Nuclear Blaze

Fire’ll be here for a good time, not for a long time.

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"Nuclear Blaze" is a 2D firefighting game where you navigate through a mysterious facility, battling devastating backdrafts and explosions. With smooth controls and attention to detail, players must use their fire hose strategically to control the blaze and uncover the truth about Site 16. The game also includes a "Kid mode" designed for young children. This is not a roguelite/like/vania game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 617 reviews

gameplay109 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Nuclear Blaze offers a unique and engaging firefighting mechanic that combines action and puzzle-solving elements, making it a fun experience.
The game features beautiful pixel art and a charming soundtrack, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment.
With adjustable difficulty settings and a kid-friendly mode, it caters to a wide range of players, making it accessible for both casual gamers and younger audiences.

The game is quite short, typically taking only 1-3 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players have reported frustrating checkpoint systems and clunky controls, particularly during later levels, which can detract from the overall experience.
While the game introduces interesting mechanics, it sometimes feels repetitive and lacks depth, leading to a less satisfying experience for some players.

gameplay
197 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Nuclear Blaze" is characterized by its engaging firefighting mechanics, tight controls, and appealing pixel art, making it a fun and satisfying experience. While the core mechanics are straightforward and enjoyable, some players feel the game lacks depth and variety, particularly in enemy encounters and level design. Overall, it offers a unique blend of action and puzzle-solving, though some aspects may feel repetitive or underdeveloped.
- “Nuclear Blaze fully expands on its core mechanics and in some places exceeds expectations.”
- “The gameplay of 'Nuclear Blaze' is an exciting mix of action and platforming.”
- “The firefighting mechanics are satisfying to use, and in the later levels, you need to be fast if you don't want the fire to spread everywhere.”
- “Normally I am fine with simple gameplay, but simple and boring are not the same thing, and this feels really lacking.”
- “And I really dislike the whole 'play the game again after finishing it, this time with a few changes that make it harder!' It's lazy and annoying; just make more levels with the new mechanics.”
- “Gameplay loop is pretty plain, and some things like ladders and door opening just aren't handled particularly well.”
graphics
79 mentions
65 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant pixel art and cohesive aesthetic, which effectively blend with the gameplay and sound design. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the visuals, noting that the colorful and charming art style enhances the overall experience, despite some occasional visibility issues. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “Nuclear Blaze is an addictive gameplay, stunning visuals, and a killer soundtrack; this game is a must-play for any casual gamer looking for a fun and thrilling experience.”
- “The graphics in particular are wonderful, with all the different colors mixing together in a symphony of flame and steel.”
- “Nuclear Blaze is an absolute graphical feast, with beautiful colors that popped gorgeously, and a very nice pixelated graphic style.”
- “The graphics are cohesive, though once or twice I did find myself growling, 'WTF, I couldn't see that.' Pixel art typically gets labeled 'retro,' but I don't feel that label applies to this game.”
- “The graphics, sound, gameplay, and style are all handcrafted with a lot of heart and are smooth and just feel on point.”
- “Without any of the normal horror trappings (blood, monsters, freaky visuals), this game managed to be decently creepy, and I like that.”
story
62 mentions
55 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its intriguing elements, humor, and atmospheric setting, often drawing inspiration from the SCP Foundation. While some find the narrative lacking in depth, many enjoy the blend of gameplay and story, which enhances the overall experience without overshadowing the fun mechanics. The concise plot, lasting around 4 hours, is complemented by beautiful pixel art and engaging sound design, making it a memorable part of the game.
- “Fun gameplay, challenging levels, multiple ways to scale the difficulty, and a story that is very intriguing with a lot of fun jokes worked in along the way.”
- “The pixel art is absolutely stunning and the little tidbits of story you get along the way had me wanting to keep going to find out more and finally see what this 'anomaly' was (not disappointed. got a chuckle out of it).”
- “The music, ambiance, graphical style, and simple storyline are what makes this game shine, and those features alone make the game worth experiencing.”
- “There is a story of sorts here, but it just falls so incredibly flat.”
- “It almost feels like it would've been better if there was no story at all, just your little fireman dude and the flames and the destruction they caused.”
- “- I was very disappointed with the story.”
music
57 mentions
82 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the retro aesthetic and complement the gameplay. The soundtrack features a mix of styles, including surf, metal riffs, and atmospheric tunes, which effectively match the game's action and environments. Overall, the music is described as solid, engaging, and a key element that contributes to the game's enjoyable experience.
- “Nuclear Blaze is an addictive gameplay, stunning visuals, and a killer soundtrack; this game is a must-play for any casual gamer looking for a fun and thrilling experience.”
- “The environments in this game are truly beautifully drawn, with brilliant use of color in the gameplay; the music, like the art, is fantastic, and the game changes the music up enough to avoid feeling repetitive.”
- “The music, ambiance, graphical style, and simple storyline are what makes this game shine, and those features alone make the game worth experiencing.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
73 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant pixel art, atmospheric music, and a cohesive visual style that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the sense of urgency and discovery created by the setting, which, despite a lack of complex storytelling, captivates with its engaging and slightly spooky charm. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as compelling and memorable, contributing significantly to its addictive nature.
- “Lovely 2D platformer with gorgeous pixel art and atmospheric music.”
- “While there is no complex or extensive story, the setting and atmosphere help to create a sense of urgency and discovery.”
- “The atmosphere is just right for a slightly spooky, but fun and cute game.”
- “The vibrant colors and carefully crafted details help create a visually striking and cohesive atmosphere that is a feast for the eyes.”
replayability
11 mentions
18 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through hidden areas and difficulty tweaks, but many reviewers feel that the overall experience is limited, with the core gameplay remaining largely unchanged. While there are elements like secret rooms and challenges that can enhance replay value, the short playtime relative to its price makes it less appealing for those seeking extensive replayability.
- “I think replayability is pretty good with all the hidden areas to find.”
- “Things like hold my beer mode and all the hidden cats help pad out the replayability a bit, while the strong level design and tight gameplay makes the moment-to-moment action feel worthwhile.”
- “But don't buy this for the replay value.”
- “I don't think it's worth the price or anything, but paying £7 for 2 hours of fun is quite steep. For that price, you can buy a bunch of much longer and more replayable games that will give you more playtime for the same price.”
- “There's some replayability if you want to find all the secret rooms and rescue all the kittens, and some difficulty tweaks in the settings, but it's going to play out largely the same.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game features a nice sense of humor, highlighted by references like "this is fine," and includes genuinely fun moments that elicit laughter, particularly during fire-related gameplay. However, while the humor is appreciated, it is somewhat overshadowed by less engaging level design. Overall, players find the humor to be a standout aspect, contributing positively to their experience.
- “The game has a few genuinely fun parts, beautiful fire effects, and a nice sense of humor (yes, there is a 'this is fine' reference).”
- “It was a huge hit; he was laughing with delight as he put out fires, and he hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
- “It also has a fair bit of humor.”
stability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game generally runs well, particularly on the Steam Deck, and features appealing pixel art and engaging mechanics. However, users have reported issues with the checkpoint system, including inconsistent respawn points, loss of inventory items, and the need to replay previously completed scripted events.
- “Awesome simple short game - nice clean pixel art, fun mechanic of firefighting, runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “The checkpoint system is also kind of buggy; sometimes I get kicked further into a level when I die, other times I get keys removed from my inventory, or have to redo scripted events that already happened.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging due to its cinematic elements, such as explosive effects and realistic fire mechanics that create a sense of urgency and tension. However, the instant-death mechanic from fire hazards can lead to frustration, especially after investing time in completing levels, which adds to the emotional rollercoaster of the gameplay experience.