Flux Empyrean

Flux Empyrean is a difficult game to review. I have enjoyed my time playing it, having completed every ending except for one. Exploring the different places in the world, the architectural design and ideas that the developer has brought to life, and the story he wants to tell through this world has been awesome, but at the same time I can't help but have reservations about recommending the game. The first and most salient point is that this game is [i]niche[/i]. I mean, really, [i]really[/i] niche. It exists within the world of inspirations like Outer Wilds, but leans so heavily into the sort of deliberate inaccessibility that underpins the entire game that it becomes something else entirely. Seriously, if your idea of an enjoyable gaming experience does not involve hours spent reading obscure texts and trying to figure out what they may mean for locations within the world and how to solve puzzles, don't even think about this game. If you want a comparison, imagine playing Outer Wilds but theres 100x more dialogue to parse through, 99% of it isn't relevant to what you are actually trying to figure out, and you don't have the Ship Log to help you figure out what it is you want to f…

Holy peak. It's a lot of puzzles. Puzzles that will make you feel like the dumbest guy on the block. Then you solve the puzzle, and you feel like the smartest guy on the block.

Really awesome game about discovering the world that came before you, across a vast ocean. The sailing takes some time to get used to but is great once you get the hang of navigating the stars. You [i]will[/i] need to spend a few hours before anything makes sense at all, and it will feel strange to leave locations unfinished, but as you explore the world and begin to make thematic and literal connections between people and places, things will begin to click. The enjoyment of the game is slowly learning how this world works and having that Eureka! moment when the answer to a puzzle or piece of lore comes to your mind. There have been a few bugs, but the developer is actively patching them out and listening to the community. Plus, if you're ever stuck on a specific puzzle, my experience is that the community on discord is more than happy to point you in the right direction!

Flux Empyrean, for me, sparked a wonderful mixture of mystery, exploration and confusion (in the best way). If you have played The Outer Wilds and you are looking for a game that can rival that experience, Flux Empyrean is the way to go.

Navigation is a bit clunky for me but otherwise it's a superb game, especially the lore it develops.

Very much in the vein of Outer Wilds. Love the art style and general gameplay. Lore is top-notch. I'm about 4 hours of gameplay in and I still don't see how everything lines up. I've solved several puzzles and gotten one of the endings, but I think I'm so far from the 'true' end and I'm excited. Travel was a fun hurdle to learn - I had some general sailing knowledge, so it was somewhat intuitive, but it might be a bit of a steep learning curve for anyone unfamiliar. Overall, 10/10 for me.