After a decade of absence, the addictive mobile game Flappy Bird is officially making its return to Android users, causing a wave of nostalgia and excitement. The new version is available for free via the Epic Games Store, marking the revival of a title that was a phenomenon in the history of mobile gaming.
Flappy Bird was created in 2013 by independent developer Dong Nguyen from Vietnam. Without much promotion, the simple but challenging gameplay experience based on side-scrolling mechanics and Super Mario-inspired graphics managed to climb to the top of the Google Play and App Stores, reaching over 50 million downloads.
However, success came at a price. Nguyen pulled the game just a year later, in February 2014, citing personal pressure and stating that the game was “ruining his life,” despite reportedly earning up to $50,000 a day from ads.
Flappy Bird’s removal from app stores sparked a flurry of speculation, with used iPhones with the game pre-installed selling for thousands of dollars on eBay. Dozens of clones emerged, and a Fire TV version was later released.
The case took a new turn in 2024, when Nguyen lost the commercial rights to the title to Gametech Holdings, which unofficially rebooted the game under the name The Flappy Bird Foundation. This new version was heavily criticized, mainly because it incorporated cryptocurrency mechanisms, which alienated the public and was considered by many to be contrary to the philosophy of the original creator.
Now, Flappy Bird has officially returned in 2025, this time with completely new content but without involvement with blockchain or tokens. According to the official website and the Epic Games Store, the Android version includes new characters, worlds and challenges, while remaining faithful to the original gameplay.
Players can choose between the classic mode, reminiscent of the 2010s, or the new Quest mode, which incorporates progressive challenges and environments. The iOS version is still in development, with no release date given.
