Synopsis:
Enjoy the serenity of the Amazon rainforest in this cozy, short nature exploration game. As a butterfly
researcher on a five-day camping trip, explore nearby tracks, take photos, meet animal friends, and journal
your discoveries.
Publisher: Runaway Play
Reviewed on: PC (ASUS ROG Deck)
Also available for: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Runaway Play
Director: Emma Johansson
Producer: Yuko Shimada
Lead Programmer: Beric Holt
Research & Narrative Design: Jonas Goodwin
Composer: John Hoge
Curled up in bed, it took about an hour to complete Flutter Away. Short, yes—but it’s an adorable
experience about cataloguing butterflies and befriending a very shy capybara.
Your protagonist is unnamed, but their personality shines through charming, colourful journal entries that
blend sketches with notes on photographed butterflies. True to Runaway Play’s conservation-first ethos, you
won’t trample off-trail or capture wildlife; instead, you respectfully wander a couple of paths near camp,
photographing species and documenting them over five in-game days.
The star is the capybara—skittish at first, then slowly warming up. It’s irresistibly cute, and fans of the
“capybara-core” niche will be grinning. Sound design is excellent: soft leaf rustles, distant birdsong, the
capybara’s little movements. Headphones elevate the ambience.
Flutter Away encourages gentle curiosity—celebrating our world without harming it. It’s cute,
wholesome, and just long enough to feel complete without overstaying its welcome. There isn’t much beyond the
cozy vibes and message, but for a brief, fulfilling rainforest visit, it absolutely delivers.
(Flutter Away code provided for review)
