Flame in the Flood vs Shelter 2
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.
Shelter 2
Shelter 2 is a simulation/RPG where you play as a lynx, an animal that lives out on the cold tundra and is somewhere in the middle of the food chain. In this game, you start as a pregnant lynx who's looking for a safe space to give birth and rear your cubs. You'll get to experience parenthood from the perspective of an animal and the experience can be pretty immersive thanks to the many maternal and hunting features available, including calling the cubs to move closer to you and smelling the air for any prey nearby. The game is a lot richer in terms of its diversity than the original game as well, and you'll get access to a lot more movements and jumps, giving you the range of movements you'd come to expect for a graceful animal like the lynx.Although the graphics here may be an acquired taste, Shelter 2 is still a masterpiece of a game and is definitely the sort of game you'll want to play if you love playing animal games where you're placed in the paws of said animal.