Welcome to my She Could Fly review. Cozy Game Reviews was given a complimentary game code for She Could Fly, courtesy of Keymailer. Our game reviews are always objective and honest; read more about our transparency policy.
This review may contain minor spoilers for gameplay and story beats, though I always try not to reveal any major plot twists or surprises.
She Could Fly is not a game—not in the traditional sense. Billed as a “documentary escape room,” She Could Fly is a point-and-click puzzler that invites the player into the mind of someone suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Framed by the narrative lens of a streamer called Tiger Orchid playing the game in-time with the IRL player, She Could Fly blends metaphor, deep immersion, and bite-sized pieces of Q&A with actual mental health experts together to create a holistic learning experience.
The game is inspired by the comic book She Could Fly written by Christopher Cantwell and illustrated by Martín Morazzo, which pens the tale of a woman who explodes in midair and the disturbed 15-year-old girl named Luna who becomes obsessed with learning her story post-mortem.
She Could Fly teeters on the edge of beautifully meditative and genuinely unsettling as you try to find your way out of a looping apartment scene. By solving puzzles, collecting comic book pages, watching informational videos, and sitting on the mysterious Reassuring Beanbag Chair, you can piece together their owner’s story. As bits of her life assemble themselves via notes and atmospheric clues, we learn that her name is Hana and her life is not going the way she expected it. From not being accepted to grad school to missing calls from friends and family, Hana is in crisis. And at the center of that crisis is the telltale intrusive thoughts and obsessive compulsions of OCD.
This surreal locked-room puzzle game gives players a sneak peek into the mind of someone struggling with OCD, while also dismantling common myths around the disorder through expert commentary. The game’s mechanics smartly convey what it’s like to be hounded by intrusive and compulsive thoughts. The player will be forced to give in to the urge to flick the light switch repeatedly in order to stop bad things from happening. Or they will have to stare into the face of a void figure covered in lies the unwell mind screams at itself in the dark.
Setting out to reassemble tattered comic book pages—yes, from the actual comic!—the player will confront the hard realities about what it feels like to be “trapped” in your own head. There’s also the nebulous relationship between Hana, narrator/streamer Tiger Orchid, and the player to unveil—which isn’t at all what it seems to be.
The game’s lo-fi graphics are complemented by framed art featuring stunning digital art from real-world indie artists, each of whom is credited upon looking closer at the print. The displayed artwork is carefully curated to fit the theme of the game, each piece offering a glimpse into a shadowy, busy mind that longs for peace.
She Could Fly is a short (less than 2 hours) narrative experience that would be most appropriate for those interested in learning about OCD. I can see it being used in an educational setting, even. There are actual interviews with mental health experts unlockable throughout, which is perhaps what makes it more of a documentary and less of a game at times. Folks looking for a “game” in the traditional sense may not be satisfied here. But those who enjoy emotional stories with practical learning built right in for your convenience will enjoy what the game has to offer.
Special Note: The creative team of She Could Fly collaborated with scientists, OCD Action and people with lived experience of OCD. This not-for-profit game is produced by Wowbagger Productions in association with Two Tails Studios and Oubliette Escapes. The project is funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences, Arts Council England, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Physiological Society, and UK Games Fund.
She Cloud Fly Review Summary
She Could Fly is a short, narrative walking simulator about the lived experience of someone with obsessive compulsive disorder. Eerie and at times dream-like, the game endeavours to convey the feeling of being suffocated by intrusive thoughts and dark imagery by literally trapping the player in an increasingly claustrophobic space. Crafted with care, She Could Fly leans on real-world research about OCD to provide an empathetic and immersive “documentary escape game” about feeling so, so trapped—and, finally, breaking free.
Who She Could Fly is for…
- Fans of philosophic walking sims like The Stanley Parable
- Folks interested in learning about OCD
- Fans of the comic or comics in general
Who She Could Fly is not for…
- Players looking for a more traditional “locked room” game
- Anyone for whom the topic of OCD might be overwhelming or triggering
Stay cozy, gamers!