FBC: Firebreak Reviews
FBC: Firebreak takes players back to the universe of Control, but without many of the traits which made that game so special. The mechanics from this cooperative first-person shooter are functional, but the lack of variety in gameplay coupled with a slow progression system undermine the game, making it a very repetitive experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
FBC has deemed you worthy of cleaning the Oldest House and as a good corporate employee, you will obey. Go solo or take up to two of your friends, put on the Crisis Kit, choose the desired job site and get to the cleaning, Firebreaker! And most important of all, never forget to take a quick shower with your fellow cleaners, as the everpresent paranatural and Hiss lurk all aroound you.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Being set in the world of control and as a handyman is enough to sell it on its own, although some polish and content is needed.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
An incredibly fun and engaging Horde Shooter, it isn't perfect, but it's an absolute blast to play!
FBC: Firebreak has some potential and its Control-style oddness works well, but the rest doesn't particularly stand out, and the limited in-game content doesn't help.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While we greatly appreciate that it doesn't fall into the microtransaction and monetization trap of other games-as-a-service, FBC Firebreak doesn't offer anything new or interesting. It doesn't make good use of Control's lore or more bizarre elements, and while it can occasionally offer fun and exciting moments, it's nothing special.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak looks good and has some satisfying mechanics, but the lack of a real story and the presence of a real grind will make you think twice about coming back.
The missions are fun but not overly complex, and do rely on teamwork to accomplish the tasks and make it back to the elevator in one piece. Some may long for more polish and complexity but the game provides escapist entertainment and as such it is easier to overlook the flaws and simply enjoy the action.
FBC: Firebreak is a short and repetitive co-op FPS set in the Control universe with an acceptable gunplay.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak is a shallow, repetitive co-op shooter that fails to capture the magic of Remedy’s prior work. While the concept of fighting supernatural threats in a sentient building sounds exciting on paper, the game’s execution is lackluster across the board. For longtime fans of Control or Alan Wake, this $40 multiplayer offshoot will feel more like a low-effort add-on than a worthy new chapter.
FBC Firebreak is not for everyone. It's not for those looking for a competitive shooter. It's not for those who want a new Remedy narrative epic. It's not even for those who want deep, layered co-op. It is a light game, to be consumed calmly or in one go, without pressure. It is a product that wants to intrigue new users, not hold veterans back for dozens of hours. With this in mind, the arrival on Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus is a sensible move. It allows many to try it without buying it outright. Those who like it could then delve into Control, Alan Wake or other titles from the Finnish company. FBC Firebreak is a parallel project. It has a definite structure, a clear idea, solid execution. But it also has obvious limitations: little content, little variety, a longevity that does not go beyond ten hours. It is a cooperative shooter that stands out for its simplicity, clarity and the absence of any commercial superstructure. Remedy has chosen to take a different step, perhaps a more modest one, but one that is consistent with its own identity. It is not a revolutionary experiment, but it is a successful one. And in a multiplayer landscape where everything wants to go on forever, perhaps a game that only wants to be completed is not such a bad idea.
Review in Italian | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak enters a crowded co-op shooter market as a budget-friendly option. While nothing is inherently "bad" about it, the game struggles to differentiate itself. Its connections to Control and the broader Remedy Connected Universe feel underdeveloped. Props to Remedy for avoiding the Games as a Service model and for their continued willingness to experiment. However, FBC: Firebreak feels like a step too far from the studio's core strengths.
FBC: Firebreak brings the action back into the Control universe with a different perspective. Still, all the crazy amount of paranormal things you’d expect, though, and sometimes more. Is it worth your time to check out? I’d definitely say yes if you love the lore and setting from Control and enjoy some co-op nonsense. Just be aware that it’s fairly straight into the fire and may be rough to get going. I recommend bringing along some friends. It could do for some minor improvements such as more accurate matchmaking and a robust player stats area. However, Remedy Entertainment has already put out a patch addressing some of the major gameplay issues brought forth by the community. FBC: Firebreak is definitely worthy of the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
FBC: Firebreak never takes itself too seriously and plays on the themes of being a cog in a corporate machine. Your manager is a voice over a loudspeaker, giving you pearls of wisdom but never actually helping. You are severely understaffed and never have the right tools for the job, and with friends, FBC: Firebreak is incredible fun.
With an endless well of weird ideas to draw from, the Jobs on offer just can’t sustain my interest, even with multiple difficulty options and some interesting final encounters. It looks good and plays very well, but right now it’s much too normal for its universe.
I wanted to love FBC: Firebreak, but I’d settle to even just like it. The lack of dynamicism gives me no want to replay any of the jobs because you’ve seen and done it all after just the first time you’ve completed it. While this isn’t an Early Access game, the emaciated amount of content makes it feel like one. This is a big misfire from Remedy. FBC: Firebreak is stands out in the space only because of its genesis, and that’s just not enough when everything else here is so boring and underwhelming.
FBC: Firebreak is an honest attempt by Remedy to bring something new to its portfolio, exploring an already established IP with a fresh approach. However, I feel the game falls short by being so simple and shallow that, after just a few sessions, the desire to re-enter those crisis scenarios fades due to the mechanical and visual repetition of the entire universe. Still, it’s gratifying to see a major studio taking a chance on new ideas that step outside its comfort zone — even if they don’t always work
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
FBC: Firebreak is a game that I really want to root for, in part because I’m a big fan of developer Remedy as a whole, and also because I think there’s something cool here that just needs a bit more polish.
FBC: Firebreak is a tedious and downright boring co-op shooter that starts sluggish and uninteresting. The progression here feels like a grind, an issue made worse by the lack of engaging moments. The objectives in each mission feel like a chore, down there with some of the worst checklist content in video games. The best parts of FBC: Firebreak take time to reach, something most people, myself included, won’t want to put in the effort to see.
As someone who is not entrenched in one of the many live-service shooter games on the market right now, FBC: Firebreak felt like the multiplayer experience built for me. It has all the weird quirkiness that Remedy has been known for, with clever character classes that synergize well and the kinds of missions you would never see anywhere else. But somehow, when I jump into the game, it doesn’t feel right. The Oldest House is swarming with enemies, but somehow still feels somewhat empty. The missions feel repetitive and even tedious at times. Hopefully, Remedy can learn from this and turn this game into something great, or use the feedback for the next attempt at multiplayer.