Introduction

Garden Trills invites players into a whimsical world of floating gardens populated by birds, where flowers do more than just look pretty. Like a gardener who nurtures a seed into a blossoming flower, or a bird gradually builds its nest, Alexandre Perot ‘Yukim’ worked solo on Garden Trills for just over a year. It’s a game that charms with its delightful presentation, creative mechanics, and cozy premise, though a few weeds in its design prevent it from being a garden in full bloom.

Premise

You play as Tomi, a young sparrow who has just moved house with her parents to a neighborhood built on several islands floating in the sky, inhabited solely by birds. While her parents busy themselves unpacking boxes, Tomi has the chance to stretch her wings and explore the cloudy cul-de-sac.

But even birds face the challenges of moving house. Soon, the family discovers that the neighborhood’s three water circuits aren’t working, leaving their new garden bare of flowers. Tomi’s parents task her with finding out what’s wrong with the water circuits and introducing herself to their new neighbors-first impressions matter, after all!

You couldn’t ask for a cuter concept: explore a dream-like environment, help your neighbors solve their water problems, and grow vibrant flowers to fill the world with color.

Gameplay

Garden Trills is a third-person casual adventure game, free of combat or fail states. Tomi’s new home serves as a central hub, from which she ventures into three distinct districts, unlocking them one by one. After a brief tutorial in her family’s garden, it’s time to take flight!

While working to solve the water crisis, Tomi also delivers tasty gifts to her neighbors’ birdhouses and helps a delightful array of characters with odd jobs. From the moment I nudged the left thumbstick and saw Tomi hop forward, I was enchanted-her animation is beautifully detailed and full of life, capturing the essence of a sparrow with remarkable precision. These small touches make Garden Trills feel special, demonstrating how much care has gone into its design.

Tomi’s exploration is supported by a stamina bar, which lets her fly for short bursts, adding just enough limitation to keep gameplay engaging. The balance between free exploration and gameplay constraints works well, ensuring players remain immersed without feeling aimless.

The odd jobs and puzzles Tomi encounters are delightful opportunities to experiment with Garden Trills’ magical flora. Each flower species, from tulips that launch her skyward to lilies that fire her like a cannon, provides a unique way to navigate the environment and solve challenges. These powers are integral to reaching birdhouses scattered across the districts, often requiring clever use of the flowers to carry sweet treats like strawberries to their destination. Helping the neighbourhood birds with these tasks is sometimes needed progresses the game, but also unlocks rewards such as new flower seeds and color options for customizing Tomi’s accessories.

Some birdhouses may be initially inaccessible, marked with warning tape that hints at the need to unlock a specific accessory. This adds a layer of progression and encourages players to interact and help the NPCs along the way. It’s satisfying to see the world transform with vibrant blooms and playful details as you advance, blending gameplay, exploration, and worldbuilding in whimsical harmony.

There are marbles to find and trade with some of the other birds for more customisation options for Tomi, and they did a great job of scratching that collect-athon itch! (You can unlock a radar to help find them all)

The three districts Tomi explores are distinct and inviting. The first area is a rural landscape, full of natural formations and organic charm. The second introduces verticality, with buildings and structures adding layers to traversal. The final area-a Mediterranean-style town-challenges players with more intricate level design.

Although some flowers naturally populate Garden Trills, Tomi can plant her own to progress. With the right seeds, good soil, and water, she can create paths and solve puzzles. Watering flowers often requires assistance, and Tomi can call on other birds to help lift watering cans or aim hoses. These cooperative moments emphasize community and reinforce the game’s wholesome tone.

Accessibility

The game has some solid accessibility options, including the choice to switch off Tomi’s hop |(she’ll glide instead) or increase her stamina. Character tasks are tracked neatly for easy readability, and there is a customisation screen for Tomi.

I did have some issue with the maps of each area, as you can’t zoom in to them and icons can get a bit cluttered, as well as area names getting in the way. There also wasn’t the option to move directly between zones, I would have to return to the home garden to visit another. These are minor issues, but they did stick out as regular annoyances during my playthrough.

Writing

While I found the premise and character writing of Garden Trills endearing, this is where the game shows its wilted edges. The narrative never expands beyond its initial setup, leaving the story feeling static over the course of the game. The characters Tomi meets are a highlight, each distinct and delightful, with charming dialogue that adds personality and texture to her journey. Brief exchanges between characters and their conversations with Tomi inject a welcome dose of light-hearted depth. Unfortunately, this level of care doesn’t extend to the broader experience.

The game features over 100 birdhouses to visit, but the dialogue for these interactions is disappointingly repetitive, cycling through only a handful of conversations. Within the first hour, I found myself skipping through these moments just to see my reward and move on. It’s a missed opportunity-introducing the playful, whimsical storytelling seen in the NPCs’ dialogue could have made these visits feel like meaningful contributions to the world rather than filler. Even something as simple as a humorous disagreement between two neighboring birdhouses or small storylines that build as you progress would have added much-needed vibrancy.

Similarly, the game’s ending feels anticlimactic, especially given its low-stakes, feel-good nature. After resolving the water crisis-which often just involves flipping switches-Tomi returns home to report back to her parents, and the game ends with little fanfare. While I didn’t expect a dramatic conclusion, a more thoughtful wrap-up that reflects on Tomi’s journey or the impact of her efforts would have provided a more satisfying sense of closure.

Visuals and Sound

The music, sound design, and art direction beautifully reinforce the peaceful, feel-good tone of Garden Trills. The game’s warm, painterly aesthetic is awash in a soft palette, with its many flowers bursting vividly against a backdrop of perpetual sunshine and blue skies. The floating gardens bask in bright light, creating a dreamlike environment that’s both relaxing and inviting. One of my favorite details is the way loose petals drift gracefully in the air when Tomi brushes past flowers-a small touch that adds so much charm and life to the world.

The gentle, piano-led soundtrack is equally fitting, its soft melodies evoking the sensation of a breeze gliding through the floating islands. While it’s not something I’d find myself listening to outside the game, it serves its purpose perfectly, providing a calm, soothing backdrop for exploration.

What stood out most to me, however, were the many delightful trills (aha!) and sound effects that accompany nearly every interaction. From Tomi’s light hop to the blooming of a flower, each action is paired with a crisp, satisfying sound that enhances the tactile feel of the game. These little details might seem minor, but they collectively have a big impact, adding an extra layer of polish to the serene experience.

Also, there is a designated “tweet” button, which is always a good thing!

Conclusion

I had a wonderfully chilled-out time playing Garden Trills. After completing the game in just over 10 hours, I can confidently say that casual and exploration game fans will find plenty to enjoy here. While some thorny issues, such as lackluster writing and a few UI hiccups, hold it back, the game’s art direction, sound design, and creative gameplay shine with undeniable passion. Garden Trills stands as a testament to how even a single developer, with dedication and care, can nurture something truly beautiful into bloom.

Garden Trills was reviewed on PC (Steam).

We would like to thank the developer for providing a review code for the game.