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Flock

Flock

Hollow Ponds, Richard Hogg · released Jul 16, 2024

AdventureCasualIndie

Flock is a multiplayer co-op game about the joy of flight and collecting adorable flying creatures with your friends. Soar through beautiful landscapes, seeking out rare and elusive creatures to add to your flock.

88
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence

anchored at patch: “Patch Notes - 15/10/24” (1y ago)

83%
At launch
96%
Steam all-time
76%
Press
98%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7639
All-time Steam reviews96%91142
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)98%94129
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 15, 2024) · 129 reviews sampled · 113 total reviews in window · weighted 89 up / 1.9 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (26)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 90
    trust 84Jul 17, 2024

    From the audio design right down to the creatures themselves, Flock, from developers Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg is oozing with charm. Learn to leverage your powers of observation to document dozens of strange and vibrant species that call the Uplands home. A bare-bones narrative pushes the player to explore further without getting in the way of a joyful experience. I already know this will be a cozy world to return to again and again over the coming years to see how my flock is doing.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 71Aug 16, 2024

    Occasional missteps aside, Richard Hogg & Hollow Ponds' latest experience succeeds by treating you like its plethora of colorful creatures: warmly coaxing you to stay as long as you wish.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 69Jul 15, 2024

    Still, even with these small nitpicks, Flock offers a wonderfully serene excursion into a strange but beautiful world. Gliding around in itself is fun and relaxing, and tracking down all the critters feels rewarding without becoming too demanding. Those seeking out a unique, soothing game should flock to this.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 67Jul 16, 2024

    Flock is a cozy game that's done well. The simple act of chronicling creatures is both exciting and relaxing, and the same goes for you flying around without worrying about mastering what could've been a complicated control scheme. The objectives are breezy but challenging, and the game looks rather neat all around. It's different enough from other cozy titles that fans of the subgenre would do well to give Flock a shot.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 66Jul 15, 2024

    Flock is a delightful game that celebrates the joy of flight and discovery, but it doesn't quite soar to the greatest heights. Its charming narrative, relaxing gameplay, and vibrant style make it a pleasure to play. The whimsical world and serene flying are noteworthy, yet they are occasionally overshadowed by moments of monotonous exploration and occasional gameplay lulls.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 66Jul 15, 2024

    Creature collecting has never been quite so ruminative and beautiful.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 66Jul 15, 2024

    Flock's mostly simple mechanics and colorful world mean it all plays like a hug. With its low barrier of entry, people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy the game, and in two-player co-op, even enjoy it together. When things do get a bit more complex, that leads to some of the game's most rewarding moments, like discovering and naming super-elusive animals, or eventually filling out the all-important Field Guide with every critter and call seen and heard in the Uplands. Flock paints the picture of a world that welcomes you with open arms and equips you with tools to reciprocate the same admiration and respect for its dozens of interesting creatures.

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    trust 63Jul 15, 2024

    Flock is an enjoyable, meditative adventure that is the perfect dose of chill vibes. The five hour experience flew by and left me in the clouds next to the other fun creatures from this world. The ambience is always something I look forward to in a vibrant game, and I can’t wait for others to get lost and then find their ways through this spectacle.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 63Jul 16, 2024

    Flock is a relaxing game about taming creatures in a colorful open environment. With strong colorful aesthetics and excellent sound design, it's easy to see the appeal here. The exploration is superb, though the mechanics involved in charming creatures could've been more engaging. If you love games like Pokemon Snap or even Katamari Damacy, Flock will be up your alley.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 63Jul 15, 2024

    As an amateur birdwatcher myself, Flock really captures something I love about patiently watching animals in their natural habitats. On a recent walk through a nearby cemetery, I caught a bird I’d never seen soaring over a pond. I carefully peeked at it through my binoculars and started taking mental notes. Black feathers. Orange accents on its wings. A quick search let me correctly identify it as a red-winged blackbird, leaving me satisfied with my ability to clock its defining features. I get the same smile on my face whenever I see a green piper wrapped around a tree and correctly guess its name.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 61Jul 15, 2024

    The main story is only a few hours, but finding every creature will take a solid amount of extra time. Flock doesn't just provide a great sense of wonder, but a large amount of relaxation as well, and forces you to be very present - the smallest movement in the grass can mean a new discovery. The world is remarkably beautiful, and the act of something like simply flying through the forest with an eccentric-looking flock as the sun rises, listening to the wind and the calls of animals, is amazingly serene, and makes Flock a truly special experience.

    read full review ↗
  • 100

…and 14 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Patch Notes - 15/10/24
    Oct 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  2. Patch Notes - 31/07/24
    Jul 31, 2024significant · resets scoring window