Survival is about choices. Move or stay. Go forward into the unknown or go back to the familiar. The Flame in the Flood is distinct from other games in the survival genre because it removes that choice from you as forward is the only option. As you move from dock to dock on a small raft, you feel the weight of the river rush you towards fate. In this visually charming indie title, the goal is not just survival but salvation. Your objective lays at the end of that river, with your canine companion in tow and a jar of fireflies; perfect company.
The key to achieving success is risk mitigation and The Flame in the Flood offers plenty to work with. Ants, thorny bushes, poison ivy, snakes, boars, wolves, bears, rain, and wind are all here to greet you as you make your way down river. Every dock may offer rewards such as a campfire to cook and make medicinal foods or shelter to keep you out of the rain or danger while you sleep. There are 4 main attributes to consider: hunger, thirst, temperature and rest. A simplified set of plates to spin compared to contemporary games in the genre, but enough to keep you mindful. The rewards for a thorough search of dry land can also yield materials to improve your raft, providing better maneuverability on the water, mobile fire and shelter as well as an opportunity to repair your craft.
It pays to be slow. Your dog companion is very good about pointing out resources and danger. A careful ear will give you a warning sometimes even before your pup can give you the clear sign that it might be better to move on. Using all the storage available to you, and preparing for a rainy day is a simple strategy that pays off. Getting caught in storms that last days will eat away at your thirst and hunger, but being resourceful and thorough in your search can hold back death. Although, quietly passing in my sleep is preferred to getting ravaged by a pack of wolves. There is some combat, but it is tricky to get through. You can craft bows and arrows, but traps seem to be more effective and the materials more reliably found. Best to avoid the confrontation all together unless you need meat.
Besides the simplified systems that lower the barrier to entry, the game stands out visually. It has a low poly style that feels like it sits between the sketches on the margins of a notebook and shadow puppets cast from a campfire. The music is fitting to the location and the feel of the game, but was sorely missed during the silent moments in the game. Setting off to a great southern rock jam on the rapids felt empowering, but the absolute silence at times left something desired.
Overall, the game is successful in its execution of its vision. The pay off isn’t grand but down to earth, and it all feels tonally locked. The title offers you an endless mode and a permadeath option if you want to test your mettle, but I highly recommend the story play though first. Light in story but heavy in tone, The Flame in the Flood is a digestible survival experience. It keeps things simple enough to manage, random enough to warrant exploration but can turn on you right when you think everything is going smoothly. Where the game excels the most is rewarding preparation and foresight, but that might take a backpack or two.
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