Fall of Porcupine

This is one of those games that deserve something inbetween a thumbs up or down.
If you liked Night in the Woods, you will most likely enjoy this game for what it is too. The art design is very nice, the music is pleasant but nothing special and the main story is good overall.

But man is the game unpolished, it is full of minor bugs (but nothing game breaking or unplayable), some of the optional stories lead to nowhere. There will most likely not be an update for the bugs and it is too late to do something about those inconsistencies and dead ends in the world.
Just be aware of that when you get into this game

For someone working in healthcare this game is quite relatable and so deep and emotional.
Really adorable story line with moving happenings! Really enjoyed it.
I do say this game is better played with a controller than on PC because some minigames are very confusing and not very clear with how to use the controls.

Fall Of Porcupine: Beautiful, but a bit bruised
TL;DR:
Cozy small-town feels, emotional trauma, and finger-Twister surgery. Loved the vibes, cried at the story, still mad at the ending. Would recommend... on discount.
I really enjoyed this game overall. The story and characters are genuinely heartfelt. I laughed, I cried, I got way too emotionally attached to a nervous pigeon. It's a cozy, emotional ride that isn't afraid to shine a light on the flaws of the healthcare system. The art style? Stunning. Proper atmospheric and full of charm.
The mini games though.... playing with a controller felt like finger twister. One treatment game had my hands in knots. Luckily, the game doesn't punish you for failing them, which is good because i definitely did.
There were days where not much happened, which was fine for the vibe. But the ending? It felt really rushed. The story suddenly went full throttle with no build up and then just.... ended. I still have questions.
There's replay value, with side quests and some different choices, but most choices don't seem to change much. I wish there was a chapter select instead of having to replay the whole thing.
It's a beautiful, mostly relaxing game with some real emotional weight. Worth a play, but maybe wait for a sale.

i've been interested in this game since the demo and was so excited when the full release came out, i ignored the bugs and text errors because the character designs, unique and realistic hospital setting, and gorgeous art style really stuck out to me. the game was fun, the characters are enjoyable, and the art is beautiful. i even enjoyed the minigames, despite absolutely sucking at one of them.
however, the anticlimactic, over-the-top dramatic, and completely unresolved feeling of the ending really ruins this game. it makes it seem like it's going somewhere, and then it just... ends abruptly. too much happens at once between the outbreak, the hospital drama, and the fire just for it to seem like it might reach a climax... and then the credits roll. you're left sitting there wondering "is this really it? what was the point?"
i really truly do like this game and recommend it, especially to fans of small and cute indie games, but the ending left me feeling empty, wishing there was more to it.
but the reason i choose to recommend this game, despite the issues i have with the story and the ending, is because really did enjoy this game, particularly the diversity and uniqueness of every single character, and the way the game balances calm and comforting scenes with stressful hospital scenes in a way that is truly special.

Beautiful art, cute characters. I am iffy on the writing, but it's not necessarily bad, just not my cup of tea. The minigames vary in difficulty, and don't always make clear WHAT you should be doing (confusing for me who came back to continue the game after not playing for several months) - would love a retry button on some of them, though I guess including it might ruin the verisimilitude of medicine practiced by cartoon animals.
A couple glitches: 1. music just sometimes goes out, which is a shame because it's generally pretty nice and soothing. 2. In act 2, I sometimes can't access my cell phone menu AT ALL - the prompt to access it pops up, but i hit 'I' and nothing happens, and I can't move the game forward. Same thing when using a controller instead of keyboard. Sometimes I exit and try again and it works, but it's getting real old and I would like to get past this day.
Wish steam had a 'middle of the road' review option. Overall my impression is more positive than not! Perhaps my opinion will continue to develop if I can get through Act 2 and see where the story goes.

The game and story are decent. The art and animation are charming.
There are still bugs in some mini-games, especially those requiring keyboard inputs. Although it doesnt matter if you fail them.
Traveling between locations in the city and hospital quickly becomes tiresome.
3 achievements require a 2nd playthrough and with no way to skip whole dialogues, replaying soon turns into a chore. I think the game was long enough without forcing players through another run.

Fall of Porcupine is a beautifully crafted narrative-driven adventure that immediately caught my attention with its cozy art style and heartfelt themes. Playing as Finley, a young anthropomorphic pigeon doctor navigating the challenges of a small-town hospital, felt both charming and deeply relatable. The game does a great job of capturing the highs and lows of working in healthcare—the camaraderie with colleagues, the pressure of patient care, and the emotional toll of the job. As a doctor, I found many moments strikingly accurate, from dealing with difficult supervisors to feeling the weight of systemic problems beyond my control.
The early hours of Fall of Porcupine were delightful, filled with warm interactions, light platforming, and simple yet engaging mini-games that simulate medical tasks. The game’s soft color palette and cozy, autumnal atmosphere made exploring the town and hospital feel like stepping into a comforting storybook.
However, as the game progressed, the pacing began to drag. The gameplay loop started to feel repetitive, with dialogue sequences that stretched too long and not enough variation in the tasks. The emotional storytelling remained strong, but the slow progression made it harder to stay invested. While I appreciated the deep themes and the critique of healthcare institutions, the lack of meaningful gameplay evolution made the experience feel like it was running out of steam.
Overall, Fall of Porcupine is a heartfelt, charming game that resonates with anyone in the medical field, but it struggles to maintain momentum. If you enjoy narrative-heavy indie games and don’t mind a slow burn, it’s worth checking out. But if you’re looking for something with more engaging gameplay mechanics, it might lose your interest before the credits roll.