FBC: Firebreak Reviews
As the studio's debut multiplayer game, it comes with the expected warts and wonders of a first effort. But it's how Remedy was able to blend the game's unique experiences with the unpredictability of online co-op play that makes FBC: Firebreak the weird one-of-a-kind game it is.
The mysterious worldbuilding of Control and Remedy’s signature presentation still shine through. However, repetitive mission structures, sluggish progression, and a steep early-game barrier make this surreal stage feel less captivating. While the fresh gimmicks and cooperative elements offer clear appeal, the game needs both stronger early engagement and more lasting motivation to truly stand out.
Review in Korean | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak is bursting with personality and fascinating concepts, but collapses under the weight of underwhelming gunplay and shallow progression. Though the game’s setting shines through and the later stages of the game are full of incredible concepts, until major gameplay improvements are made, the game feels more like a concept pitch than a polished product.
FBC: Firebreak offers a technically polished experience but lacks the narrative depth that distinguishes Remedy Studio. The game captures the weirdness of Remedy's world with the studio's signature graphics and style, but its shallow story, repetitive structure, and slow progression make it difficult to return to the game as often as those games are known for.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
The unique co-op approach captures the edgy feel of Control, but still offers only a sloppy experience.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Remedy’s trademark creativity flickers in the margins of FBC: Firebreak but never truly takes center stage. The game’s content is thin, its narrative underdeveloped, and its gameplay loop too derivative to stand out in a crowded genre of cooperative shooters. That being said, there are flashes of fun, but the team needs to put in a lot more work if they want Firebreak to leave a lasting impression down the road.
FBC: Firebreak has a lot of great elements to it, but not enough content to keep it going. The core gunplay is great, and I had a blast playing the wacky 5 jobs with friends in the gorgeous environments of the federal agency, but the lack of random variables in the jobs and linear progression system made it hard to stay interested. Still, I have hope that with future updates, this is going to be a great co-op shooter to enjoy. It's also amazing how well it looks and runs on the Steam Deck, and I think that's saying a lot. It deserves praise for its optimization, and I can happily say its one that shouldn't be any problem playing on the go.
In its current state, "FBC: Firebreak" is only recommended as part of Game Pass or PlayStation Plus - and even then, we doubt that the majority of players will be entertained for more than two hours.
Review in German | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak is a solid idea held back by a premium price and early-access-level polish. At $40 (more on PlayStation), it feels more like a mid-roadmap build than a finished 1.0 release. The core gameplay, story, and production are strong, but missing QoL features, sparse content, and optimization issues drag it down. Remedy may patch things up in time, but right now, Firebreak just isn’t worth the ask.
FBC: Firebreak is Remedy’s quirky dive into co-op extraction shooters, blending the surreal world of Control with chaotic missions best enjoyed with friends. While it lacks polish, online features, and content at launch, it’s an ambitious but currently incomplete experience that can only be better with a full squad.
FBC: Firebreak is a game that lacks a cohesive identity. While the gameplay formula is solid, the repetitive missions, objectives, and grinding for new unlocks are more monotonous than fun. Additionally, the lack of a proper narrative compared to other games from Remedy Entertainment makes it a hard game to justify purchasing whether you're a fan of its previous titles or simply a fan of the multiplayer co-op genre.
FBC Firebreak delivers an experience that is, at best, competent and, at worst, tedious. Given the glut of options in the multiplayer FPS market and the $40 price tag this game carries, it is hard to suggest it to anyone.
FBC: Firebreak proudly stands among the better co-op shooters out there—with slick visuals, wild weapon choices, and deep sandbox action, it hits hard despite some weak AI and a modest amount of launch content.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
If you suffer from insomnia and your over-the-counter meds no longer do the trick, then sure, feel free to drop $39.99 on FBC Firebreak. Because this game will drain your energy and put you to sleep faster than any pill ever could
FBC: Firebreak is an experiment that we feel compelled to promote. Remedy has decided to go against the grain by offering a cooperative title for three players at a time when the market is saturated with productions of this kind, which tend to hide more pitfalls than opportunities. Nevertheless, thanks to its immediate and entertaining gameplay, Sam Lake's team's new effort is convincing, even if a little more content to diversify it would not have gone amiss. As is always the case with games of this genre, only time (and post-launch support) will determine the true success of the venture.
Review in Italian | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak is a successful co-op PvE shooter with fresh ideas, charming chaos and an audiovisual style that clearly stands out from the genre standards. The title really comes into its own when played as a team. Whether during hectic repairs under enemy pressure, tactically coordinated boss battles or curious shower moments.
Review in German | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak is a good option for players looking for a cooperative experience where strategy comes first.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Control was a 9, and Alan Wake 2 was a 10 for me. I love Remedy’s games, normally, FBC Firebreak seems to have lost their usual magic in a search for a wider audience. I get it, but I do not like it, and I think it hurts the title in the long run.
FBC: Firebreak isn’t a revolutionary co-op shooter, but it is a very solid and surprisingly confident first attempt by Remedy to step into a new space. It borrows familiar mechanics and wraps them in the kind of surreal, stylish atmosphere that fans of Control will eat up. The shooting is solid, the content is respectable, and the tension ramps up nicely when things go sideways.
FBC: Firebreak is an excellent online co-op experience made by the creative minds behind Control. It is an approachable game with no FOMO systems that also includes a highly engaging gameplay loop with unique objectives and mechanics.