Flooded is a reversed city-builder, in which you need to optimize your production on an island that shrinks over time. Gather enough resources to flee to safety, while the surrounding world is getting flooded.
Players must contend with the game's central mechanic - the gradually shrinking island. As the waters rise, the available land mass decreases, forcing players to carefully optimize their resource production and base layout to stay afloat. This creates a constant pressure and sense of urgency, as players must race against the encroaching flood to gather enough resources and build their escape.
Effectively managing resources is key to success. Players must carefully balance the extraction and utilization of minerals, timber, and food, to fuel their production and development. The need to continuously adapt to the shrinking land area adds an extra layer of challenge, as players must re-evaluate their strategy and infrastructure to maintain optimal resource flow.
The game offers a varied selection of buildings and upgrades that allow players to specialize and refine their production. From basic resource extractors to advanced processing facilities, each structure plays a crucial role in the overall efficiency of the player's operations. Upgrading these buildings unlocks new capabilities and increased output, enabling players to keep pace with the steadily diminishing landmass.
The game incorporates rogue-lite mechanics, with procedurally generated islands and a selection of commanders, relics, and technologies that players can unlock through progression. This adds replayability and encourages experimentation, as each playthrough presents new challenges and opportunities for players to adapt their strategies.
In addition to resource management, players must also defend their island against the threat of pirate raids and other hostile forces. This introduces a layer of real-time tactical gameplay, where players must strategically place defensive structures and coordinate their response to protect their valuable assets and infrastructure.
The narrative-driven campaign, coupled with the game's evocative pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack, create an immersive experience for players. The story explores themes of climate change and global disaster, providing a compelling backdrop for the gameplay and adding a sense of purpose to the player's struggle for survival.