Flat Heroes

Mixing the shapely looks of Thomas Was Alone with the speed of 10 Second Run Returns and the brutal difficulty of Super Meat Boy, Flat Heroes fits the Nintendo Switch like a glove. If you’re playing solo you’ve got a solid (and lengthy) Campaign as well as bot support for its mini-games, but it’s the electric excitement of the game's local multiplayer mode where Flat Heroes right-angled, platforming madness makes the biggest impact. Don’t be a square - get this in your digital collection right now.

85%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

88% User Score Based on 358 reviews

Critic Score 81%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

Flat Heroes is a single player and multiplayer action game. It was developed by FlatHeroes and was released on September 8, 2016. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Flat Heroes is a challenging, minimalist platformer game. Players control geometric characters and navigate through various obstacles and enemies in fast-paced levels. Cooperative gameplay with up to 4 players is available, as well as a competitive versus mode for up to 8 players. Survival mode adds an extra layer of difficulty for experienced players.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 358 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features incredibly delightful controls and a minimalist design that enhances the gameplay experience.
It's a fantastic local co-op game that provides hours of fun, especially when played with friends or family.
The difficulty ramps up nicely, offering a satisfying challenge that keeps players engaged and motivated to improve.

The final boss is considered frustratingly difficult and introduces mechanics that feel out of place compared to the rest of the game.
Some players have reported issues with the controls being unresponsive or awkward, particularly when using a keyboard.
The game can feel repetitive at times, especially in later levels where the challenge may rely more on luck than skill.

gameplay
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by its gradual introduction of mechanics, allowing players of varying skill levels to engage and enjoy the experience, particularly in local co-op settings. While the game features well-designed levels and interesting boss mechanics, frustrations arise from inconsistent controls and a steep learning curve, especially during complex encounters. Overall, the gameplay is polished and addictive, though some mechanics may feel poorly explained or implemented, leading to mixed experiences among players.
- “This game does a great job at avoiding that by being so gradual in its implementation of game mechanics (while still being engaging) that total noobs with a modicum of eye-hand coordination can participate and have fun.”
- “The gameplay runs very smoothly and transitions nicely from level to level, or from failure to the level reset, making the whole experience very fluent.”
- “Amazing gameplay, super tight controls, innovative challenges, and super sleek visuals.”
- “Here, not only do these annoying deaths happen often, but they combine with both the input latency and dodgy parry tracking to result in very common deaths from mechanics you intended to parry or dodge.”
- “The game is terrible, there is no tutorial, you can't figure out the mechanics, some levels are almost impossible and inconsistent, I don't even think the developer playtested it!”
- “The final boss even introduces a terrible new game mechanic (shooting?!) and suddenly becomes more of a struggle against the controls than the game itself... and all that, of course, in a 5-stage fight with no checkpoints.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic and charming aesthetic, often praised for their simplicity and effective use of color, which enhances gameplay clarity. While some players appreciate the stylish design and fluid animations, others criticize the visuals for lacking depth and detail, suggesting that they may not fully support the game's more complex mechanics. Overall, the graphics contribute to a pleasant gaming experience, though opinions vary on their effectiveness in relation to gameplay.
- “The visuals are simple and look great, and the music is really catchy and doesn't get annoying.”
- “Flat heroes has a minimalistic yet charming art style, similar to Thomas Was Alone.”
- “You don't need huge open worlds with a multi-million dollar budget to have a beautiful game because Flat Heroes, despite not having marvelous landscapes, has a charming and relaxing art style.”
- “The developers, being unable to afford a proper artist, went for flat graphics and called it 'style' so they could get away from admitting they didn't know anyone who could draw on a computer.”
- “Sadly (and I told the creators) the visuals are adequate, but not nearly as strong as the gameplay.”
- “I would love to actually play the game, but about 25% of the visuals load (which for this game is a couple lines).”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The music in the game is generally praised for being catchy, upbeat, and well-produced, enhancing the overall experience with its energetic electronic style. However, some players note that the limited number of tracks can lead to repetitiveness, though the music remains enjoyable and fitting for the game's frantic pace. Overall, the soundtrack complements the minimalist visuals and gameplay, making it a highlight for many players.
- “The minimalist and colorful aesthetic together with very upbeat and motivating music makes this game very pleasant to play.”
- “High energy soundtrack and intuitive controls make this a great platformer.”
- “The music can get a bit repetitive, but you can always mute it and play your own thing.”
- “The soundtrack is upbeat electronic stuff and is well-produced, though there's not much of it, so it has a tendency to get a bit repetitive.”
- “As far as I can tell, Flat Heroes only has a few soundtracks that loop.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The reviews indicate that "Flat Heroes" lacks a traditional storyline, with players expressing a desire for even a basic narrative to enhance the experience. While the game features distinct worlds that increase in difficulty, the absence of a cohesive story is a notable point of criticism.
- “Boy, am I glad that I don’t have to beat around the bush, careful not to spoil any precious storyline details.”
- “There is no storyline in Flat Heroes as far as I can tell.”
- “I would really like for there to be a storyline behind Flat Heroes, no matter how basic.”
- “Although it doesn't have a story, every world is different and more difficult than the last.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Many report that the final boss is particularly challenging, requiring excessive repetition and memorization of previous phases, which can lead to a sense of unfairness rather than rewarding difficulty. Overall, the grinding is seen as a lackluster element that makes progression feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
- “The final boss was almost impossible to beat alone, and I feel like I only won because of pure luck. I think the concept was cool and interesting, but the execution was not great since it became more tedious than challenging and quite unfair towards the end.”
- “The controls are awful and unresponsive; the levels progress tediously with nothing to keep interest.”
- “In the case of difficult bosses, you spend most of your time grinding through phases you've already beaten previously.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its intentionally janky physics, which lead to amusing failures rather than frustration, especially in short, fast-paced levels. Players find the experience particularly entertaining when playing with friends, as it fosters a lively atmosphere filled with laughter and excitement. Overall, the game successfully combines chaotic gameplay with a comedic edge that enhances the fun.
- “The physics are definitely sort of janky, but it's on purpose, and the levels are short enough that it feels funny when you fail because your cube rolled weirdly and not frustrating.”
- “The frenetic pace reminds me of games like Stick Fight where everyone falls around laughing and no one is left waiting long before the action starts again.”
- “Super fun, had my friends yelling and laughing the whole way through.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally acceptable, with some users reporting minor bugs and temporary freezes, particularly during level restarts. While it is currently in early access and has some difficulty spikes, developers are actively working on improvements. Overall, players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues.
- “As of the time of writing, the game is in early access and buggy.”
- “I find that the arrows can sometimes be a bit buggy, but from what I can see from the developers, they are already trying to make it better.”
- “Really good fun, the only problem I have is that it has some difficulty spikes and a few freezes, but nothing major.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of frustration and creativity in the game's emotional landscape, as the challenging mechanics—such as unpredictable wall interactions and limited dashes—can lead to unexpected outcomes and difficulty. However, the innovative movement options allow for moments of ingenuity, fostering a sense of accomplishment amidst the struggle. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a blend of tension and satisfaction as players navigate the game's complexities.
- “The way the game makes you feel the weight of your actions is incredible; every jump and dash feels like a moment of triumph or despair.”
- “The emotional rollercoaster of navigating through challenges, where every small victory feels monumental, truly immerses you in the experience.”
- “The connection you build with the character as you face obstacles and overcome them creates a deep emotional bond that resonates long after playing.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and engaging with high replay value due to its simplicity and cooperative elements, others feel that it doesn't significantly change the experience, which may limit its long-term appeal.
- “8/10, good replayability, fun soundtrack, simple game.”
- “Fun, cheap, simple yet complex, great smooth/tight controls, high replay value, coop, fast, starts easily and ramps up nicely over time.”
- “Doesn't really change the experience of the game itself, which brings problems for replay value.”