Aground vs Flame in the Flood
Aground
Aground is a 2D, side-scrolling, survival-themed adventure game where you'll be digging out the bowels of the earth for precious ores to turn into tools, weapons, and armor or to sell to gain coins. Similar to games like Kingdom: Classic or its sequel, Kingdom: New Lands, the game will have you venture out to explore new islands to discover more about the story behind the land, to meet new characters and to obtain better resources to craft superior items.The storyline in this game is pretty intriguing as well. It features a Bermuda Triangle-like area where people often get shipwrecked and are washed up to one of the shores of the small archipelago. The islands are filled with weird creatures and is rich with minerals and resources. As survivors starting from scratch, they do not have access to the technologies they used to enjoy that is until apparently a mysterious tribe, called the Mirrows, helped to set stuff up.
Aground offers players the sort of freedom that Minecraft is able to provide and yet, is not fully a sandbox game nor does it have a procedurally generated map. Of course, this game has a great storyline, along with quests to help drive those plot points forward, and that alone makes it a really fun game to play.
Flame in the Flood
Flame in the Flood is a rather unique survival game that's developed by the ex-developers of Bioshock. Instead of featuring an open world, the game places you on a rickety raft, which you can then upgrade as you gather the necessary materials, that's being dragged down a long windy river. The waters aren't always smooth and easily navigatable as you might expect and from time to time, particularly in between "zones", you'll encounter a stretch of whitewater rapids that will truly challenge your rafting skills.In this game, you will also encounter locations where you can dock your raft at and explore. From churches to farms, each location offers varying amount of resources for you to gather, and if you're lucky, a place for you to take shelter for the night. These locations aren't all safe though! Aside from the more harmless wildlife like rabbits, you may encounter dangerous animals that can cause severe harm to your character - you may even die either from being gored by a wild boar or from injuries sustained from the fight.
As a survival game, there are several indicators that you'll need to keep your eyes on. Fail to do so and you may die of exhaustion, thirst, hunger or hypothermia. The game also features a pretty in-depth crafting system where you can produce useful items like bandages for your wounds and clothes to keep your character warm.
Flame in the Flood is a truly hardcore survival game. It's merciless in its gameplay, pitting you against challenges after challenges until your character can take no more. If you get frustrated easily, this is definitely not for you, but if you love a challenge, you might just want to give this game a try.