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The Merlies Guide
The Merlies game world
Independent Fan Guide

Merlies.wiki - The Merlies Guide & Wiki

Guides, wiki pages and reference material for The Merlies - the cozy post-apocalyptic bird-squad adventure by Darjeeling, arriving September 29 on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

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6 Birds6 Abilities5 Biomes7 Languages

Official Game Trailer

Watch the official trailer

Popular Guides

Walkthroughs and reference for The Merlies.

Beginner Guide - First Steps & Starter Tips

New to The Merlies? This beginner guide covers what to do first: how the bird squad works, the scrap-to-village loop, the controls (controller and keyboard) and the habits that keep every Merlie safe.

Exploration & Traversal Guide - Routes & Secrets

How exploration works in The Merlies: the five biomes, the traversal verbs (mushroom bounces, cable climbs, pipes), reading the map and finding the passages that open as your squad grows.

Bird Squad Guide - Abilities, Rescues & Growth

Everything about the bird squad in The Merlies: how combined abilities unlock paths, where the lost Merlies are scattered, and how rescuing birds grows both your flock and your map.

Village Building Guide - Scraps & Upcycling

The village loop in The Merlies explained: turning scraps into homes, the official upcycling examples, accommodating and training Merlies, and why comfort is the win condition.

Start Here

What players look up most

Beginner Guide

The core loop, the one fragility rule that matters, and a first-session checklist

Birds

The squad compendium: plumage variants, lost Merlies and the flock system

Biomes

All five biomes from the village to the underground pipes

Abilities

Mushroom bounces, cable climbs, pipes and the squad-combo progression

Scraps

Junk as the only currency: what to collect and the upcycling conversions

Village

Building, decorating and training - the cozy home loop

Popular Questions

Featured Birds & Abilities

The Flock

Biome 1 · role: Squad

Red Merlie

Biome 2 · role: Climbing & carrying

Squad Ability Combos

Biome 2 · Easy

Mushroom Bounce

Biome 2 · Easy

Latest Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

See all FAQ
When does The Merlies release?

September 29, on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. The date was confirmed in the developers' September 8 launch announcement after appearing on the Steam page earlier — wishlist on Steam to get notified the moment it goes live.

What is The Merlies about?

A cozy post-apocalyptic adventure about a community of tiny birds rebuilding after a huge storm scatters them. You explore a colorful 2D world reclaimed by nature with your bird squad, rescue lost Merlies, and turn the scraps of a forgotten human civilization into a village. The developers describe it as a solarpunk game — bright and hopeful rather than dystopian.

Is The Merlies on Nintendo Switch?

Yes — the official launch announcement confirms a simultaneous September 29 release on PC and Nintendo Switch. The Steam version is Windows-only (no macOS or Linux builds are listed).

Is there combat in The Merlies?

No. The official store text is explicit: "No creature or fight will be on your way" — every thorn, rock and tree is an obstacle to overcome instead. It is a "wholesomevania": metroidvania-style exploration and clumsy platforming with the fighting removed, played at your own pace.

Is The Merlies multiplayer or co-op?

No — it is a single-player game. The Steam page lists only Single-player among its categories, and nothing in the official announcements mentions co-op or online play. The multiplayer question is common for family-friendly games, but this one is a solo cozy adventure.

Is there a demo for The Merlies?

There was one, timed to festivals: an exclusive demo launched April 17, 2026 for the Earth Appreciation Day event, was featured at the Galaxies Showcase, and received two updates during the June 2026 Steam Next Fest (an in-game map, upgraded cutscenes, then full keyboard support). The demo is no longer listed on the store page ahead of launch.