Skip to main content

Highly anticipated indie 'Flinthook' hits PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 18

FLINTHOOK Gameplay Trailer! RELEASES APRIL 18! ❤️⚓️
Tribute Games has announced that its “rogue-lite” title 
Recommended Videos
Flinthook will launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on April 18.

Flinthook has been one of the most highly anticipated indie titles since it garnered substantial media attention at PAX East last March. When we took it for a spin at E3, we said it was one of the best games we played at the show — possibly even the best.

Tribute Games is best known for its side-scrolling shoot-’em-up Mercenary Kings, which features quick and satisfying action fit for short spurts at a time. Flinthook ramps up the intensity, despite having a rather minimal scope. We already knew that you played as a space pirate tasked to loot randomly generated ships for treasure with only a hookshot, pistol, and the power to slow down time. With the launch date announcement, Tribute Games offered a breakdown of the game’s features.

The three main tools at your disposal have multiple uses. The hookshot can be aimed anywhere, but connecting to the golden rings located throughout each spaceship gives you the power to dodge more enemy attacks and up the speed. The Blasma Pistol can shoot bullets 360 degrees, which gives it a twin-stick shooter vibe. The slow-motion ability lets you center your aim, but can also be deployed to perform a stunt. The more you use it successfully, the quicker it recharges.

All of the game’s ships are procedurally generated, meaning that each time you boot up the game, the experience is fresh. Tribute claims that each ship is generated from one of hundreds of various room designs. Even if you happen upon the same basic design again, each specific room is further modified by additional elements, as well as different loot and enemies.

The randomly generated nature of the game means that you will technically start over each time you play Flinthook, but that doesn’t mean there’s no carryover. Along the way, you’ll acquire relics and perk cards to unlock new gear. Additionally, the treasure you find lets you purchase permanent upgrades from the game’s Black Market.

There’s more than just collecting treasure, though. The main objective of Flinthook is to take down the Cluster Clan, a group of nefarious pirate lords. By feeding your “compass creature,” you will be pointed in the direction of boss battles, which, if in line with other “rogue-lite” games, will surely be difficult. Tribute also teased secrets hidden throughout the game.

A price point was not revealed with the announcement.

Steven Petite
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…
Here’s where you can buy the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One today
ps4 xbox one nintendo switch lite amazon best buy deals review comfort 610x5083

With so many of us stuck at home, the video game industry has benefited as people look for ways to pass the time. As a result, it's a bit difficult to find a retailer with consoles in stock. Have no fear: We've combed through dozens of retailers to not only find ones with the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in stock but those that are shipping quickly.

Some retailers are prioritizing "essential" items right now, which means you could be waiting much longer than you would otherwise. Here are our picks for the best places to find the most popular consoles.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch has proven to be a stay-at-home favorite thanks to its portability -- you can use it as a console or a handheld -- thus the name. But it's also tough to find, and right now there are no retailers with consoles in stock at regular retail prices. We are noticing some consoles on eBay, but just a fair warning, they are being marked up quite a bit, unfortunately. We'll continue to watch retailers for new stock, and add a link as soon as we see it -- but if you can't wait, this is your only option right now.

Read more
The best new games to play on Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch
best single player pc games doom eternal fire baron

The past few months have been great for the gaming industry, with excellent titles becoming available across a wide range of genres. Whether you're looking for a game to help you relax or one filled with high-octane shootouts, there's probably something that will fit your needs. Although a few high-profile releases were delayed to later in the year -- including Final Fantasy VII Remake -- there are still plenty of games to sink your teeth into.

Here are the 10 best new video game releases for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch.

Read more
Monster Hunter Outlanders is the most ambitious Monster Hunter mobile game yet
Key art for Monster Hunter Outlanders.

Capcom and TiMi Studio Group announced Monster Hunter Outlanders for iOS and Android today. Unlike previous Monster Hunter games for mobile, Outlanders will more closely emulate console games with a large 3D open world to explore, real-time gameplay and combat, and cooperative hunting.

Previous Monster Hunter mobile games include Monster Hunter Now, which applied the Pokémon Go formula to Capcom's long-running series, and the matching game Monster Hunter Puzzle: Felyne Isles. In 2022, the Tencent-owned TiMi Studio Group announced its partnership with Capcom and intention to create a new mobile game that would "reproduce the hunting actions that define the Monster Hunter series." TiMi developers have created mobile adaptations of franchises like Age of Empires and Call of Duty.

Read more