not very replayable, but cute.
the premise is great: the world flooded, and now you manage a floating village built from ocean garbage. sail around, scavenge plastic and driftwood, rescue survivors, and try to build something resembling a community on the waves.
flotsam just hit 1.0 in early december after years in early access, adding a full campaign, new regions, specialists, and an expanded tech tree. the full release brought new depth—specialists like chemist, electrician, and aquaculturist each unlock new buildings and resource chains.
the aesthetic is a standout. bright, colorful, and whimsical, it turns a bleak premise into something uplifting. one review put it well: “instead of grim, oppressive tones, flotsam offers something rare—a hopeful post-apocalypse.”
pajama llama is a 3-person indie studio from ghent, belgium, and their focus on colorful, imaginative games shows. the gameplay loop is genuinely satisfying—“one of the better gameplay loops i’ve played for a city builder in a while. there’s a degree of challenge that makes each new step forward feel like a real risk.”
the problem is that once you’ve figured out the systems, there’s not much variation. runs start to feel samey. progression can feel repetitive, and players who crave constant challenge may find it too gentle.
i played it, enjoyed it, finished it. and now it sits in my library as a nice memory of the time i built a garbage utopia. probably won’t reinstall it, but i don’t regret the time spent.
for what it is—a cozy, finite experience about making something beautiful from refuse—it works.