

No, The Merlies is a dedicated single-player experience designed for cozy, stress-free solo play.

Can I play The Merlies on Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch?

The Merlies is natively available on Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop. It is fully playable on Steam Deck with controller support.

How long is The Merlies?

The Merlies offers an open-ended cozy pace that you can enjoy in short bursts or long weekend sessions.

How much is The Merlies and is it on sale?

The Merlies is currently on sale for $15.99 USD (20% off its regular price of $19.99 USD) on participating digital storefronts.

Game Details

DeveloperDarjeeling, Blue Ramen, ARTE France
PublisherARTE France, GCORES PUBLISHING
Release DateSep 29, 2026
ModeSingle Player
Steam Rating★ 96% Positive (Positive)
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