Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
In Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, players control two brothers searching for a cure for their father. The unusual control of both characters at once is the heart of the puzzles and the story.
- Developer
- Black Wing Foundation, Fractured Byte, Starbreeze Studios, Turn Me Up
- Publisher
- 505 Games
- Genre
- Adventure, Indie, Rätsel
- Game modes
- 2 Spieler Lokal, Singleplayer
- Game series
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
- Also known as
- Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons
- Steam user reviews
- 94 % positive · 41,286 reviews
- At Steam
- View store page
On this page 16 sections
What is Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons?
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a fairy-tale adventure about Naia and Naiee, who want to find the Water of Life for their gravely ill father. Their journey takes them through villages, mountains and dangerous areas full of unusual beings. The game tells many key moments through movement, music and gestures rather than long dialogue.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Release
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons first came out on Aug 7, 2013 for Xbox 360. The PC version followed on Sep 3, 2013. Further versions were released for PlayStation, Xbox One, mobile devices and Nintendo Switch. The Switch edition came out on May 28, 2019. The 2024 remake, technically newly developed, is a separate game.
Updated 25.10.2026
Platforms
The original Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons was released for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android. The PC version is available on Steam. The Switch version has an additional mode for two people on the same console. The remake versions for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are not part of the original.
Updated 25.10.2026
Gameplay
In the original single-player mode, you steer both brothers at the same time. One analog stick is assigned to Naia, the other to Naiee. Their different abilities help when operating mechanisms, overcoming obstacles and facing enemies. The controls make cooperation the core of every puzzle and tie it to the story.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Trailer
DLCs and expansions
The adventure tells a complete story. For Nintendo Switch, concept art and director commentary supplement the game. The remake released in 2024 was published separately and should not be confused with an expansion of the original. Its soundtrack is also not part of the original game.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
System requirements
The original Steam listing calls for a dual-core processor at 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, a GeForce 8600 or Radeon HD 2600, and 2 GB storage. A gamepad is needed because both brothers are controlled at the same time via two analog sticks. The historical minimum lists Windows XP SP3. However, the current Steam client requires a newer Windows version.
The details apply to PC.
Minimum
- Processor
- Dual-core with 2.4 GHz
- RAM
- 2 GB
- Graphics
- GeForce 8600 or Radeon HD 2600
- Storage
- 2 GB
- Steuerung
- Gamepad required
Editorial details
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
The search for the Water of Life
The brothers' sick father needs a cure, which they can only find far from home. On the way, Naia and Naiee encounter foreign cultures and dangerous creatures. Both must act in situations where one alone would not get anywhere. The adventure relies on an emotional story without spelling out every detail.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Puzzles and exploration
Many puzzles require both characters to take on different tasks at the right time. One holds a mechanism open while the other clears a path. In other places the brothers must carry loads together or get around obstacles. The camera shows the environment from the third-person perspective and accompanies the journey through varied landscapes.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Single-player and local co-op
The original PC version was designed for one person controlling both brothers at the same time. On Nintendo Switch, the adventure can alternatively be experienced in local two-player mode: each player takes over one of the brothers. Each player needs a compatible controller. The 2024 remake also offers local co-op, but it is a different product.
Updated 25.10.2026
Switch version highlights
The Switch version was released on May 28, 2019. It adds local two-player mode, a concept art gallery and a behind-the-scenes look with director commentary. The Nintendo Switch re-release is based on the 2013 adventure, not the later remake.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Original from 2013 or 2024 remake?
The original was made by Starbreeze Studios and released in 2013. For the remake, released on Feb 28, 2024, Avantgarden redesigned characters and environments. The new version has newly recorded orchestral music and supports local co-op. PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are the native platforms of this later version.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Languages and presentation
The PC version has German on-screen text. Steam also lists English, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and Simplified Chinese. The characters mostly communicate in a fictional language and through gestures. Music and visual storytelling carry a large part of the narrative.
Updated 25.10.2026
Sources
Similar games
More from Starbreeze Studios
Game series
Starbreeze Studios developed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons based on an idea by director Josef Fares. 505 Games published the adventure. The central idea was to guide two characters like a team that belongs together, even though only one person plays. In 2024, Avantgarden revisited this story for a standalone remake.
More from Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Updated 25.10.2026
