A Tale of Paper: Refolded
A Tale of Paper: Refolded
Game
Game2017
AER Memories of Old
Developer Forgotten Key
Aer: Memories of Old (stylized as AER: Memories of Old) is an indie action-adventure open world video game developed by Forgotten Key and published by Daedalic Entertainment. It was released on October 25, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and on August 28, 2019, for Nintendo Switch. The game's story revolves around a girl named Auk who can shapeshift into a bird. Set on floating islands, the… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
214 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
79
LovedLoved
145 positive · 39 negative
95% range 72–84%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 145 | 39 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 11 | 0 | 9 |
| Mastodon * | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Lemmy * | 1 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
3,159 of 3,709 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
80% recommend · 148 yes, 36 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 184 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (6,627 of 7,748 positive).
Players praise the flying mechanic as intuitive and freeing, making exploration a joy. [1][2][3] Many find the game relaxing and atmospheric, with beautiful art and music. [4][5][6] Some reviewers criticize the weak story, short length, and clunky platforming. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [20]
This seems like a demo or proof of concept more than anything else. It needs a way to keep the player on track with their objectives. There is no quest log and nothing is marked on your map when you discover it. I took two weeks off the game, and when I came back, I had no idea where I was or what I was supposed to do next. I guess you can just call it an "exploration" game and put all the features that every other …
- [1]
Aer: Memories of Old is one of those rare games that feels less like a traditional adventure and more like stepping into a quiet, living storybook. It offers a world that’s gentle, dreamlike, and filled with a sense of peaceful exploration that very few games manage to capture so naturally. The game’s biggest strength is the freedom of flight. Transforming into a bird and soaring between floating islands feels …
- [7]
I recommend this game with a hesitant "get it on sale" vibe. If I were to rate this game on a scale of x/10, I'd give it a 6/10 just because of all the great potential wasted. Beautiful art direction, interesting environmental story telling, and amazing flying physics. Yeah... except the art direction is wasted on empty environments with little incentive to explore beyond what's needed to complete the story (and …
- [3]
AER: Memories of Old is a game that doesn’t rush you. It asks you to slow down with it. There’s no combat, no pressure, no rush. It’s about calm, space, and freedom. Flying between floating islands feels simple, quiet, and deeply relaxing. Often, you’ll realize you’re doing nothing at all — just flying and watching. The story is told subtly. No dialogue, no heavy explanations — just hints and memories. You don’t …
- [2]
I first played this game on my Nintendo Switch a few years ago, and I think this is now my fifth or sixth playthrough. This game is amazing. Apart from the beautiful graphics and touching story, it has, in my opinion, the best flying mechanic of any game out there. I’ve never played another game where it felt so good to just fly around. I have so many memories of listening to audiobooks while flying and …
Summarised from 34 of the 213 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
AER Memories of Old sits at 79% positive across 184 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Robert Ramsey of Push Square rated the game 8/10 stars, calling it "simple, elegant and impactful", and comparing it to Journey and Abzû. Jack Yarwood of PC Gamer rated the game 77/100, calling the graphics beautiful and saying that the flying mechanics felt "wonderful", but at the same time commenting on its short length and the fact that the game's interiors were confusing. Todd Rigney of Adventure Gamers rated the game 3/5 stars, calling its world quirky and rich, but criticizing its lack of puzzle diversity that made the gameplay "weak". He stated that, while the game was charming, it was notably flawed.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 214 · most liked first50 FREE Steam Games. No catches, no strings.. I’m giving these away because I want people to enjoy **good PC games**. It’s that simple. Want one? Just send me a message with the game you want, and I’ll send you the Steam code. **Completely free.** Let’s go: --- * ~~**Intravenous**~~ ~~A dark, action-packed RPG set in the underworld.~~ - CLAIMED! * ~~**God’s Trigger**~~ ~~Top-down action where a demon and angel tear through the city.~~ - CLAIMED! * ~~**Silence**~~ ~~A post-apocalyptic…
neutral · AI labelView post →Gamepad didn't work "out of the box", it wasn't selectable in the game options, and I thought it was keyboard and mouse only to my disappointment. Played more than half the game like that and found controls a bit clunky. But turns out it was playable with a gamepad. You have to go in the properties of the game (right click on the game's title in the library), then in the Controller tab, and then select "Enable Steam Input" in the override. The game is so much better with a gamepad. Flying…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This seems like a demo or proof of concept more than anything else. It needs a way to keep the player on track with their objectives. There is no quest log and nothing is marked on your map when you discover it. I took two weeks off the game, and when I came back, I had no idea where I was or what I was supposed to do next. I guess you can just call it an "exploration" game and put all the features that every other game on Earth has onto the user instead. Also, finishing a dungeon 90% and…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aer: Memories of Old is one of those rare games that feels less like a traditional adventure and more like stepping into a quiet, living storybook. It offers a world that’s gentle, dreamlike, and filled with a sense of peaceful exploration that very few games manage to capture so naturally. The game’s biggest strength is the freedom of flight. Transforming into a bird and soaring between floating islands feels wonderfully fluid—effortless, even. The controls are smooth, the sense of scale is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I unfortunately cannot rate this game positively because I immediately fell through the floor and cannot even play the game. I did try uninstalling and reinstalling, and it seemed to work for a moment. Then just when I thought wowzers, I can finally play here I go, I cannot wait to be a bird lady. I step onto another floor that was working before and sink through it and hit the ground stuck once more. Just my opinion, these sorts of game-breaking issues should not be present in a paid product.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pros: Excellent flight system, felt natural, cool low-poly world exploration. Cons: Felt like a "go here do this, now go here do this, now go here do this" game. Difficult to get immersed in the story of the world; felt slapped together with filler. Ending was...flat. Puzzles were not particularly interesting or challenging, but (pro) did make great use of the environment/set pieces.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Experienced on the Meta Quest 3 Here is video of my 3D in VR gameplay (SBS 3D / VR 180 half-SBS): https://youtu.be/ijTXPb-PC2s Yes, you can play AER Memories of Old in 3D in VR using the Geo-11 3D driver and with the game specific fix found on helixmod (look for it, from 12/25). AER Memories of Old still looks absolutely stunning in 2026. Proves that even with a low polygon art-style, a game can look beautiful as long as you have talented artists on the development team. Game looks perfect…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gameplay is expression of movement, but then forces you into these long boring dungeons
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I recommend this game with a hesitant "get it on sale" vibe. If I were to rate this game on a scale of x/10, I'd give it a 6/10 just because of all the great potential wasted. Beautiful art direction, interesting environmental story telling, and amazing flying physics. Yeah... except the art direction is wasted on empty environments with little incentive to explore beyond what's needed to complete the story (and achievements), the main story (if you can call it that) is extremely short with a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AER has a brilliant flying mechanic. First time the game asked me to spread the wings, I giggled with joy because of how good it felt. It is a real shame that it forces you to walk while solving unchallenging puzzles and platforming sections for blasted 80% of the game. Seriously, I once spent 30 minutes of my life putting down bridges so that A CHARACTER WHICH CAN FLY could walk over the cavern. This frustrates me so much, I honestly cannot recommend it even for a few dollars. Also,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Quite a few really good deals here! Some thoughts/recommendations: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. This is a very good price for the game, so much so I'm tempted to buy it again after losing my PS4 copy. I haven't played it on the Switch but I've heard the performance is fine, with a little slowdown during combat sections. The game is 70% visual novel with light adventure game puzzle solving, 30% tactical combat. I loved both parts, and think the story is great overall. Immortals Fenyx Rising. For…
neutral · AI labelView post →AER is a peaceful exploration game that trades difficulty for atmosphere. Flying freely through its world feels natural and calming, and the minimal guidance encourages curiosity over mastery. The story unfolds quietly, letting the sense of discovery and solitude carry the experience.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game was beautiful and very well designed. Each area had unique features and was fun to explore. The first time you press the transform button and fly through the sky feels magical. I also loved the lantern mechanic, where it reveals secrets as you pass through different areas. One aspect of the game that felt lacking was the story. It didn’t really flow very well, and I often found myself trying to remember different pieces of it. I think the game would have benefited from a journal or…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Beautiful design, beautiful nature and everything, the game looks stunning but thats it... all you can do in this game is just fly and fly and fly... you dont even know where to go, you can read small parts of story with no clue what they mean or what theyre about and its very boring.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There's many games with a minimal style and flying. This game just isn't unique enough to capture the mind like it's trying to.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I first played this game on my Nintendo Switch a few years ago, and I think this is now my fifth or sixth playthrough. This game is amazing. Apart from the beautiful graphics and touching story, it has, in my opinion, the best flying mechanic of any game out there. I’ve never played another game where it felt so good to just fly around. I have so many memories of listening to audiobooks while flying and puzzling—It’s truly a part of my childhood. Thank you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of my favorite things to come from AER Memories of Old (which I wrote most of the story for) is a thread on the Steam forums that is called "So anyone else disappointed by that ending?" It has over 60 posts, some essay long, discussing a story I wrote 🥹
positive · AI labelView post →In praise of AER Memories of Old. Ahead of the presumptive sales that Steam, Epic, GOG, and other vendors will offer this holiday season, I want to sing the praises of a six-year-old cozy game that is worth your time: AER Memories of Old. This game just has "chill" all over it. The visuals are basic but beautiful, I really like the artistic choices. The world of floating islands in the sky is interesting and makes you want to explore it. And [as one reviewer on…
positive · AI labelView post →AER Memories of Old sure is a game that wants to be up there with Journey, ABZU, The Pathless, Sword of the Sea which are all by Giant Squid, and even RiME by Tequila Works. It really does want to be up there with those fantastic titles but it just does not have the quality in the story telling nor the gameplay to even reach the bottom of the list. This review will be a bit different layout wise from all of my previous. The good: visually it’s fine, it’s trying very VERY hard to mimic all…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Good art direction. Good music. Flying is amazing. Story is not bad. Progression is not great. 6.75/10. Get it on sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AER: Memories of Old is a chill adventure-exploration game that reminded me of OMNO, with a bit of a Journey vibe as well. You’ll spend a good amount of time navigating temples and caverns, but outside of that, you’re free to fly through the clouds and explore the floating islands at your own pace. I also thought the soundtrack was pretty serene, especially at the end of each temple. It was actually quite nice. What I didn’t expect though, were the loading times. They’re not exactly long, but…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fav stuff that reveals my vibe Movie: Super Mario Bros. (1993) Live action show: Joe Pera Talks to You Animated show: Summer Camp Island Anime show: Tamayura Game: AER Memories of Old Book: Korean Short Stories: A Collection from North Korea by Hui Gun Pyon Song: Theater Girl by Rob Scallon
neutral · AI labelView post →Almost ten years ago, we worked on the enchanting AER Memories of Old. It's a game that's very close to my heart and I still find myself booting it up regularly just to dive into its cozy atmosphere. Robin's new project is in the work, and we'll keep a close eye on it. 😍
positive · AI labelView post →Been feeling a bit of wanderlust lately when AER: Memories of Old fluttered in on the breeze. It's a tranquil exploration title that implores you to meander, soaking in the beautiful world, mythos and soundtrack it's crafted. The flight mechanic in particular was so lovely, I didn't ever want to leave the sky. Certainly a charming and gentle title that's the perfect calming chill pill that cures the nomadic instincts for a little bit. :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AER: Memories of Old is a game that doesn’t rush you. It asks you to slow down with it. There’s no combat, no pressure, no rush. It’s about calm, space, and freedom. Flying between floating islands feels simple, quiet, and deeply relaxing. Often, you’ll realize you’re doing nothing at all — just flying and watching. The story is told subtly. No dialogue, no heavy explanations — just hints and memories. You don’t need to understand it, you need to feel it. That’s what makes the experience…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Relaxing, atmospheric walking or rather flying sim, with a serene melancholic mysterious tone that has not much to offer in terms of gameplay or anything else. Great soundtrack though, and a little sad the studio never amounted to anything afterwards leaving behind this niche game. Almost fits the the tone of the game itself.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Over 100 amazing clips from the past 5 years! Don't worry, I'm paring it down for stream tomorrow otherwise it would be 47+ minutes 😅 Here's what I'm thinking: - Coffee talk - Game break with stats - Clip review - AER: Memories of Old (with a flight stick!) - Stardew Valley See you tomorrow! 🐸❤️🍉
neutral · AI labelView post →The game is like someone got really high and watched someone else play Zelda, then dropped a hit of acid and forgot the rest of the game. This game is bad, and is a waste of your time. I tried to refund it even though I got it for free, and if I was rich, I would pay you to not play the game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AER: Memories of Old Finally got around to playing this from my backlog. It’s a really chill and beautiful experience. Flying around feels amazing, and the world has a calm, dreamlike vibe that’s easy to get lost in. That said, I didn’t enjoy the platforming parts as much. The movement can feel a bit stiff, and I found myself getting stuck in places that kind of pulled me out of the experience. Still, it’s worth checking out if you’re into short, atmospheric exploration games. Great skies,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I never realised being a bird would be so ...boring. There is nothing to really do in the world, as pretty as it is. The in-game directions are too sparse, so I have no idea where I'm going or why. But most of all, I have no interest in finding out.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AER presents itself as a large open world that is just about as empty as it comes, unfortunately. It's a visually pretty game lacking any substance. While being able to fly anywhere feels freeing and the game seems to have a lot on the surface, the presentation only goes so far when you land on any floating island and there's just... nothing. At most you can find bits of lore scattered about, but the main world actually has very little going on. I think my main problem lies within how the game…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →just finished AER: Memories of Old off-stream. Banger game, really loved the environments, the story, and how the movement worked. And as a bonus it’s a really pretty game in a cool style. Didn’t expect King’s Pass to appear, lmao. Thanks to @thor1236.bsky.social for recommending it to me 💜
positive · AI labelView post →SUMMARY: One neat gameplay idea, while everything else is either confusing or mediocre Pros: + Flying around is actually pretty fun for like a few minutes + The art is very unique, even if you don't like the style Cons: - Starts as a walking simulator - Intro is a text dump - Vague objectives / directions when things open up - Confusing story - Physics both on the ground and when flying are glitchy - Cannot rebind or check controls - Long loading screens - Clunky platforming segments make up…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the worst games I ever played on steam. It has a puzzle tag, but what you actually do is to find the ways in the whole game, from caves, dungeons to achievements. In the world, you have to fly with crappy control and land on islands precisely to find locations of key items or objects for hidden achievements; in the caves or dungeons, there are always platform jumpings that screw you over with poor collision designs. The 'puzzles' in dungeons are another disasterpieces, when you unlock…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If I had to sum up this game in a few words I'd say: Adventure of Link meets lithoid lover's mythology world. The part where the game lets you wander the world to figure things out on your own with very little instructions is both the best and worst part of the game. Fun? Yes. Annoying? Possibly... Confusing? Absolutely! Let's start with the negatives: There are many small moments where you either missed a small detail that was very easy to overlook or forgot to talk to one of the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm a bit mixed if I want to recommend this or not. It's a decently nice game even if it's a short experience. It's nice to be able to fly freely, however the game could have used more time in the oven. It lacks the emotional aspect that just makes the ending feel very flat and unsatisfying.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →40. Aer: Memories of Old Nice little cozy game
positive · AI labelView post →open world voxel fun for £1 AER: is a chilled voxel style adventure that adds afew puzzle solving elements along your journey. The bird's flight controls don't take long to get use to. Using a guide, it's a done in one playthrough. Pick it up on 90% off sale. 6/10 Average completion time: 4 hours Number of achievements: 20 Difficulty: casual Replay-ability: done in one Online playerbase: None applicable
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of those 'it's about the journey not the destination or the end goal' types. Flight mechanic might need getting used to but I simply enjoy exploring and flying thru areas and chill. The game has low-poly graphics but still incites a sense of wonder and exploration. I also love games with WHOLE SKIPPABLE AREAS that does not necessarily add to the main progression, but is just there because devs trust players that they will discover them. The game is a cut short of 2 hours, but I clocked in…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You can shapeshift into a bird. It’s fun, calm, and relaxing to soar through the clouds and explore the sky with your wings.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wind carries the past Stone islands drift through soft skies Flight remembers you
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gameplay [7/10] Graphics [9/10] Music [9/10] Replay Potential [3/10] "It" Factor [8/10] Total Score [7.2/10] Listen, if you’re looking for high-octane action, turn around. AER is a high-budget walking simulator where the ‘walking’ is occasionally interrupted by ‘being a bird.’ Seriously, the core mechanic is transforming into a pigeon. I clocked 3.6 hours, which is enough time to finish the main quest, grab a coffee, and wonder why the ancient civilization decided to protect world-ending…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Here is list of some games that I enjoyed playing with my wife: One of my favorite recent games were: Ale and Tale Tavern and RV there yet. Here is list of other game I have played (+ or - if I recommend it). These were all I found in my Steam Library. Single player games that can be played "together" - Witness (++) - Last day of June (+) - AER Memories of Old (+-) Farming sims: - Stardew Valley (+++) - Ale and Tale Tavern (++) - Roots of Pacha (+) - Sun Haven (+) - Travellers Rest (+-)…
neutral · AI labelView post →The concept of this game is pretty cool, but in the end there just isn't that much to it. Like, there's lots to explore, but not all that much to find or do. Half of the gameplay is flying around these floating islands, but most of them are pretty samey and the flying mechanics are overly simplistic, without any room or reason for finesse (there's no way to slow down, so you land by flying into terrain and trusting that the game doesn't have fall damage). The other half is interiors (caves…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Celestial and Melancholic Journey Flying transformed into a bird is an absolute freedom. This game is an interactive meditation; a serene journey through the ruins of forgotten gods. Its pastel world and soundtrack wrap you in a bubble of peace. The story is simple yet touching, perfect for an afternoon of escapism. A short gem for calm souls.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An incredibly boring game with no voice acting filled with aimless flying, no combat and text logs. Why this has good reviews is beyond me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You really are being very silly about this. You think I'm doing this for money? You understand NOTHING! According to the legend, the same technology that kept Laputa airborne also made it a major power that once dominated the entire planet! If such a horrible thing is still floating up there, you can understand what a threat it is to the peace of the world Title: Aer Memories of Old Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment Released: 2017 Amount of time played thus far: 2 hours Estimated time to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A lovely little adventure I found the game quite charming. Its art style and overall mechanics fit nicely together and weren't clunky at all, IMO. The puzzles were rather easy but it was engaging. The music and atmosphere in general were relaxing, no unnecessary busy work or collectibles. Just a journey through an interesting world. Apparently one achievement can be tricky, but it all worked out the first time in my case. Look it up if you're a completionist. Performance was a little…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm surprised this game is as highly reviewed as it is. The controls are jank, performance is terrible (I have very high end specs as of this review, 8 years after release, and I had below 5 frames during **cutscenes**), story is weak... I'm just glad it's over and didn't eat more time than it did. Don't buy this game, even on sale. It's not worth installing.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really love AER: Memories Of Old its a very short game but I had a lot of fun playing and also maybe cried a little #girlscrytoo
positive · AI labelView post →Re-intro with so many new people on here. I'm Robin, and I (together with a team of course) made the game AER Memories of Old, and now running a new game studio called Bloom & Gloom Games. I also have two cats, practice aikido, bake bread, read quite a lot and play Infinity once every year or so 😅
neutral · AI labelView post →my brain is broken because when I read "aer" I thought of the game AER Memories of Old 😔. but also dat back tho 👁️
neutral · AI labelView post →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. Grab AER Memories of Old at 90% off on GamersGate: https://savespawn.com/d/3F9pqGZ #AERMemoriesOfOld #PCGaming #GameDeals #IndieGames
neutral · AI labelView post →It is a pretty relaxing thing to play while just sitting on the couch. The art style is beautiful, especially if you've played similar indie games, and exploring the world is easily the highlight. A decent pick if you're looking for a casual exploration game to unwind with!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A beautiful meditative platformer with a lot of flying. FANTASTIC music, simply FANTASTIC. No voice acting, but it is not really needed. No health, no damage, no enemies, i think this game is very well suited as introduction for into the genre as all the "puzzles" are rather simple and the main challenge is to find the locations mentioned in the achievements. the only downside is the lack of journal so you have to remember where to go and what to do,but the game is relatively short so it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bad game design, unclear what to do, you get lost easily or stuck. Flying and landing is frustrating, I hated it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun game! Straightforward, relaxing, very cute, very easy to pick up. A nice way to relax for an evening or two.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →got this in a lot of 20 random games dont like it
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AER is one of the most peaceful games I've played. It isn't very long but it is pretty, fun and the flying feels really nice. I have also listened to the soundtrack a lot since completing the game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game is pretty nice, you can buy it on sale for a good price i think the flying system and exploring was the best part of the game for me. some puzzles were kinda ass and certain areas didn't feel very interesting or were a slog to go through. you won't be playing for more than 5 hours to finish everything (with the help of a guide for achievements), so i don't think this game is worth 15€ i wish this game was a bit bigger in scope with more areas and mechanics, but it's whatever i guess
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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