FBC: Firebreak

An incredibly fun and engaging Horde Shooter, it isn’t perfect, but it’s an absolute blast to play!

70%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

74% User Score Based on 2,246 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 18 reviews

Platforms

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,246 reviews

story147 positive mentions

grinding91 negative mentions

The game has a fun and unique gameplay loop that encourages teamwork and strategy.
The atmosphere and setting in the Control universe are engaging and nostalgic for fans.
The progression system allows for customization and experimentation with different kits and perks.

The onboarding experience is poor, with minimal tutorials and explanations of game mechanics.
There is a lack of content at launch, with only five missions that can feel repetitive.
The absence of voice and text chat makes communication with random players difficult, hindering teamwork.

story
1,092 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
81%
6%
The game's story aspect is notably minimal, lacking the depth and narrative richness typical of Remedy's previous titles. Players are thrown into missions without much context or tutorial, leading to a sense of disorientation and a desire for more background lore. While there are intriguing elements sprinkled throughout, the overall experience feels repetitive due to the limited number of missions and static environments, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of a compelling narrative to drive the gameplay.
- “This isn't a story-driven experience like a typical Remedy game, but there are enough intriguing details sprinkled in load screens, documents, and character banter to chew on if you're into lore diving.”
- “The missions feel rewarding, especially once you get to clearance level three and start to mess with corrupted items.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple, the missions are straightforward but distinct.”
- “You get dumped into your mission without any kind of tutorial and basically left to get on with it, with 2 other random players.”
- “There are only 5 missions and once you beat all of them on extreme difficulty and unlock all the achievements like I did in sub 16 hours, you'll be wondering 'was this game really worth $55 CAD?'... the answer is no.”
- “The missions are unfortunately very short.”
gameplay
718 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The gameplay of "FBC: Firebreak" has received mixed reviews, with players praising its fun mechanics and cooperative elements but criticizing its lack of clear tutorials and repetitive mission structures. Many users noted that while the core gameplay loop can be enjoyable, it often feels tedious due to limited content and insufficient explanations of essential mechanics, leading to frustration for new players. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement, especially with future content updates, but currently suffers from a steep learning curve and a lack of variety in gameplay experiences.
- “Very fun and interesting gameplay.”
- “There is some really fun synergy with the kits and once you get deep enough into levels to unlock crazier perks, the gameplay loop really starts showing off what it can do and becomes a blast.”
- “The core gameplay loop is very fun, the game plays great and the shooting feels good.”
- “The game is riddled with small but vital bits of information and mechanics that are utterly unexplained by the game despite being essential class crisis kit synergies (fix kit and jump kit combo that wipes out entire rooms of sticky notes in seconds comes to mind) or core mechanics....having to discover them by random chance and mime is really dumb.”
- “Awful new player experience, the game barely explains anything about the mechanics while also locking away most of your tools behind a terrible battlepass progression system that forces you to buy cosmetics in order to be able to actually unlock your core abilities, or to upgrade your peashooters into actually usable guns.”
- “The gameplay loop is repetitive and quickly becomes tedious.”
optimization
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
44%
25%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing solid performance and minimal issues, while others report significant performance drops, stuttering, and crashes, particularly during intense gameplay. Many users noted that the game appears visually appealing but suffers from poor optimization, especially in terms of loading textures and managing frame rates. Overall, while some players found the performance acceptable, a substantial number highlighted the need for improvements to enhance stability and reduce bugs.
- “It looks very pretty, and runs smoothly all throughout.”
- “Like how does a game do that nowadays, that's amazing optimization especially in a world with 200 gig bloated games.”
- “The game is otherwise beautiful to look at with a very unique remedy-esque style, lovely effects, great animation, and otherwise great performance.”
- “Cannot recommend at the price point, had a heap of performance issues, framerates absolutely tank to the point of near unplayability especially when lots of enemies spawn, even on lowest graphics settings. It seemed to be a GPU memory leak or something, as it was fine at first, but as I kept playing it got worse and worse.”
- “Every match that I played had frequent freezing and stuttering, as well as a few straight-up disconnections, making the game almost unplayable.”
- “Optimization is pretty bad too, 120fps with jagged frame times, constantly at 88% GPU usage and 20% CPU usage with 9800x3d+4070ti super. Just get Helldivers 2 or Darktide; they have their own problems, but content or core gameplay is not one of them.”
replayability
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
69%
11%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the variety of loadouts and mission modifiers, while others feel limited by the small number of static missions and a grind-heavy progression system. Many reviewers express a desire for more content, such as additional missions, randomized elements, and alternative layouts to enhance replay value. Overall, while there is potential for enjoyable replayability, especially in multiplayer, the current content may not sustain long-term interest for solo players.
- “The research abilities gave a lot of replayability to me, thinking of different loadouts to go into each mission.”
- “Between the classes, weapons, missions, and randomization, there's plenty of replayability. As it stands right now, there's easily 20+ hours of enjoyment here, especially with friends.”
- “The replayability of this game lies in the desire to unlock better weapons and cosmetics, increasing difficulty, and playing with corrupted items.”
- “The missions are great and are definitely fun to replay, but they could definitely use some more and larger randomized elements to improve the replay value.”
- “I don't like that there's this massive grind to unlock every single upgrade, perk, etc. I know they've updated some of this and that's good, but I still think it's a way to force replayability even if the devs keep saying it's a casual game.”
- “The game mostly lacks a good replayability loop and content.”
grinding
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding the progression system overly tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early stages. While some appreciate the challenge and potential for character development through grinding, others criticize the lack of content and variety, leading to a monotonous gameplay experience. Overall, players feel that the grind can detract from enjoyment, especially when essential upgrades and weapons require significant time investment.
- “No grinding for hours on end for that new warbond anymore, which was a huge relief for me as someone who went crazy grinding super credits.”
- “The removal of excessive grinding for rewards has made the game much more enjoyable and accessible.”
- “I appreciate how the game balances the grind, allowing me to progress without feeling overwhelmed.”
- “As a live service game, the progression is quite boring and grindy.”
- “The prospect of grinding the same five maps to level 40 so I can unlock another upgrade for a rifle I ceased enjoying after mission three is, frankly, absurd.”
- “I completely agree with the reviews though, missions are poorly explained and the early game is incredibly grindy which makes it hard to get to the good parts.”
graphics
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many praising the beautiful visuals and unique art style, particularly in high settings. However, several users report performance issues, including bugs, crashes, and framerate drops, especially during intense gameplay. Overall, while the aesthetic and design are appreciated, optimization concerns detract from the experience for some players.
- “Beautiful graphics, fun gunplay, weird left-field abilities that will make you feel like an idiot for misusing them and a god of the battlefield when the stars align.”
- “The game has fantastic visuals and runs near perfect, I never experienced any sort of noticeable hiccups or slowdowns in all my time playing.”
- “Graphics look great even on lower settings.”
- “Not exactly inspired or original to start with, and pretty ugly aesthetics on all the otherwise samey characters.”
- “Cannot recommend at the price point, had a heap of performance issues, framerates absolutely tank to the point of near unplayability especially when lots of enemies spawn, even on lowest graphics settings, seemed to be a GPU memory leak or something, as it was fine at first, but as I kept playing it got worse and worse.”
- “Current status: graphics not optimized (what do you expect), lack of proper game introduction with only minimal hints to basic movement and actions, no game mechanics tutorial whatsoever, unstable co-op connection (there's no single playing this anyway), lack of maps (only 5), lack of game mechanics depth (well again what do you expect).”
stability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and matchmaking problems that detract from the overall experience. While some users have managed to enjoy the gameplay despite these issues, many highlight a frustrating new player experience and server-related problems. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" but still fun, suggesting that it may improve with future updates.
- “Game runs great on my end even on my outdated PC.”
- “It runs great on deck!”
- “Game runs great, guns feel good, fun abilities, solid gameplay loop, as always great art style.”
- “Bugs and glitches were rampant and on some levels people were just disconnected or never even able to join.”
- “Playing the game with an RTX 3060, I'm getting game freezes every 30 seconds on medium settings, and by the time I load into the game (that I started simultaneously with other people and not late joining), they're already out and about doing their thing.”
- “They don't have good enough net code and/or server coverage to support the players, as it's very buggy and jumpy at times.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by quirky voice lines, absurd scenarios, and a blend of dark and dry wit that resonates well with players familiar with Remedy's style. Many find joy in the chaotic interactions, such as launching garden gnomes into enemy hordes and the amusing reactions of characters, which enhance the overall experience. While some feel the humor may not always align with the gameplay aesthetic, it remains a refreshing and engaging element that adds to the game's charm.
- “The voices you can pick feel real and have amazing quotes with the perfect dry humor, which is a very nice addition to make the game feel even more alive.”
- “Every time I launch a garden gnome into a horde of enemies and flee from the lightning storm it waddles back to me with, I'm laughing my ass off even as my friends ask why I stood so close to it again.”
- “It may not fit the gameplay aesthetic of a typical Remedy game, but it's got all the dark humor and weirdness you'd expect from them.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
48%
16%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying specific tracks and the overall soundtrack, while others criticize it for being unremarkable or even detrimental to the gameplay experience. Many noted that the lack of audio feedback during critical moments, such as horde waves, detracts from immersion, and some found the exit music particularly off-putting. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the consensus suggests that the music could be more dynamic and impactful to enhance the game's atmosphere.
- “The old house vibes are impeccable and the soundtrack and humor is great.”
- “The music is very fun (I love the transition from the extraction music to the calm echoed guitar riffs in the after-action report).”
- “Absolutely love this game and its soundtrack; if you want to have some fun with friends and feel the heat (pun intended), you should pick up this game.”
- “The music is bad.”
- “The exit music that happens every time you exit a level is just horrible, and when horde waves come through, there is no audio indicator that this is happening to really amp you up for things getting serious.”
- “I can't stress enough how the lack of music drags the experience down.”
monetization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
30%
55%
The monetization model of this game has been generally well-received, with no predatory microtransactions or loot boxes, instead opting for a fair grind system similar to Helldivers. Players appreciate the inclusion of both free and paid battle passes for future content, which enhances player engagement without feeling exploitative. Overall, it stands out as a refreshing alternative to mainstream FPS titles often criticized for cash-grab tactics.
- “Lastly, I'm in love with the monetization here.”
- “Anybody who has followed Remedy's journey with development knows that every game has barely broken even on profit, and still they don't go the predatory route of loot boxes and microtransactions.”
- “In terms of monetization, it seems to be almost parallel with how Helldivers 2 handles theirs, but the difference is that there will always be a free gameplay battle pass and a paid cosmetic battle pass released in future content updates.”
- “Unfortunately, this Left 4 Dead spin-off was a quick cash grab that was fun to play with friends for maybe 10 hours and only had non-repeating content for 7 of those hours.”
- “It's sad, and following the roadmap, it was either a cash grab from Remedy, or a bad team working on a pretty good concept.”
- “If you are tired of mainstream FPS games being cash grabs, FBC: Firebreak is definitely for you.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its strong ties to the Remedy universe, particularly evoking the mysterious and strange vibes of "Control" and "Alan Wake." Players appreciate the unique aesthetic and immersive setting, although some note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks deeper lore connections. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively blending classic Remedy elements with new designs.
- “Promising new game with excellent atmosphere and some smart designs.”
- “Love the atmosphere and how the game mixes classic Remedy vibe with something like DRG or Lethal Company.”
- “The game captures the atmosphere of the Federal Bureau of Control well; it's mysterious, strange in places, and the distinctive architectural style works great.”
- “However, there is enough atmosphere in this game to crush a can.”
- “The enemies are cool when you see them the first time but they don't change; the atmosphere is the only break I will give the game. It is really something else and just has an SCP kind of vibe to it, and I love some of the voice lines that show what kind of life the firebreakers are living.”
- “Finally, we came to the game as Control/Alan Wake/Max Payne fans, and the atmosphere of the game... I really wish there were actual lore tie-ins, or unlockable lore (from the clipboards?), or maybe some interaction with characters from the franchise?”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the game has potential for an emotional experience, it currently lacks cohesion and tension, leaving players feeling disconnected. Despite its shortcomings, there is optimism that the developers, known for creating heartfelt narratives, will refine the game to enhance its emotional depth and overall impact.
- “And Remedy have proven time and time again that they want to make a genuinely heartfelt experience for their players, so I trust them to take this game to a level where it can really stand on its own.”