Owlboy FAQ

Owlboy questions, answered here. Answers are short; pages go deeper.

How long does Owlboy take to beat?

About 8 hours 24 minutes for the main story, based on HowLongToBeat's 416 playthroughs. Main plus extras is 10h 12m, completionist 13h 22m. The length page has the full breakdown.

Does Owlboy have Chinese?

Yes. Steam lists both Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, with full audio. The 2022 patch improved CJK font rendering, so the text is more readable than at launch. The languages page lists all 13.

Keyboard only?

Yes, since the anniversary update. Turn auto-aim on, use the arrow keys to move, Z to interact, X to shoot, C to spin and Space to roll. The controls page has the full table.

Do old saves still work after the update?

The update installs over the game and uses the same Save Files/Owlboy folder, so saves remain. Back it up before switching to the speedrunner branch; Steam Cloud can sync between builds.

Enabling Speed-runner Mode

Two ways: opt into the speedrunner Steam beta branch from the game's Properties, or change the option in the settings file inside Save Files/Owlboy. The mode keeps selected glitches used by runners. It is optional and does not affect achievements.

Is the anniversary update free?

Yes. It shipped on 2026-11-01 as a free update to the Steam version. There is no paid upgrade and no "complete edition" to buy. The console versions did not receive it.

Is there a sequel?

No. D-Pad Studio's next game is Vikings on Trampolines, a different genre. The Owlboy anniversary stream showed an unreleased beta build with an experimental co-op mode, but that build was never released and is not a sequel.

Is there co-op?

No. Owlboy is single-player. The co-op mode shown during the anniversary stream was part of an unreleased beta build, and it is not in the retail game.

Which platforms is it on?

Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus PS4, Switch and Xbox One. The anniversary update is Steam-only; the platforms page covers the differences.

How many achievements are there?

12: six visible and six hidden. None are difficulty-gated and none are permanently missable. The achievements page lists all 12 with their conditions, and the achievement route puts them in order.

Does auto-aim disable achievements?

No. The four anniversary toggles are presentation and control options; none of them affect achievements or progression. Change them whenever you like.

Is it worth $1.99?

At $1.99, yes for almost anyone who likes short story-driven platformers. At $19.99, it depends on whether eight hours of authored content is worth full price to you. The buying guide gives the longer answer.

If your question is not here, the guides index lists every page, and the contact page is the place to send a correction.

Does Owlboy have difficulty settings?

No. The game has one difficulty and the update did not add a slider. The closest thing is the shop: canteens raise health, the Scope and Fire Drive raise damage. The health upgrades page covers those.

Can I skip cutscenes?

Yes. Hold F on keyboard or the right bumper on a controller to fast-forward, and press F or the pause menu's "Skip Cutscene" option to skip the ones the game allows. The anniversary update also removed several door-transition scenes entirely.

What is the file size?

600 MB of storage, according to the Steam store page. That is the same on all three desktop platforms.

Does it run on Steam Deck?

Yes. The April 2022 patch moved the game to FNA and explicitly targeted Steam Deck compatibility, and the game runs without configuration. The anniversary update's auto-aim makes the Deck's controls more comfortable.

How do I use this FAQ?

Each answer links to the page that covers the topic in detail. If you are starting out, the beginner guide is the better entry point than a list of questions. If you are stuck in a specific area, the walkthrough hub has the route.

What about the co-op mode?

The co-op mode shown during the 2026 anniversary stream was part of an unreleased beta build, not the retail game. D-Pad showed it once and called it a broken work-in-progress. It cannot be enabled in the Steam version.

Does the anniversary update change the story or the map?

No. The update changes controls, presentation, balance and some layouts, but the story, the areas and the boss roster are the same. If you finished the game in 2016, the route will be familiar; the differences are in how it feels to play.

Is there anything the game does not explain?

A few systems are left to the player: the coin rule, the hot spring, the drum sequence and the toggle names. The beginner guide and the accessibility page cover them, and the coins page explains why claiming a trinket does not spend your coins.

_Checked 2026-11-03 against the Steam store page, the 2026-11-01 patch notes and HowLongToBeat._