FIRESTARTERS Game Modes Explained: Story Mode, Arcade Mode, and More

What Game Modes Are in FIRESTARTERS Right Now?

FIRESTARTERS launched into Steam Early Access on October 28, 2026, and its current build ships with exactly two modes: Story Mode and Arcade Mode. That's the whole list as of Episode One — there is no co-op, no competitive multiplayer, and no separate challenge playlist documented by the developer.

The distinction matters because the two modes feed each other. Story Mode is where you unlock content and learn the arenas; Arcade Mode is where that content becomes a scoreboard. According to the official FIRESTARTERS Steam listing, Episode One includes "the first part of the main Story Mode, as well as the unlockable Arcade Mode."

If you were expecting a mode selector stuffed with variants at launch, temper that. Studio Kerosene has built a two-mode structure and plans to grow the surrounding content through episodes rather than through mode bloat.

Story Mode: The Campaign That Unlocks Everything

Story Mode is the spine of FIRESTARTERS. It carries the visual-novel cutscenes that frame Kera's run through STEEL, the syndicate-run gladiator bloodsport, and it's where you first encounter each combat arena.

Structurally, Story Mode is delivered in episodes. Episode One is the opening chapter, and the developer intends to ship four episodes total before version 1.0. The Steam page estimates Early Access will last roughly 18 to 24 months, though the studio notes that number may change.

Combat within Story Mode is built around what the game calls a Storm — a combat encounter you clear before moving on. Clearing a Storm the first time is only the beginning; the Steam page explicitly tells players to return to it later in Arcade Mode to set an official score.

A hands-on preview from Coloured Static Press describes the flow as momentum-driven, with runs moving between bright training spaces and red-lit industrial interiors designed to be traversed rather than used as cover.

What Story Mode asks of you

• Clear each Storm to progress the narrative
• Learn arena layouts — rails, ramps, and sharp turns
• Practice the movement kit: skate, slide, grind, and ground pound
• Get comfortable with the six-weapon arsenal before chasing scores

Arcade Mode: Score Chasing on Global Leaderboards

Arcade Mode is the unlockable second mode, and it exists for one reason: to turn cleared Storms into a competitive scoreboard. The Steam page describes it as the place where players "compete for high scores on global leaderboards."

The progression ladder is layered. You start by beating your own personal best on a Storm you've already finished in the story. Then you chase your Steam friends. Then, if you're good enough, you push for the top of the global board.

Scoring is where the game's design philosophy shows. Because there are no health, armor, or ammunition pickups anywhere in a STEEL arena, you resupply by taking resources from defeated androids. That means passive, cautious play doesn't just score poorly — it starves you. Lead developer Alex Harte put it bluntly in coverage from MonsterVine: "There are no safety nets in the arenas of Steel. Hunting is the path to survival."

The same preview coverage notes that the HUD tracks remaining enemies, score, and multipliers — and flags that a dense HUD during fast action can compete for your attention. Worth knowing before you grind leaderboard attempts.

How the Episode Roadmap Affects the Mode Lineup

FIRESTARTERS game modes aren't static, but they also aren't expanding in the way some Early Access roadmaps do. The plan is four "Episodes" of story and gameplay content before 1.0, with the remaining three arriving as free updates for anyone who buys in during Early Access.

What that means practically:

• Expect more Storms and arenas as episodes ship, which means more Arcade Mode leaderboard entries
• Expect story continuation in Story Mode across the remaining chapters
• Don't expect a mode count explosion — nothing in the developer's statements suggests new mode types

The developer has also said the price will rise gradually as content ships, so early buyers lock in both the current two modes and everything added before full release. Coverage from Noisy Pixel confirms the four-episode structure and the free-update commitment for Early Access owners.

One thing to keep in mind: the studio describes the base gameplay, story, and combat systems as complete and functional, but "subject to change as new content is developed." Mode behavior you learn today isn't contractually frozen.

Practical Advice for Both Modes

The two modes share a control scheme and a movement language, so skills transfer directly. A few grounded pointers based on what the developer and previewers have described:

• Learn the arena before optimizing the score. Arcade Mode rewards routing, and routing requires knowing where rails and ramps take you.
• Treat enemies as your supply line. No pickups exist, so every android you leave alive is ammo and health you didn't collect.
• Protect your multiplier. Preview impressions emphasize that sustained pace, not survival, is what makes a run worth repeating.
• Play Story Mode first, deliberately. Arcade Mode entries unlock from story clears, so rushing the campaign just delays your leaderboard access.

Is there a difficulty selector?

Nothing in the available material describes one. The game's challenge tuning appears to come from scoring pressure and resource scarcity rather than a menu toggle. Treat any claim otherwise as unconfirmed.

FAQ

How many FIRESTARTERS game modes are there?

Two in the current Early Access build: Story Mode and the unlockable Arcade Mode. Story Mode delivers Episode One's narrative and combat arenas, while Arcade Mode lets you replay cleared Storms for high scores on global leaderboards.

Do I have to finish Story Mode to play Arcade Mode?

Arcade Mode is described as unlockable, and the Steam page frames it as a return trip — you complete a Storm in the story first, then revisit it in Arcade Mode to set an official score. So yes, story progression gates your access.

Is there multiplayer or co-op in FIRESTARTERS?

No. The available material describes a single-player arcade movement shooter with visual novel cutscenes. Competition happens indirectly, through global leaderboards and Steam friend rankings, not through live matches.

Will more FIRESTARTERS game modes be added before 1.0?

Studio Kerosene has committed to four episodes of story and gameplay content before full release, but has not announced additional mode types. New episodes should add arenas and Storms that expand Arcade Mode's leaderboard roster rather than introducing new formats.