Flotsam

Flotsam is a cozy and unique city-building survival game set in a flooded world, where players manage a floating settlement scavenging ocean debris and resources. The game boasts a charming low-poly art style, relaxing music, and a soothing atmosphere that many players find captivating and peaceful. Gameplay revolves around resource management, exploration, and gradual progression through research and upgrades, offering a satisfying loop reminiscent of games like Rimworld but with a gentler pace.

Despite its strengths, some players express disappointment over the prolonged early access period of six years, with concerns about the lack of substantial endgame content and occasional bugs or performance issues. However, the recent 1.0 release has been welcomed, showing continued developer support and polish. Flotsam appeals especially to fans of thoughtful, slow-burn management games with environmental themes and emergent storytelling, though it may feel repetitive or simplistic to those seeking deeper complexity or faster pacing.

Highlights

Players praise Flotsam for its exceptional art style and relaxing music, creating a cozy and immersive atmosphere. The scavenging and crafting mechanics are engaging and well-balanced, providing a satisfying city-building experience on a floating raft.

The unique setting and environmental themes resonate well, and the progression system through research and upgrades is rewarding. Many appreciate the game's smooth polish and the charm of managing a floating town with emergent challenges like weather and resource scarcity. The developers' commitment to updates, culminating in the 1.0 release, has been positively noted.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the lack of meaningful endgame content even after years in early access, leading to repetitive late-game pacing. Some players find the gameplay loop too simplistic, bordering on a clicker style with limited strategic depth.

Technical issues such as bugs, freezing, and performance problems (especially on Linux) have been reported. The UI and inventory management can feel cramped or fiddly, and some desire more automation and better lighting systems. Additionally, the game may lack a strong narrative drive and deeper complexity for players seeking a challenging city builder.