Angry Birds Space

Angry Birds Space was a 2012 science fiction physics-based puzzle video game developed and published by Rovio Entertainment. The fifth installment in the Angry Birds video game series, it is the first in the series to take place in outer space, and had multiple partnerships with NASA.

Angry Birds Space
App icon
Developer(s)	Rovio Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Rovio Entertainment
Series	Angry Birds
Engine	Box2D
Platform(s)	iOS, Android, BlackBerry 10, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, BlackBerry Tablet OS, Mac OS X
Release	March 22, 2012
Genre(s)	Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single-player

The game was released worldwide across multiple mobile devices on March 22, 2012, and was discontinued in 2019.

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay of Angry Birds

The splash screen used in Angry Birds Space

Unlike the previous Angry Birds games, levels are no longer flat, instead comprising several different planets, each of which having its own gravitational field that affects the trajectory of the birds upon launch.^[1] Some pigs are in space bubbles, and when the birds break them, they will freeze and smash unless they get into a gravity field. Like in Angry Birds Rio, Angry Birds Space features boss fights.^{[citation needed]}

Development and release

In February 2012, Rovio announced a new game in the Angry Birds series titled Angry Birds Space.^[2] Angry Birds Space launched on March 22, 2012,^[3] and features elements from the preceding Angry Birds games as well as new gameplay mechanics.^[3] The game initially contained 60 levels with additional levels available as free updates or with in-app purchases.^[4] For the launch of the game, Rovio partnered with wireless carrier T-Mobile to erect a 300-foot-tall (91 m) contraption, with a 35-foot-tall (11 m) red bird resting in it at the Seattle Space Needle to make it look like a slingshot.^[5]

Donald Pettit demonstrates microgravity using characters from 'Angry Birds.'

On March 8, 2012, new footage of Angry Birds Space, presented by NASA astronaut Donald Pettit on board the International Space Station, was released. The video shows that the game's stage is no longer flat, instead comprising several different planetoids, each of which has its own gravitational field that affects the trajectory of the birds after launch.^[6] NASA states that such collaboration with Rovio Mobile may share the excitement of space with the Angry Birds community, educate users on NASA's programs, and create interactive educational experiences for the public.^[7]

Rovio also partnered with Samsung with the Samsung Galaxy Note for the game's release. The release included free Danger Zone levels and exclusive level for the Galaxy Note until June 21, 2012 for Samsung Galaxy users only when downloaded from the Google Play Store or Samsung Apps (now Samsung Galaxy Store).^[8]

The game features variations of the existing bird character and one new character that each carry their own unique abilities.^[9] As of June 1, 2012, Angry Birds Space has been downloaded a total of 100 million times since launching on iOS, Android, PC, and Mac.^[10]

Discontinuation

The game was removed from both the App Store and Google Play in 2019 along with many other Angry Birds titles released before Angry Birds Transformers, besides Angry Birds Friends. The levels were remade as part of Angry Birds Reloaded in 2023.^[11]

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	iOS: 83/100[12]

Review score

Publication	Score
TouchArcade	iOS: [13]

Reception

The game has received generally favorable reviews with a Metacritic score of 83/100 based on 30 reviews.^[12] Justin Davis, writing for IGN, gave the game a score of 8.5/10, calling the pricing and physics disappointing but concluding that "neither issue detracts from the game's overall quality or fun factor."^[14] Harry Slater of Pocket Gamer thought the game was "as much fun as its predecessor" adding that it had "enough new concepts to keep even the hardiest fans entertained".^[15]

The game was downloaded 50 million times in 35 days. According to Rovio, this made the game the fastest-growing mobile game ever.^[16]