The Flame in the Flood Reviews

The Flame in the Flood is ranked in the 63rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Feb 24, 2016

Overall, the experience of playing The Flame in The Flood is more frustrating than nerve-wracking. I get that survival games won't be easy, but their systems should feel balanced, not bullshit. And the nodal method of traveling down river can feel futile in its own way. There's a big, bad wolf between me and any desire to play this further.

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2.5 / 5.0
Feb 25, 2016

The Flame in the Flood is a beautiful rogue-lite that leans heavily on its charm and original concept. However, monotonous gameplay, simple crafting, very little world-building and a number of technical issues make it a taxing experience that I am in no hurry to revisit.

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EGM
Top Critic
4 / 10.0
Feb 24, 2016

I love difficult games, but The Flame in the Flood didn't test my resolve—it tested my patience. A stellar look and an awesome soundtrack made me want to love The Molasses Flood's first release, but with so many technical setbacks, I could hardly even stomach my time with it. I won't be returning to the flood.

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Jan 29, 2017

The Flame in the Flood has amazing moments that stick with you and far outweigh all the annoying bits. It is beautiful at times, but also melancholy and grim in other moments. If you are looking for a difficult survival game, you will certainly get that, unless you find great deal of supplies early on.

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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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ACG
Top Critic
Wait for Sale
Feb 24, 2016
Flame in the Flood Review "Buy, Wait for Sale, Rent, Never Touch?" video thumbnail
Kotaku
Top Critic
Unscored
Mar 1, 2016

Beautiful but clumsy, with a very helpful wet dog.

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Unscored
Feb 24, 2016

Where I'm at with the game now is that I do enjoy playing and it's because it offers a beautiful and non-overwhelming survival option. I also find that the repetition of crafting and of landscape and of encounters combined with changes in biome end up feeling like verses in a song – familiar but with some of the beats changed up. But I also find that I feel I'm spinning my wheels a lot, that the systems aren't creating interesting or varied stories.

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Unscored
Aug 14, 2017

Simply put, The Flame in the Flood is a stunning river journey with highly satisfying survival elements that casual fans of the genre will undoubtedly enjoy. Hardcore fans might find it a little on the easy side, but it’s an enjoyable experience nonetheless, with rewarding game mechanics that almost negate the lack of story and monotony of the environment. It’s the kind of game that sucks you in immediately and is completely addictive for a short while but then grows old fairly quickly. However, it’s also the type of game you’ll probably get the urge to pick up from time to time to see if you can surpass your previous survival record, so that alone makes it worthwhile.

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Evan Norris
Top Critic
Unscored
Feb 3, 2017

It's neither the biggest nor the boldest survival game, and it's hamstrung somewhat by a clunky menu system, but it's still one of the more absorbing and habit-forming survival simulators out there.

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Unscored
Feb 24, 2016
Flame in the Flood (Critical Eye): White Water Rapids video thumbnail