flOw

Game images by RAWG

flOw

Sony Interactive Entertainment

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PSPPremium

Health Score

GOOD

Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

flOw offers a uniquely calming experience where children guide an aquatic creature through evolution, encouraging skill development in a low-pressure environment. Its cooperative multiplayer promotes teamwork, and the premium purchase model means no hidden costs or time-sensitive mechanics. While creative expression is limited, it’s a good choice for focused, relaxing play.

Super Review

Parent verdict

flOw is a good game for families seeking a relaxed, reflective experience that subtly encourages focus and skill growth. Its design, rooted in the psychological concept of "flow," provides a gentle challenge without frustration. The cooperative multiplayer is a definite plus for shared play, making it a solid choice for children across a wide age range, especially those who appreciate exploratory gameplay over competitive action.

What players actually do

Players control an evolving aquatic microorganism, navigating a serene underwater world and consuming smaller organisms to grow larger and stronger.
Players choose to dive between different environmental planes, subtly influencing the game's difficulty and discovering new creature forms with unique abilities.
In multiplayer mode, players cooperate with up to three others on the same screen, playing as different creatures to explore and evolve together.

Where it shines

The game's design is specifically crafted to induce a state of mental immersion, or "flow," encouraging continuous learning and skill development in a naturally engaging and relaxing way.
A cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players allows siblings or friends to play together on one screen, fostering teamwork and shared exploration without competition.

Parent watch-outs

Creative expression is relatively limited; players guide their creature along predefined evolutionary paths rather than building or customizing extensively.
While cooperative, the multiplayer features do involve interaction with other players on the same screen, though the game's non-competitive nature minimizes social risks.

Family rules worth setting

Consider setting a time limit for each play session, even though the game has no time pressure, to ensure balanced screen time.
If playing multiplayer, establish ground rules for cooperation and turn-taking to maximize the positive social experience.

Talk about this

Discuss the concept of "flow" after playing – how did it feel to be completely focused and engaged in the game? How can that feeling apply to learning or other activities?
For multiplayer, talk about how working together helped everyone progress in the game. What makes cooperation beneficial in games and in real life?

Play style

flOw offers a relaxed and meditative session rhythm, with no timers or urgent objectives. The dynamic difficulty adjusts to the player's choices, making it accessible but always engaging. It can be played solo for a personal, exploratory experience or cooperatively with friends, where players may need to communicate to navigate effectively or choose which organisms to consume for mutual benefit.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

4/5

Creativity

2/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

0/5

Social Risk

2/5

Content Intensity

0/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

4/5

flOw scores a 4 for Educational Value due to its design being based on the psychological concept of "flow," which is known to drive learning and engagement. The game encourages skill development through dynamic difficulty adjustment, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

Addictive Monetization

0/5

The game receives a perfect score of 0 for Addictive Monetization because it is a one-time premium purchase with no in-game monetization, in-app purchases, or other tactics designed to keep players spending or constantly logged in.

Pro-Social

3/5

With a score of 3 for Pro-Social, flOw offers a cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players on the same screen. This feature actively promotes teamwork and shared experiences, enhancing positive social interaction.

Creativity

2/5

flOw earns a score of 2 for Creativity because while players guide creature evolution and unlock new types, the creative expression is limited to predefined paths. There are no deep customization tools or user-generated content features.

Social Risk

2/5

Social Risk is low at a score of 2, primarily due to the game's cooperative multiplayer mode. While there is interaction with other players, the non-competitive and teamwork-focused nature of flOw significantly limits potential social risks.

Negatives

•Creative expression is limited to choosing predefined evolutionary paths rather than building or deep customization.
•The multiplayer features could involve interaction with other players, though the game's cooperative and non-competitive nature may limit social risks.

Positives

•Based on the psychological concept of 'flow', the game design encourages learning and skill development in a relaxing way.
•Offers a cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players on the same screen, which can foster teamwork.
•It is a one-time purchase with no in-game monetization or time-pressure mechanics designed to keep players logged in.
•Rated 'E for Everyone', the game is visually appealing and appropriate for all ages with no mature themes.

Gameplay Videos

flOw Gameplay (PS4)

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Official Ratings

E10+

ESRB

Age Fit

ℹ️Ages 3-5

Suitable with parental supervision.

ℹ️Ages 6-8

Recommended. Younger children will enjoy the simple controls and visual evolution of their creature, though they might benefit from parental guidance initially to understand the growth mechanics.

ℹ️Ages 9-12

Recommended. Children in this age group will likely appreciate the calm, exploratory nature of the game and the satisfaction of evolving their creature through strategic consumption.

ℹ️Ages 13-15

Recommended. Teens will find the game a relaxing diversion, and the underlying psychological concept of "flow" might be an interesting point of discussion, especially if they enjoy reflective experiences.

ℹ️Ages 16-18

Recommended. Older teens may enjoy flOw as a tranquil, stress-free gaming experience, perfect for winding down. The cooperative multiplayer can also be a fun, low-key way to play with friends.