FTW Staff Picks - Flash Point: Fire Rescue

Gaming isn't always about competition and determining who's the best. Sometimes it's about flexing your imaginary muscles and rescuing puppies and kittens from burning buildings. Because if there's one thing the Internet can agree on, it's the importance of the lives of kittens and puppies.

Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a cooperative game similar to the likes of its more popular sibglings such as Pandemic and Forbidden Island. It follows the same model of: do x amount of actions and then advance the threat on the board. But the differences go beyond just theme. There are two modes of play: one to help guide newbies and one for experienced gamers. It may seem like an easy and obvious thing to implement, but it really does make a difference in keeping clueless gamers feel involved and understanding. Also, being able to play up to 6 players out-of-the-box is a big plus for larger groups. 

The threat in Flash Point is the fire. And just like in reality, the fire is wild and random. It makes for a more unpredictable, and relentless foe to combat against. In Pandemic and Forbidden Island it becomes a little predictable to make calculated risks, which is strategic but not always exciting. 

Cooperative games are always popular among more passive gamers, and its always nice to have an assortment of options. Thematically, Flash Point is a rather unique game. And games always get a plus from me for variety. It differentiates itself enough from the usual suspects to warrant space on the shelf next to them. And with its expansions, Flash Point is a standout cooperative experience.