The Merlies, a heartwarming adventure celebrating curiosity, care, and the joy of small things, is out now on Steam and Switch!
Meet the Merlies, a curious colony of tiny birds with big personalities and an even bigger desire to explore a post-apocalyptic Solarpunk world!
September 29, 2026 – ARTE and French studio Darjeeling Productions are delighted to announce that The Merlies, a charming and curiosity-driven “wholesomevania” adventure, is now available on Steam and Switch! The Merlies invites players to step into a colourful world filled with playful interactions, gentle exploration, and delightful surprises hiding in everyday places…
In The Merlies, players discover a world just out of sight – a wild, overgrown landscape built from the leftover fragments of human civilization. Electric cables become climbing routes, fallen billboards turn into terrain, and everyday objects take on new purpose – a lamp becomes a cosy house, an ice cube tray a store room. Through it all, the Merlies – tiny, expressive birds – react to their surroundings and to one another, turning exploration into moments of joy and discovery.
The Merlies encourages experimentation and curiosity over high-pressure situations. There are no enemies to defeat or timers to race against – instead, players navigate a wild, obstacle-filled world at their own pace, using each Merlies’ unique ability to climb, jump, and uncover hidden passageways. Along the way, they collect scraps of forgotten human junk and upcycle them into comforts for their growing village – because for the Merlies, the key to happiness is doing a lot, with a little.
With its handcrafted art direction, tactile interactions, and warm, immersive sound design, The Merlies creates a comforting space that invites players to slow down and reconnect with a sense of wonder. Every detail is designed to reward curiosity and spark imagination, making the experience accessible and meaningful for both children and adults.
Developed by Darjeeling Productions, known for expressive and emotionally resonant interactive projects, The Merlies reflects the studio’s passion for playful storytelling and thoughtful world-building. The launch marks a new chapter for the studio, delivering an experience that blends warmth, creativity, and gentle discovery.
For ARTE, The Merlies continues a long-standing commitment to publishing innovative, artistic games that explore new forms of storytelling and interaction.
The Merlies is available now for Steam and Switch – inviting players everywhere to look a little closer, slow down, and discover the magic hidden in small things. Follow ARTE France on BlueSky and TikTok for updates and more details.
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2521160/The_Merlies/
About ARTE:
As a European public service cultural media, ARTE brings people together through creativity, storytelling, and innovation. Its rich catalogue of films, series, documentaries, video games, and podcasts nurtures a shared cultural imagination across Europe. For more than a decade, ARTE has co-produced and published acclaimed independent and auteur-driven video games, including Type:Rider, Vectronom, Bury Me, My Love, To Hell with the Ugly, and 30 Birds and Looking for Fael.
 For more information, visit ARTE Interactive’s official website.
 About Darjeeling Productions:
Darjeeling Productions is a French creative studio working across games and interactive storytelling. Known for thoughtful, emotionally resonant projects, the studio focuses on crafting playful and meaningful experiences that encourage curiosity, empathy, and exploration. The Merlies reflect Darjeeling Productions’ passion for creating gentle worlds designed to be discovered at a relaxed, human pace.
 For more information, visit Darjeeling Productions’ official website.
