The Flood

About

The Flood is a single player action game. It was developed by Ondrej Angelovic and was released on March 30, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

The Flood is a peaceful 5 minute narrative experience in which you pilot a little boat down a river. It's a gentle reminder that sometimes we should stop worrying about our destination and just enjoy the journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 548 reviews

music67 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game offers a calming and relaxing experience with beautiful music and visuals.
It conveys a meaningful message about taking time to enjoy the journey rather than focusing solely on the destination.
As a free game, it provides a short but impactful experience that can help players reflect on their lives.

The gameplay is extremely simplistic and can feel tedious, as players must constantly hold down a key to move the boat.
The narrative and messages can come off as clichéd and shallow, lacking depth or originality.
The game is very short, lasting only about 5-10 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content or interaction.

music
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and beautiful qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing experience. Many players appreciate the soothing soundtrack, which complements the visuals and the game's reflective message, although some note that the volume cannot be adjusted in-game, leading to occasional immersion issues. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's meditative atmosphere.
- “The music was phenomenal and helped me to feel really good throughout the 3-5 minutes it took to cruise to the end.”
- “The scenery is beautifully done, the music is relaxing, and the quotes give you something to read along the way.”
- “The music is incredibly well suited and enjoyable, and taking a little time to look over the scenery really made me appreciate it.”
- “The music was annoying and repetitive.”
- “There's only one track in the entire game, and it replays on a loop.”
- “Very loud music that you cannot adjust in-game.”
story
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The story aspect of the game is characterized by its brevity and philosophical undertones, often described as a short, interactive narrative rather than a traditional game. While some players appreciate its calming ambiance and meaningful message about enjoying life's journey, others criticize it for being clichéd or lacking depth. Overall, it is seen as a beautiful yet simplistic experience that resonates with those open to its unique storytelling approach.
- “Great fps, loved the gunplay, great storyline with a plot twist in characters, great movement.”
- “A beautiful piece of work, very pleasant and peaceful; artwork, story, and music.”
- “This game, even though it's short, tells a great story.”
- “It goes so slow, there's nothing to see and it has a five-sentence long story.”
- “The gameplay is slow and cautious, the background story is only vaguely told by the placid scenery and the textual narrative is more of an accumulation of superficial quotes that only just connect to the rest of the game.”
- “The story and message was bland and generic.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and simplicity, creating a calming atmosphere that complements the meditative soundtrack. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth or detail, many appreciated the visuals for their ability to convey a strong emotional message about reflection and the journey of rebuilding. Overall, the graphics are considered a highlight, contributing positively to the game's serene experience.
- “The visuals and narration offer a haunting beauty, drifting alongside musings of destruction and loss.”
- “The graphics are pleasing and the music is gentle.”
- “A lovely game that is very short but well worth playing for the stunning graphics and the message that you are given at the end, very inspiring and I would definitely recommend playing this if you need a moment of calm and peace.”
- “The art style is also bland and lifeless.”
- “Focus on the message, not on the graphics!”
- “Yes, the graphics are minimalistic.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
75%
14%
The gameplay aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users noting a lack of meaningful interaction and gameplay loops. While some appreciate the calming and simplistic nature of the experience, others criticize it for being overly simplistic and failing to effectively integrate its mechanics with the intended emotional messages. Overall, the gameplay is described as short, repetitive, and lacking depth, leaving players wanting more engagement and substance.
- “It's pretty relaxing and most of the gameplay is holding the 'W' key and looking at your surroundings and reading the occasional message on the screen.”
- “The game did what it promised, a slow gameplay along the river with inspirational words flowing at the top of the screen.”
- “Very calm and relaxing few minutes of gameplay.”
- “There are no gameplay loops in this software, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
- “I do not recommend this project, as it is useless both in the form of 'philosophical reasoning' and in the form of a game - due to the lack of gameplay.”
- “The problem is that the gameplay really does not support its own message, and even in a free 6-10 minute 'game' that boils down to traveling the length of three screens before credits roll, I found myself frequently frustrated by what felt like impossible demands made solely so it can preach at you for not obeying them.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by heartfelt and sincere messages that resonate with players, offering a calming and introspective experience. While some find the messaging repetitive, many appreciate its wholesome nature and the soothing music that accompanies it, leading to feelings of warmth and even tears. Overall, the game is praised for its touching narrative and ability to evoke positive emotions, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking comfort and inspiration.
- “If you’re struggling mentally or emotionally, then the game is perhaps worth playing through as the positive messaging is accompanied by a peaceful score that may be adequate in relieving some anxiety.”
- “A touching, moving, heartwarming experience overall.”
- “This game/story is absolutely heartwarming and amazing.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as peaceful, calming, and relaxing, enhanced by soothing music and a warm pastel color scheme. Players appreciate the stunning graphics and the overall welcoming vibe, although some feel that the message and atmosphere could be further refined. Overall, the game successfully creates a serene environment for players to unwind and enjoy.
- “What a great game, amazing music, art style, and overall atmosphere.”
- “Though it was an enjoyable experience, there were some areas I felt the overall message and atmosphere could be improved.”
- “The atmosphere was very peaceful, so I can see how it can be relaxing.”
- “Together with the relaxing music and pastel color scheme, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users reporting excellent performance overall.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
- “The performance enhancements make a noticeable difference, providing a seamless experience throughout.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for having little to no replay value, suggesting that once completed, players may not find sufficient incentive to revisit it.
- “There is no replay value, of course.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted as being effective and well-executed, contributing to a brief yet enjoyable artistic experience.
- “A short art experience that is funny and well done.”
- “The humor in this game is clever and keeps you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses witty dialogue to create hilarious situations.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that grinding in the game is so demanding that it feels like it requires an additional life to manage effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”