FlOw is a game about piloting an aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere where players consume other organisms, evolve, and advance their organisms to the abyss.

As part of Jenova Chen's thesis research, flOw inherits an embedded design of active DDA (dynamic difficulty adjustment), players with differing skill levels can intuitively customize their experiences in the zone and enjoy the game at their own pace. “Addicting” is the most common word its fans use to describe it.

Design Features

Minimal control opens the door for casual gamer and non-gamer
Control the balance between speed and turning leaves space for hardcore player to master
Wide range of gameplay from simply swimming around to strategical evolving and intensive fighting for survival
Customize flow experience naturally through the core gameplay, swimming and eating
Transparent and meaningful choices
Small risk, small reward; Big risk, big reward
Minimal penalty, no Flow breakers

Publicity

During the first two weeks after flOw was released online, it attracted more than 350,000 downloads. Up till today, flOw has attracted more than 600,000 downloads.

Awards

flOw won the "Internet Game of the Month" on EDGE magazine, May 2006
flOw was invited and presented at the annual Experimental Gameplay Workshop during the GDC 2006