Flowstone Saga

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 100 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Flowstone Saga Game Cover
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"Flowstone Saga" is an RPG featuring a unique puzzle-based combat system, where players control the flow of battle against monsters by clearing lines and matching link crystals on a puzzle board. Real-time or turn-based combat allows for up to 3 monsters to be faced at once, and the use of items, special attacks, and defensive maneuvers create a deep and engaging experience. The game encourages strategy and quick thinking to thwart various creatures, including Beewis, Cookie Ferrets, and Battle-Axolotls.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
story29 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique blend of RPG and Tetris mechanics, providing an engaging and innovative combat system that allows for various playstyles.
  • The pixel art and soundtrack are charming and well-executed, enhancing the overall experience and nostalgia for classic RPGs.
  • The story, while sometimes generic, includes relatable character arcs and humorous moments that add depth to the gameplay.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes, soft-locks, and poor visibility during battles due to excessive visual effects.
  • Pacing issues in the story lead to long stretches of dialogue and cutscenes that can detract from the gameplay experience.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as the class system and enemy interactions, feel unbalanced or underdeveloped, leading to repetitive combat.
  • story112 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, featuring relatable character arcs and engaging side quests, though it suffers from pacing issues and a tendency to feel generic at times. While the main narrative can be slow and occasionally confusing, many players appreciate the depth of character development and the light-hearted, unique approach to the JRPG genre. Overall, the combination of a compelling story and innovative gameplay keeps players invested, despite some criticisms regarding its execution and structure.

    • “The story follows a young woman named Mirai, who recently washed up on an island at the edge of the world with no memory of her past.”
    • “A captivating story, a dynamic battle system involving spatial management very similar to Tetris, and a cast of well-designed characters brings this game together for a fantastic experience.”
    • “I love the game; its Tetris-style combat is super fun and the story is really compelling.”
    • “The story itself is fine, as is the dialogue outside of a couple spelling/grammar mistakes, but the persistent issue here is the pacing.”
    • “Most of the major story developments somehow manage to happen both too slowly and too quickly, giving you plot threads that are left unattended for hours at a time before rapidly resolving with little to no buildup in the span of a few minutes.”
    • “The way it handled Mirai's memories was the most frustrating to me: you're told basically nothing about her past for the first 3/4 of the story, then suddenly the game sits you down in a cutscene and goes 'oh, this is how you get your memories back, and we're going to do that right now.'”
  • gameplay73 mentions

    The gameplay of Flowstone Saga is a unique blend of Tetris-inspired mechanics and traditional JRPG elements, offering an engaging and addictive experience with a variety of customization options and play styles. While the initial learning curve can be steep, players appreciate the depth of combat and character development, alongside a charming narrative and vibrant visuals. However, some critiques highlight issues with resource gathering and randomness that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Flowstone Saga, developed by Impact Gameworks, is an enchanting puzzle-RPG that seamlessly blends the classic gameplay of Tetris with the narrative depth and character development of a traditional JRPG.”
    • “The gameplay is a lot of fun, and it offers multiple ways to build your character and even tweak the mechanics (i.e. real-time action vs turn-based) to suit your preferences.”
    • “An incredible evolution of Tetris-inspired mechanics, with a ton of accessibility and difficulty options for fine-tuning your experience!”
    • “The beginning of the game has a bit of a steep learning curve and throws a lot of game mechanics at you fairly quickly, which can be frustrating.”
    • “Basically everything that's not the core tetris-like gameplay can be almost completely ignored as long as you're picking up the latest weapons at the item shop and generally just equipping whatever maximizes your attack and defense.”
    • “While it impresses with beautiful music, detailed artwork, and some great concepts, it regrettably falls short due to lackluster writing, poor implementation of some core mechanics, and ultimately a combat system that doesn't feel well suited for this kind of experience.”
  • music42 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and high-quality soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some noted that certain battle themes can become repetitive over time, the ability to customize the music playlist adds a refreshing element. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion.

    • “The music and writing deserve to be mentioned separately.”
    • “The game's captivating soundtrack further immerses players in the experience, providing an epic backdrop to the engaging gameplay.”
    • “You'd think that as an indie studio they would cut corners on the music but instead they delivered something amazing.”
    • “The battle music can get a little repetitive over the course of the game even though it's good, but you will get the ability to change it shortly into the game.”
    • “However, there aren’t too many different tracks, which can make combat further feel repetitive due to the singular music track for regular enemies and bosses, respectively.”
    • “Some songs are also a bit loud.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their charming retro-style 2D pixel art, evoking a nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic with detailed character designs and vibrant environments. While the visuals are generally well-received, some users noted minor polish issues and a few graphical effects that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the art style and music contribute positively to the game's appeal, making it a visually engaging experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Flowstone Saga's charming pixel art aesthetic brings its fantasy world to life, with detailed character designs and intricate environments that evoke the 16-bit era of gaming.”
    • “It's a huge nostalgia bomb, blending modern mechanics and quality of life aspects with an extremely charming old school RPG Maker aesthetic.”
    • “Fun game, colorful and detailed 16-bit-esque graphics, clever writing, and a solid soundtrack, to boot!”
    • “The only graphical effect I really didn't like was the one board effect late-game that makes your board dark, with only a spotlight effect moving back and forth to light your tiles.”
    • “There are some polish issues, so now and then you might be a bit annoyed at a graphical choice or so on.”
    • “Graphics: decent”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the mini-games like farming and Tetris-style mechanics, many feel that the overall process becomes tedious and lacks meaningful rewards. The repetitive nature of resource gathering and battles can lead to a sense of monotony, especially as players outlevel enemies and find little incentive to engage with certain activities. Overall, while the vibrant zones and mini-games offer some enjoyment, the grinding often feels excessive and unfulfilling.

    • “Using materials to plant things on the farm to level up your jobs can be a bit tedious. It would be nice to have the option to select a specific number of items to use at once, rather than just one or all of them.”
    • “Grinding in this game offers a rewarding sense of progression, as each task completed brings you closer to your goals.”
    • “The grind is satisfying, as it allows you to fully immerse yourself in the game world and develop your character over time.”
    • “You have to build, which takes time...and over the course of several hundred battles that gets tedious.”
    • “Fishing, farming, and mining mini-games that reward you with basically nothing useful (14 hours into the game and the only thing I can use resources for is growing food or turning in for quests, and fish are pretty much always worse than just the basic food items for the effort required to get them).”
    • “The zones are lush and vibrant (albeit sharing a bit too much from the same tilesets), but again there isn't really anything in the zones to do so your vision glazes over as you sprint through them, dodging as many enemies as you can because you far outlevel them and the fights have gotten tedious.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by clever wordplay and amusing Easter eggs, particularly in its Tetris battles and fishing activities. However, some dialogue attempts at humor fall flat, feeling childish and mediocre. Overall, the humor is mixed, with varying levels of effectiveness across different elements of the game.

    • “Funny easter eggs, references, and wordplays sprinkled throughout the game.”
    • “Humorous, clever, and full of Tetris battles.”
    • “Fishing is so funny!!!”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in Flowstone Saga is highlighted as a strong point, with players finding the characters relatable and well-written, which enhances the overall narrative experience. The game effectively combines engaging storytelling with charming pixel art and a variety of side quests, contributing to a rich and immersive character journey.

    • “The story is well written and makes you want to keep coming back for more; the multitude of characters are relatable with clear character development.”
    • “Flowstone Saga, developed by Impact Gameworks, is an enchanting puzzle-RPG that seamlessly blends the classic gameplay of Tetris with the narrative depth and character development of a traditional JRPG.”
    • “To accompany you along the adventure are great assortments of soundtrack, charming pixel art, and various side quests/activities with varying levels of humor and character development.”
    • “Flowstone Saga's character development feels shallow and lacks the depth needed to truly engage players in the story.”
    • “The character arcs in Flowstone Saga are predictable and fail to offer any meaningful growth or transformation.”
    • “Despite the charming aesthetics, the character development in Flowstone Saga is underwhelming and does not leave a lasting impact.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game to evoke genuine emotional responses, describing it as a heartfelt and tragic experience despite its wholesome nature. While some elements may feel disconnected, the overall narrative successfully engages players on an emotional level, leading to authentic reactions throughout the gameplay.

    • “I played it for like 12 hours the week I got it - and had authentic emotional reactions to the plot.”
    • “It is an entertaining, heartfelt, and tragic tale.”
    • “Wholesome.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a refreshing departure from typical "teen hero" narratives, offering a grounded story that is complemented by a light and bright ambiance. This unique blend enhances the overall experience, making it appealing even to those who might usually shy away from such themes.

    • “Normally I'm put off by the classic 'teen hero off to save the day' kind of stories, but this one threw the hero worship out the window and told an unexpectedly grounded story, while also creating a light, bright atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “The world feels empty and lifeless, making it hard to get invested in the story.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The stability of the game has been criticized, particularly in co-op mode, where players reported bugs that rendered the fox character uncontrollable and irrelevant for player 2, impacting the overall gameplay experience.

    • “Co-op was a bit buggy, as the fox character sometimes couldn’t be controlled and wasn’t really relevant for player 2 to move at all.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with many users reporting technical issues that affect performance, such as frame rate drops and long loading times. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay, others have encountered significant bugs that hinder their overall experience. Overall, the game's optimization appears to require further refinement to ensure a consistent and enjoyable performance for all users.

    • “The game suffers from severe technical issues that hinder performance, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “Optimization is lacking, resulting in frequent frame drops and long loading times that disrupt the gaming experience.”
    • “Despite its potential, the game is plagued by performance problems that make it frustrating to enjoy.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
6-31hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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