From bug-hunting dwarves to spacefaring Super Earth soldiers, the co-op shooter genre has seen it all. FBC: Firebreak, from Remedy Entertainment, asks a weirder question: what if first responders in a mysterious government agency took on paranormal threats with firefighting tools and heavy firepower? Built as a spin-off of Control, Firebreak turns surreal bureaucracy into chaotic first-person missions full of slime, sticky notes, and supernatural corruption.
Rather than a pure run-and-gun title, Firebreak is structured around objective-based jobs with layered difficulty and escalation. Five jobs are available at launch, each with three clearance levels and narrative beats sprinkled in through brief conversations with your handler Hank. These missions grow more intense, introducing new mechanics, hazards, and enemies with each tier. However, not all jobs escalate meaningfully—Paperchase and its sticky-note enemies plateau in complexity until the final boss, Sticky Ricky, who brings a much-needed spike in mechanics and challenge.
Missions, Mods, and Mayhem
What sets Firebreak apart is its layering of threat levels and corruptions. Choosing to increase either can spawn more powerful enemies or bizarre hazards, such as exploding corpses or a stapler that boosts enemy health. These modifiers create chaos, but strategic removal through black rock neutralizers adds a puzzle-like layer to teamplay.
Remedy’s weapon design also shines. There are only six weapons, but they’re effective and satisfying. The pump-action shotgun delivers a powerful stagger, while the revolver’s precision suits tighter maps. Each weapon can be upgraded via requisitions, a system similar to Helldivers 2’s Warbonds, but this doesn’t dramatically alter functionality. More variety in gear would have added long-term appeal.
Where things do expand is with perks and “crisis kits.” These special tools range from deployable showers and turrets to splash jets that can wash away debuffs—or burn everything in sight when modified. Perk effects can synergize across players via a resonance system, encouraging team builds. Unfortunately, the progression wall is steep. Unlocking the best perks or augmentations requires significant grinding, especially for solo players or early-game runs.
Combat That Clicks, With Some Caveats
Remedy’s shift from third-person to first-person design feels natural here. Weapons hit hard, and enemies demand real movement and aim. Hiss variants from Control return with new tricks—telekinetic hurlers, blood-vomiting invisibles, and explosive runners. AI routines give enemies flanking behavior and spacing intelligence, even if they can be kited and grouped by experienced players.
Performance-wise, Firebreak runs decently, maintaining 60 FPS on high settings at 1440p with occasional drops during high chaos. However, a lack of polish shows: frame drops when effects overload the screen, crashes to desktop, and quality-of-life limitations in UI. There’s no in-game voice or text chat, and the HUD lacks critical inventory and teammate loadout info, which limits coordination.
A Solid Start With Room to Expand
Despite all the quirks, FBC: Firebreak has a strong core. It avoids the usual pitfalls of live-service shooters by launching with a flat $40 price, availability on PS Plus Extra and Game Pass, and no FOMO-driven grind. There’s a clear structure, satisfying gunplay, and enough weirdness to feel distinctly Remedy. Even if the content depth is somewhat thin, what’s here delivers fun co-op experiences with friends.
With more jobs, weapons, or crisis kits, Firebreak could easily evolve into a cult favorite. As it stands, it’s a surprisingly competent shooter that mixes janitorial chaos with supernatural sci-fi, and doesn’t waste your time doing it.
