AER: Memories of Old cover art

AER: Memories of Old

2017Forgotten KeyPlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Transform into a bird and fly to explore and experience a vibrant world of floating islands in the sky. Venture down into lost ancient ruins where each step leads you closer to the end of the world. AER puts you in the shoes of Auk, a magical shape-shifting girl who can transform between human and bird.

What it feels like

The game prioritizes calm, meditative exploration and discovery without high-stakes pressure or combat intensity. A sense of childlike discovery and magic pervades the exploration of the beautiful, ancient floating world. The meditative exploration and mystery-discovery arc invites reflection and interpretation of the world.

Serene80%
Wondrous75%
Contemplative70%

What it's about

The setting is a secondary fantasy world with magic, shape-shifting, and ancient ruins as core elements. The narrative arc of Auk's journey toward discovering the end of the world anchors the experience.

High Fantasy70%
Journey & Pilgrimage60%

How it plays

Flight via bird transformation is the defining core mechanic that structures exploration and traversal. Exploration of ancient ruins and their mysteries involves solving puzzles woven into the world itself. Navigation involves some platforming challenges alongside flight, particularly in grounded exploration sections.

Gliding & Flight95%
Environmental Puzzles65%
Platforming50%
Dialogue Trees40%

How it looks and sounds

Vibrant color palette is a defining visual characteristic emphasized throughout the game's presentation and marketing. The perspective follows the player character from behind as they explore the world, whether in human or bird form. The game features a painterly, illustrated 2D-to-3D art style with visible artistic direction and stylization.

Vibrant Color85%
Third-Person75%
Hand-Drawn 2D65%
Orchestral Score60%
Full Voice Acting35%

How it's structured

A vibrant world of floating islands explorable in non-linear, player-chosen order is central to the experience. The detailed floating islands and ancient ruins are deliberately authored rather than procedurally generated. The floating islands and ruins appear designed as a continuous explorable space without heavy loading.

Open World80%
Handcrafted World65%
Seamless World60%
Short Playtime50%
RiME78% match

Shares Third-Person, Open World, Vibrant Color, Handcrafted World.

Both lean into Third-Person, Open World, Handcrafted World, Wondrous.

Third-Person90%Open World80%Handcrafted World85%Wondrous75%

Shares Gliding & Flight, Wondrous, Serene, Open World.

Both lean into Gliding & Flight, Wondrous, Open World, Serene.

Gliding & Flight75%Wondrous80%Open World75%Serene75%
Flower70% match

Shares Gliding & Flight, Vibrant Color, Serene, Wondrous.

Both lean into Gliding & Flight, Serene, Vibrant Color, Wondrous.

Gliding & Flight75%Serene85%Vibrant Color80%Wondrous75%

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Tinykin53% match

A lesser-known kindred — Vibrant Color, Open World, Wondrous, Hand-Drawn 2D. 98% positive across 4,211 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Vibrant Color, Open World, Hand-Drawn 2D, Wondrous.

Vibrant Color70%Open World65%Hand-Drawn 2D75%Wondrous65%
Tomb Raider42% match

A lesser-known kindred — Third-Person, Handcrafted World, Environmental Puzzles, Platforming. 85% positive across 4,626 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Third-Person, Handcrafted World, Environmental Puzzles, Platforming.

Third-Person95%Handcrafted World90%Environmental Puzzles80%Platforming85%
Iconoclasts41% match

A lesser-known kindred — Environmental Puzzles, Platforming, Handcrafted World, Seamless World. 86% positive across 4,974 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Environmental Puzzles, Platforming, Handcrafted World, Seamless World.

Environmental Puzzles75%Platforming80%Handcrafted World65%Seamless World65%
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