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Flinthook

Flinthook is a pleasant surprise and one of the best games of 2017 so far.
Flinthook Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, stability
71% User Score Based on 592 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 19 reviews

Platforms

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Flinthook Game Cover

About

Flinthook is a single player arcade platformer game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Tribute Games Inc. and was released on April 18, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Flinthook" is a single-player sci-fi shooter game with outstanding action-platformer gameplay and roguelike elements. As space captain Flinthook, use your hookshot, pistol, and slowmo powers to plunder randomly-assembled spaceships for treasure and loot. Zip around levels at high speeds, shoot in 360 degrees, and slow down time to dodge hazards and take down enemies. The game boasts splendid visuals and an awesome soundtrack, though be prepared for some grinding.

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Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
Flinthook screenshot
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71%
Audience ScoreBased on 592 reviews
gameplay117 positive mentions
grinding44 negative mentions
  • The pixel art and overall aesthetics are charming and beautifully designed.
  • The gameplay is dynamic and fun, especially with the grappling hook and time-slowing mechanics.
  • The game offers a high skill ceiling, providing a rewarding challenge for players who enjoy mastering mechanics.
  • The controls can be frustrating, particularly with aiming and movement being tied to the same stick, leading to accidental damage.
  • Hazards and traps often blend into the background, making them difficult to see and resulting in cheap deaths.
  • The game can feel repetitive over time, with a lack of variety in enemies and room designs, leading to a grindy experience.
  • gameplay
    319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Flinthook is characterized by its dynamic hook mechanic, which allows for fluid movement and engaging platforming, though it can be hindered by clunky controls and level design that often feels repetitive and frustrating. While the game features beautiful pixel art and a catchy soundtrack, many players find the core gameplay loop lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony over time. Overall, while the mechanics can be enjoyable and satisfying when mastered, the execution often falls short, making the experience uneven.

    • “The gameplay is fluid, animation is beautiful, the character design is immaculate, the lore while a bit lackluster was very fun to read and the builds you can create are amazing.”
    • “The core gameplay is really top notch.”
    • “The hook mechanic makes movement so fluid.”
    • “Nearly every run feels the same and most of the gameplay and loot variety doesn't lend itself to enhancing gameplay in any significant way; sure there's optional content to engage with, but the core loop is grating.”
    • “The base gameplay cycle is that after you board a number of ships, you get a particular currency that then you can feed to an alien creature that serves as your compass; feed enough and eventually you get access to the boss battle. There are more than four bosses in the game, so imagine doing this time and time again; it can get tedious at times.”
    • “The artificial difficulty is horrendous and the slow-motion mechanic feels like a messy fix for flawed platforming.”
  • music
    174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, high-energy tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, often described as reminiscent of classic chiptune and pirate themes. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to keep them engaged during long gaming sessions, some note that the limited variety can lead to repetitiveness over time. Overall, the combination of vibrant pixel art and an outstanding soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is a real headbanger.”
    • “The music is amazing and the graphics are gorgeous!”
    • “The music, art style, and characters are all charming and run fairly well on non-NASA computers.”
    • “Cent #2: have mercy on our ears and don't have the same music track loop from one level to another.”
    • “However, the soundtrack feels limited and repetitive.”
    • “Just took 6 hours to beat the 1st boss and I was already fed up with the controls working against me, the repetitive music, and the weak power-ups and unlockables.”
  • graphics
    151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant animations, and nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of 90s cartoons and classic platformers. While many reviewers appreciate the unique and engaging visuals, some note that the design can occasionally hinder gameplay by blending important elements into the background. Overall, the art style and animations contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the indie scene despite some minor visibility issues.

    • “The graphics and music are beautiful, and the gameplay is entirely unique.”
    • “The game has amazing pixel art and beautiful animations; every little thing is animated well, making it a true aesthetic pixel masterpiece.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, the music is good, and the idea behind it is pretty fun... in theory.”
    • “For a game that demands you to pay attention relatively fast to what is happening, everything blends together and gives you no real time to sit still to properly parse the game's visuals.”
    • “The graphics look decent enough in most places; however, there are too many times where the bland color palette makes obstacles blend into the background or where safe spots to land blend in with unsafe spots to land.”
    • “The art style is easily the best and worst part of the game, and sometimes I get the feeling that the gameplay is being held back by its beauty.”
  • story
    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *Flinthook* revolves around a ghost pirate on a quest to defeat space pirates and collect bounties, but many players find the narrative lacking depth and relevance to gameplay. While the game features a colorful universe and charming pixel art, the plot is often described as simplistic and sometimes confusing, with a focus on mechanics over storytelling. Despite its shortcomings, some players appreciate the lore and character design, though they express a desire for a more engaging and cohesive narrative experience.

    • “Flinthook is a 2D action roguelike about space captain Flinthook who sets out on a mission to save the cosmos from the space pirates' crew.”
    • “There is a lot of detail in every object and there are a lot of secrets to uncover. I like the whole backstory and universe, but especially the characters are done very nicely; they all have a personality, even if that personality is a bit cliché. I love the protagonist; he says nothing, but the gestures he makes speak for him.”
    • “The main story is a little ambiguous, but it's clear a large amount of effort has been made to flesh out the lore of this universe through lots of collectible items with colorful descriptions.”
    • “While the story is a little lacking, at least in terms of relevance to the gameplay, that by no means bogs down Flinthook.”
    • “The game drops the player in with almost zero story of any kind and what is there makes almost no sense.”
    • “And, after all that, the game still is an empty husk of a roguelike with no feeling of reward or immersion to it, with a gibberish plot and story progression strung in to force the player to grind just to progress.”
  • grinding
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being tedious and overly repetitive, often leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Players note that the progression system requires significant time investment to unlock upgrades and perks, with many feeling that the grind detracts from skill development and overall gameplay experience. While some appreciate the challenge and the potential for improvement through grinding, the consensus leans towards it being a burdensome element that can overshadow the game's positive features.

    • “The base gameplay cycle is that after you board a number of ships, you get a particular currency that then you can feed to an alien creature that serves as your compass; feed enough and eventually you get access to the boss battle. There are more than four bosses in the game, so imagine doing this time and time again; it can get tedious at times.”
    • “Gorgeous game with really good ideas, let down by gameplay that feels more frustrating than challenging, as well as grindy progression.”
    • “I liked this game, but I have to be honest, I felt that I needed to do a lot of grinding to buy some needed upgrades, leaving me with a taste of over-repetitive, dull play.”
  • replayability
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the charm and potential for endless challenges, others criticize the limited enemy variety and repetitive environments that hinder long-term engagement. Although there are elements that can enhance replay value, such as daily challenges and an endless mode, many feel it lacks the depth and variety found in more established roguelikes. Overall, it offers decent replayability but may not satisfy those seeking the infinite replay potential typical of the genre.

    • “Otherwise a good roguelike, lots of charm, single player games like this literally have infinite replayability.”
    • “The game has a good replay value, you can always keep improving on the daily and weekly challenges, there is an endless mode after you completed all 4 bounties which is just insane especially when your health starts draining.”
    • “It’s these little secrets/variances inside and outside the ship that give the game quite a bit of longevity and replay value.”
    • “If I could completely change weapons, and there were more kinds of hooks, anything like this would have gone a long way towards replayability.”
    • “Beyond control issues, it also suffers the classic curse of being a roguelite that doesn't actually have replayability. The enemy variety is cripplingly small, areas blend together, and good luck getting a power-up that actually means anything.”
    • “Not a bad game, but given that it is a roguelike, keep in mind that you'll probably get sick of it before beating it, and that it has limited replayability.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning design and fluid animations, which contribute to an engaging and nostalgic experience. While the lore may not be deeply developed, the character builds and customization options are praised for their creativity and fun, enhancing the overall gameplay. The combination of beautiful pixel-art and captivating character design makes for an addictive and enjoyable experience.

    • “The gameplay is fluid, the animation is beautiful, the character design is immaculate, and the builds you can create are amazing.”
    • “Love the art style and character design; I don't think I will ever not love a grappling hook, especially executed this well.”
    • “Beautiful pixel-art, incredible intro, a lot of content, perfect character designs, wonderfully nostalgic, rogue-like, and most importantly, very fun and addictive!”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by quirky designs and creative character concepts that evoke nostalgia, while the upbeat soundtrack and unique sound choices add to its charm. However, some players feel that the humor can wear thin, especially when gameplay frustrations overshadow the comedic elements. Overall, the blend of quick movement and whimsical humor contributes to a distinctive and enjoyable experience.

    • “Character and enemy design is brilliantly creative and fun, lending to some really unique and funny designs that feel like classic characters that you've enjoyed many times before.”
    • “The soundtrack is proper SNES stuff; very upbeat and full of life, as is the sound design that has one or two strange choices, I found, but that only made it more unique and even funny.”
    • “Flinthook mixes quick movement, quirky humor, and expands on roguelikes in a really cool way.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a mix of frustration and exhilaration in their emotional experience with Flinthook, highlighting the game's challenging mechanics that often feel reliant on luck rather than strategy. While mastering the controls can lead to a sense of fluidity and enjoyment, the brutal difficulty of obstacles and bosses can evoke feelings of being overwhelmed. Overall, the emotional journey is marked by a struggle between perseverance and the desire for skill-based success.

  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by an engaging arcadey vibe, enhanced by intriguing world-building and atmospheric effects, such as cloud overlays on ships. Players appreciate the sense of adventure that permeates the environment, making exploration feel exciting and immersive.

    • “I reached the second world, and one ship had a cloud overlay presumably for atmospheric effect.”
    • “The world that is built around the game is very interesting and intriguing; you can definitely feel this adventurous atmosphere.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users have reported issues with stability, particularly noting that the hook mechanic can freeze players in place if misused, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks. This has led to criticism regarding the game's design and overall stability.

    • “Your hook freezes you in position, leaving you open to enemy attacks for a second if you mis-timed when to use it, highlighting how poorly designed this game is.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I encountered multiple bugs that caused the game to freeze, forcing me to restart my console.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally solid, with smooth performance and reasonable level design, earning a score of 6/10. However, players may find the experience gain slow unless they utilize specific perks or complete bounties, suggesting that while the game runs well, its progression system could be improved. It's recommended to purchase the game in a bundle rather than at full price.

    • “You earn XP depending on your performance during a bounty run, which unlocks new perks to buy and gives a few free ones. However, leveling can be slow unless you’re stacked with XP perks or actually finish a bounty.”
    • “Other than that, the game runs smoothly and has reasonable level design.”
    • “You earn XP depending on your performance during a bounty run, which unlocks new perks to buy and gives a few free ones, but leveling can be slow unless you’re stacked with XP perks or actually finish a bounty.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model is straightforward and player-friendly, featuring no microtransactions or hidden costs, allowing users to enjoy the gameplay without any shady practices. Players can engage with the game freely, with the only monetization aspect being ads that appear after defeating bosses.

    • “The game offers a fair monetization model, ensuring that all content can be accessed through gameplay without any hidden costs.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no microtransactions; everything feels earned and rewarding.”
    • “The monetization system is transparent and player-friendly, allowing for a fully immersive experience without the pressure to spend extra money.”
    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, as it constantly pushes players to spend more for basic features.”
    • “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and unnecessary, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
    • “The ads interrupt the gameplay too frequently, which detracts from the overall experience.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 19 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
8h Average play time
3-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Flinthook is a arcade platformer game with science fiction theme.

Flinthook is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Flinthook.

Flinthook was released on April 18, 2017.

Flinthook was developed by Tribute Games Inc..

Flinthook has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Flinthook is a single player game.

Similar games include Black Future '88, Orbital Bullet, Wizard of Legend, GoNNER, Fury Unleashed and others.