The Flame in the Flood Reviews

The Flame in the Flood is ranked in the 63rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
games(TM)
games™ Team
Top Critic
7 / 10
Apr 10, 2016

Big on heart, but light on mechanics

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7.5 / 10.0
Apr 4, 2016

As I rafted lazily down the river, passing churches and camp grounds, I found a moment or two to reflect on my time with The Flame in the Flood. I wonder "How much time have I spent with in-game menus?," "I wonder how far I can make it before my resources run dry?," and "How in the world can anyone kill a bear?" The game had lost its challenge an hour or so ago, but I remembered my first 10 or so hours fondly as constantly challenging and enjoyably tense. And while I don't see myself playing the game for too much longer, the The Flame in the Flood is a solid recommendation for anyone looking to diversify their catalog with a short, challenging, and artistically crafted indie title.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 16, 2016

If you are new to this sort of thing, it's a good introduction but be prepared for a tough experience.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2016

The Flame in the Flood gives us familiar territory. The world has gone back. There's jangly southern-style music with heartfelt vocals. There's crafting. But there's real wonder in those moments when you're just trying to get another mile down the river so that you can live a few more days. There's something special about staying afloat in all of that ruin. The Flame in the Flood is a beacon, something golden, in a worn-down world.

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Mar 14, 2016

The Flame in the Flood is a challenging and rewarding survival game. It urges you to think and make use of your supplies in a smart manner. Fans of the survival genre will find a satisfying experience with this unique indie release. The flame symbolizes your will and desire to stay alive, but the struggle – symbolized by the flood, is doing everything it can to make you quit. Will you keep your flame burning? Or will the flood put you out?

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70 / 100
Mar 9, 2016

Quote not yet available

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9 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2016

The Flame in the Flood delivers a brilliant twist on the survival genre. The inability to linger in one place makes the game feel like a proper adventure with some additional survival trappings. The randomization gives it a roguelike feel, and the streamlining of elements makes it feel fair even when almost everything is working against you. Coupled with a beautiful presentation throughout, it's both a high-water mark in the genre and a title that's worth trying out. Unless you absolutely hate the survival game genre, be sure to check out The Flame in the Flood.

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9 / 10
Mar 5, 2016

The Flame in the Flood has learned a lot from the survival games that came before it, but The Molasses Flood have added a unique charm that you won't find anywhere else. The character and environment design is superbly animated, and I can't stress enough how fantastic the soundtrack is. The entire experience had a wonderful Roald Dahl/Aesop's Fables feel to it, which created one of the most unique atmospheres I've seen in a survival game. If dark and depressing survival games have left you out in the rain, you'll find shelter and warmth here.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 4, 2016

The Flame in the Flood is a challenging game, but the kind that will likely have you trying again, rather than throwing things across the room.

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Mar 2, 2016

While there are some technical difficulties that need to be worked out, The Flame in the Flood is still moderately enjoyable.

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Leif Johnson
Top Critic
7.3 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2016

The Flame in the Flood is a beautiful procedurally generated survival sim that gains a welcome sense of momentum from the need to stay on the move. Its unwieldy menus and tendency to crash ruins some of the fun, unfortunately, but not enough to diminish the strength of the hopeful, riverbound journey at its core.

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GameSpew
Claire
Top Critic
7 / 10
Mar 1, 2016

Whether it be from lack of supplies or enemies after your sweet juicy flesh; there is always something guaranteed to go badly each game

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Kotaku
Top Critic
Unscored
Mar 1, 2016

Beautiful but clumsy, with a very helpful wet dog.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2016

"Navigating the hazardous river is no small feat with horrible steering until you are able to upgrade to a rudder, however, the river poses a challenge that carries with it, its own rewards. Although there is little in the way of narrative throughout the story I found myself sharing a bond with the games characters".

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7 / 10
Feb 29, 2016

Not the deepest wilderness survival game around in terms of gameplay, but certainly one of the most atmospheric and thought-provoking.

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7 / 10
Feb 29, 2016

A rogue-like survival game with amazing visuals, attractive music and engaging atmosphere.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 29, 2016

The Flame in the Flood is a trying and calculated experience in which you roll the dice with death. If it was for the bugs and constant crashes it would have been a sleeper hit, but in its current state it's a very hard game to recommend.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2016

A strong game in many respects, but also lacking in a few key areas to put it over the top.

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Recommended
Feb 26, 2016

If you can handle the wild river - and the odd bug - there's plenty to love in this heartfelt survival game.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 25, 2016

[W]hile I loved the atmosphere, the setting, and the aesthetic of The Flame in the Flood, I never got that "one more run" feeling I've gotten from other roguelites like Isaac or Spelunky. It's possible that the game's pace is a bit off, or that I haven't quite figured out the "correct" way to play it.

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