The Flame in the Flood: Complete Edition

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 26, 2017
    70
    So why should you bother to make it to the credits? Even in the weakest moments, there’s a rich mystery to this world that remains captivating. [April 2016, p78]
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  2. Eurogamer Italy
    Mar 12, 2017
    70
    The Flame in the Flood is a survival adventure that despite some imperfections, will attract everyone who liked games like Don’t Starve and Journey.
  3. DarkStation
    Mar 7, 2017
    70
    More often than not, the game is an exercise in frustration, which unfortunately characterizes The Flame in the Flood most accurately: a promising, interesting survival game that is ultimately left to drown in the waters of mediocrity by its own core mechanics.
  5. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Mar 1, 2017
    70
    Tense at first, the initial thrills dampen the more time you spend in the company, but The Flame In The Flood's warm ambience and unusual design are worth discovering for yourself. [March 2017, p.94]
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  6. DarkZero
    Feb 16, 2017
    70
    Although the mechanics may get same-y in the long run, due to the lack of much variation, The Flame in the Flood is pure art. It’s full of emotion and is abundantly clear that it was made as a labour of love, making the lack of a true challenge or any real replayability an even bigger shame as it falls short of being great.
  7. CGMagazine
    Jan 30, 2017
    70
    Amid a few new additions and changes, The Flame in the Flood is still very much the same flawed but absorbing survival game that you might remember from last year.
  8. Metro GameCentral
    Jan 17, 2017
    70
    Not the deepest wilderness survival game in terms of gameplay, but certainly one of the most atmospheric and thought-provoking.
  9. PlayStation Country
    Jan 17, 2017
    70
    The Flame in the Flood is an enjoyable game and the survival and crafting elements work really well together. The random aspects add a degree of difficulty which can spike in unexpected ways. Happily though the wonderfully realised river helps the game rise above it’s flaws.
  10. 4P.de
    Jan 18, 2017
    65
    Like on One or PC, this is no quaint river rafting trip where you can sense the spirit of Huckleberry Finn. This is a relentless beast that let’s you die without warning. But even once you got the basics covered this is not as engrossing as Don’t Starve – even though artdesign and music are top notch.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 24
  3. Negative: 6 out of 24
  1. SuperkenGaming
    Jan 23, 2017
    7
    The Flame in the Flood
    hurt by procedural generation
    Flame in the Flood is a rogue like survival game where you play as a woman named scout    The Flame in the Flood
    hurt by procedural generation
    Flame in the Flood is a rogue like survival game where you play as a woman named scout who’s accompanies by a companion either asop or daisy
    There are 2 modes here, a campaign mode and an endless modes..
    Most of my issues with the game are exclusive to the campaign and are completely forgiven for endless mode…
    Mostly that in the campaign you’re at the mercy of procedural generation…
    you would think this would be a hand crafted and balanced journey down the river while endless mode would offer a randomized challenge… but no.. both are completely random…
    In this game you collect items to use as food, hydration, clothes to keep you warm, items to craft medical supplies and try to make your way down the river through the 10 different regions…
    The challenge is balance…
    Your nutrition drains by the second so you have to carefully choose when to stop at a location or when to keep going…
    Are you desperate for food? Stop at a farm
    sleep deprived or cold? Find a fire and shelter... raft taking too much damage?
    pray you’ve found bolts and wood to repair or upgrade it…
    The problem is this is less about strategy and planning and more of a desperate search for items you need in the moment…
    And again you’re at the mercy of procedural generation…
    There is no balance of supplies.. you aren’t guaranteed to get what you need from stopping at places that typically have those supplies…
    Especially medical supplies…
    MY first playthrough I had none, I had scratches and broken bones from running into enemies like boars and wolves and no way to fix them as I never ran into a drug store or was lucky enough to run into supplies to craft items while in my 2nd playthrough I was swimming in bandages alcohol and crutches…
    I feel this campaign would be miles better if it was more about managing than it was getting lucky…
    Instead the campaign only offers an end goal and a few npc characters to find…
    And if you do get lucky finding tons of food and other supplies it isn’t going to matter as the inventory is a joke…
    Slightly increased by the pack of your companion who also barks near items you can pick up or search as well as your raft…
    But it isn’t nearly enough to feel like you’re doing anything more than scrounging…
    All of this would’ve been fine in the endless mode as its own thing…
    But a campaign with no balance and just as luck based is a problem…
    Poor campaign mode but as a survival game its beautiful to look at and a pretty decent challenge…
    I give The Flame in the Flood
    a 7/10    … Full Review »
  2. PerphektPlayer
    Dec 31, 2017
    8
    With unique art style and amazing atmosphere The Flame in the Flood is a great game.....if you like punishing rogue like survival games thatWith unique art style and amazing atmosphere The Flame in the Flood is a great game.....if you like punishing rogue like survival games that is.

    If you are considering buying this game the first thing is to make sure you understand what your in for. This game is simple about staying alive, that's the challenge. there are no guys with gun, aliens or zombies coming after you either. Even the animals are little threat (if your smart enough to avoid them until your properly equipped) your main foe is your own body, and its constant need for food, water, warmth, and sleep.

    This is not a cozy game despite what the art style suggests. This is not a relaxing walk through the woods. This is a frantic (at least at times) search for supplies on your trip down river. Don't be discouraged if your first few deaths come before the first checkpoint, this game is all about making the best use of your supplies. And while the amount of supplies wont change your know-how on how to use them will. You will figure out what to prioritize, you'll devise strategies, you'll adapt and overcome to move forward just as the game was designed for.....or you'll get frustrated because this isn't a your type of game and rage quit giving it a 1/10 score saying "It's just badly made and not fun".

    But barring that you're in for a memorable journey.    … Full Review »
  3. SplitMind
    Feb 23, 2023
    6
    Awesome soundtrack undermined by awfully protracted and punishing game design that forgets the element of fun.
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