Firewatch

Firewatch is straight-up a vibe🌲✨ Chill story, stunning views, and major feels. Perfect for when you just wanna relax and escape. 🍃🧡

I wasn't expecting the game to be the way it was. It was really interesting and spooky at times. The graphics were impressive and had a warm aesthetic. The story was great, but the ending felt a bit bland, but understandibly so , if you look at it deeper I suppose. Overall a solid 9/10

What an adventure.. highs and lows that have you on the edge of your seat until the end!

Firewatch is a first person narrative driven game. Our protagonist, Henry, has taken a job as a fire lookout in a national park in Wyoming. He's trying to get away from the world after suffering some personal issues. Over the radio, he meets Delilah, who is stationed in another tower. As the season progresses they exchange stories and get to know each other more and more. The strong point of the game is its dialogue and character development. The voice acting is well done, and the sound work really makes you feel like you're somewhere wild and remote. The environments are beautiful and vibrant; there are gorgeous vistas, there are forests, and there are mountain views. The gameplay itself is uninspired, with mundane tasks to accomplish initially, and as the story unfolds the exploration becomes more interesting. Firewatch is a short but immersive experience that does taper off towards the end, yet is worth the playthrough.

I honestly thought this game was something horror-related; I was skeptical throughout the first part. I don't know, I just randomly bought this game under Winter Sale and called it a day. It was damn worth my few last dollars in my Wallet.

(Delilah is a baddie)

Firewatch is just one of those games that manages to grab you by the cajones and lightly tug until the very last scene. If you have about 4 hours to kill, I recommend playing this one through, from start to finish. It moves quick and has enough things going on to never leave you bored OR lost in what to do next (So, in that way it's 100% linear, but 100% enjoyable even so).

I was also pleasantly surprised at the amount of interactivity I had with the game objects, even if 99.9% of the time that meant just being able to lob it into the air. (The inclusion of the dungeons & dragons nods was also awesome).

If you don't mind a beautifully written adventure game that you can complete in an evening, I'd say pick this one up and give it a go!

After playing and finishing Firewatch, I’m left with mixed feelings, especially about the ending.

The graphics are undeniably stunning, and the game does a great job of immersing players in the beauty and solitude of nature. At times, the environment felt truly alive, with the dense forests and serene landscapes adding to the overall atmosphere. The story starts with an interactive flashcard sequence that introduces Henry, the main protagonist, and gives a glimpse into his life and struggles with Julia. It’s a simple yet effective way to establish a strong emotional foundation.

The game’s pacing is slow at the beginning but gradually builds up to an intense and mysterious atmosphere. This is, in my opinion, where Firewatch truly excels. The creeping paranoia, the eerie sense of being watched, and the blend of deep forests with calming areas created a unique and captivating experience. The atmosphere is the game’s strongest point. At times, it felt creepy, mysterious, and downright unsettling, which kept me hooked throughout the story.

However, I have some significant criticisms, particularly regarding the movement mechanics. The controls often felt clunky and unpolished, which hurt my immersion. On multiple occasions, I got stuck between trees, rocks, or even patches of grass, forcing me to restart the game. Additionally, the movement speed felt sluggish, and going downhill was painfully slow—so much so that it became frustrating and distracting from the plot.

Then there’s the ending, which left me feeling disappointed. While the buildup to the climax was gripping, the conclusion felt shallow and anticlimactic. The idea of Henry being manipulated by Ned and Delilah had potential, but the resolution didn’t deliver the payoff I was hoping for. I expected a major plot twist or a dramatic unfolding of events, but instead, it fizzled out. I also wish the game had leaned harder into the idea of Delilah and Ned collaborating—it would have added a fascinating layer to the story. While some players might interpret this as a fan theory, I believe it should have been made canon by the developers.

In conclusion, Firewatch shines in its atmosphere and visual presentation, but its technical flaws and unsatisfying ending hold it back from greatness. That said, I recommend buying this game on sale. It’s a colorful, story-rich mystery that can be entertaining at times, despite its shortcomings.

These days I tend to enjoy games that are similar to a good book: a solitary, escapist experience I can get completely lost in without any interruptions from the outside world. Firewatch, then – on the strength of its gripping story, brilliant branching script, wholly convincing voice-acting performances, and stunning art direction – is easily one of my favorite and most memorable game experiences of this decade.
Firewatch quickly lets you know that it’s not going to pull any emotional punches over its four to five–hour runtime, opening with a series of text-based choices that call back to adventure genre forebears like Zork. I dare not spoil this potent sequence, but I will say that it masterfully bounces between being funny and heart-wrenching and plausibly establishes just why protagonist Henry ends up in the Wyoming woods as a solitary fire lookout.

Firewatch is more than just a game — it’s an emotional journey. At first glance, a game where you simply walk through a national park and chat over the radio might not seem all that compelling. Yet beneath this simplicity lies a profound story about a man seeking solace from life’s tragedies, choosing to distance himself from the chaos of the world. The game’s stunning atmosphere, heartfelt narrative, unique blend of walking simulator and engaging dialogue create an experience unlike any other. Firewatch is a short but incredibly captivating adventure that leaves a lasting impression.

Overall I enjoyed the Firewatch experience, and it was the first game I played on Steam Deck, which ended up being a good pairing.

The gameplay is typical for a walking simulator, you explore the map, make observations and discoveries, and the plot reveals itself to you over time. I mostly enjoyed the moment to moment exploration, small talk on the radio with our new friend Delilah, and learning about the main characters' backstories.

At the point where the game starts trying to work in an actual plot and mystery, I enjoyed that well enough but the payoff was disappointing enough that I kind of wished they hadn't bothered with it in the first place. So despite ending on a slightly weak note, I found the experience to be worthwhile as a whole.

Firewatch might be a little overhyped but it's still worth checking out.

Okay, so here is the deal, this game doesn't cater to everyone. Matter of fact, only a fraction of people will find any enjoyment here. It's just yet another walking sim but that's not a bad thing, some folks just want to sit down and relax.

The graphics are lovely. So is the story which is told mostly via a walkie-talkie and visuals; I expected the story to be more of an afterthought but it's actually intriguing and will keep you on the edge to the very end. It's eerie when you realize you don't really see another person until the very last scene.

The game is rather short, I did a bit of exploration and clocked in exactly 5 hours, but that's absolutely fine as I doubt anybody would have the nerves for it to linger for much longer. As I said above, some people will like it, some will not, I enjoyed it so thumbs up from me :)

Firewatch is simple and gorgeous. The devs did an amazing job feeling like your in the game and walking around this fun world! If your looking for something to play to relax and rest your mind, play Firewatch!

Stinky, farty pretentious game. Started off good but had a sucky, inconclusive ending which one could argue is the point but to that I would say it still stank and I want my 4 hours back. If you're someone who's consumed with their own thoughts and feelings this game might be for you.

Fun game, with great story telling and good looking art style. Haven't played anything like this before, and I had an awesome time with it.

I did encounter some bugs, which forced me to restart the game more than 5 times. That was pretty annoying.

- So do save your game, more than you would expect and disable auto save, since you might encounter some achievements not coming up at first.

Sad but beautifully written. One of the few games where I felt immersed in the character's story. All good things must come to an end, sorry Henry. 10/10

A beautiful world with an interesting storyline. This is the first game I've played where I've experienced an ending which is complete yet dissatisfying, which is a new experience for me. Was worth getting it on sale!

Firewatch offers a solid story, a great soundtrack, and beautiful visuals. I had no problem completing the achievements, making it a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Play this game when you feel like you are done with everything. Firewatch is a charming game with a unique, refreshing, but sad story and a breathtaking atmosphere that makes you feel completely immersed in its world.

The grasp of a fresh air.

Amazing world building, a very intriguing story, perhaps a bit sad...
Play this game, It's one of the hidden indie gems that will last with you for a long long time, like a long long summer.
:)

Game #49 of My Backlog Clearing Journey

This game made me realise that my type in game and in real life is basically the same, alcoholic baddies in their mid 40s

This is the first and probably the last review I will ever put out on a steam game. It's 2am and I bought the game about 4 hours ago. I finished the game in that time frame....but my god was it a good game. As soon as I started playing the story drew me into the atmosphere, the dialogue and the amazing storyline. Put it this way... I haven't finished a game fully in about 3 years, and although this was a short game, it is a must-play.

If you have doubts about playing this game, take it from me, try it out and you will be surprised. 10/10 would play again.

"Oh a game for 90% off!"

*3 hours later*

I literally fell in love with a faceless voice, I seriously need human connections.

very wholesome and dark at the same time if you into open world stuff and not story driven type game do not buy it otherwise it's amazing and love the graphics

it's a good game but not as good as people praise it out to be in my opinion, still recommend tho just prepare to get lost a bunch

This game got everything right: interesting story, good soundtrack, nice views, pleasant UI and non-grinding gameplay. As a short walking simulator with a background story - recommended!

A walking and talking simulator where you’re supposed to be guarding the forest from fires but end up guarding your fragile mental state instead. You wander around, uncover mysteries, and build a relationship with a voice on the radio, but you’ve got zero choices. In the end, the girl still brushes you off, and the forest remains the main character. Beautiful, atmospheric, but it feels like a one-sided chat by the end.

"You are here, and its beautiful. Escaping isn't always something bad"
Amazing game to buy when on sale, not long but really good story and visuals

in short, this is a walking simulator with a walkie-talkie.

what make this game interesting? the protagonist lost his wife. he heals himself by looking after the national park. eventually, he builds a profound relationship with the lady behind radio transceiver.

the journey is emotional. it is like how John McClane talking with Al Powell in Die Hard 1. all the gems are buried between their conversations.

I bought it on sale, and completed it in 3.5 hours or so in one sitting.

The atmosphere and dialog are the strong points of this game, and making choices about what to say and when to stay quiet. Pretty depressing game overall too, it keeps it real.

From what I've read, there aren't any major branching stories, choices only matter a little bit for what gets said back and forth. The walking and navigation is a bit tedious, but provides a good background activity for the talking and sightseeing.

Overall, I'm glad I picked it up and played it. I would have enjoyed maybe another hour or two of length, but for 75% off or better I would absolutely recommend buying it.

It has a really good story with calm and quiet environment :D

For 3 hours, I feel like I teleported into another world and the helicopter brought me back!

I will live for games like these now!

All in All 11/10

Got it. Opened it. Played it. Finished it.
In one breath, without breaks. That was a wonderful experience. I got so close to the main characters that I started forgetting who I am.
Breathtaking.

my life before firewatch: ignorant bliss
my life during firewatch: perfect
my life after firewatch: sad and empty, misserable in the knowledge i'll never get to experience firewatch for the first time again

best story game ive ever played. paced very well but wished it was a little longer. delilah def a baddie too

Very good, very short. If you're not into short games I'd buy it on sale. If you are, then this is a great game for you.

It doesn't fit a particular genre but is a very relaxing walking simulator, interactive movie type of game.
It's a beautiful game with a good story, mystery and interesting characters but the ending feels anticlimactic.
While several people have reported issues with achievement, I was able to get them all without any hassle.

Would recommend it if you want something to play in an afternoon.

Firewatchin is an amazing adventure game where you play as a forest ranger named Henry who's watches over and take care of the park. Everyday, you will visit the park while you're talk to your collegue by talkie walkie and will learn more about her and what happened in the park and his secrets. The designs are beautiful and the ambient is so great, we feel so small in such a huge park... It's one of my favorite adventure game! I highly recommend it!!! 🌲💛

Sweet game, cool story, if you missed it when it release go for it.

Finished it in 3h or so, see it as a big movie

Very cool game ngl it's in my top 10 story games mid ending but VERY cool story and I recommend playing it if you like nature/story games and DONT CHEAT ON UR GF plz cuz she is not worth it

The best thing about Firewatch is how, for lack of a better word, real it feels. The game may be stylized and unrealistic visually, but there's a very tactile, grounded sense to it as you explore. The characters too feel very real. Henry and especially Delilah feel like real, complicated people and I was instantly sold on their interactions. I think a lot of this is due to some very good voice acting.

I know at the time it was controversial, but I'm overall pretty happy with how the game ended. I don't think there was any way for there to be an actual grand conspiracy that wouldn't feel ridiculous in a grounded game like this one. The ultimate anticlimax also serves the game's themes. Delilah and Henry were both so quick to jump to the idea of a grand conspiracy, of the whole world screwing them over because they wanted their problems to be fantastical and not their fault, not the mundane struggles they were trying to escape from. Having it all turn out to be mistakes, paranoia, and pointless human tragedy just reinforces the message that there's no running from the struggles of everyday human life. I think not seeing Delilah is also a good thing. Finally seeing a character you've known only by their voice can be easily screwed up.

I feel like the game could have been longer, and possessed a few more sections that encouraged exploration and isolation. After the beginning, Firewatch becomes very linear and this extends to the game's design. The world is not as open as it looks, and you're confined to very linear paths for a lot of it. It can break immersion, especially when it doesn't look like there should be any good reason you can't access a certain area. This hampers the game quite a bit for me, it makes traversing the same paths back and forth feel like more of a chore than it should in a game this pretty.

I have a handful of other small quibbles. It's a little annoying how Henry refuses to place down any object normally. It almost makes me not want to pick anything up because I know it's going to end up on the floor in a few seconds. It just looks and feels silly. I also wish there was more music. The tracks the game does have are good, but there's just so few of them.

An intriguing and thought-provoking work of art that I can suggest that anyone experience...once at least. "Firewatch" is one of two titles (Along with "Edith Finch") given as examples of great walking simulators and it succeeds well enough that I agree with this consensus. It has the right blend of interactivity, exploration and narrative to carry the short runtime, but I (and most reviewers) agree that the strength of the plot dips near the end. The conclusion not only lacks catharsis but seems nonsensical the more time that is spent thinking about it. Despite this depressing denouement, the core gameplay remains enjoyable throughout and the exploration aspect works. The graphics are more than satisfactory and soundscape is serviceable. On the whole, I would rate "Firewatch" as just about worth a few hours and $2, but the player will probably draw more from the experience of the midgame than the ending.

8.5/10

A good walking simulator that inspired a game I made, people say the ending is disappointing but games are quite boring if it’s all happy endings

The highlight of this game is, of course, the story. It's very clever and, although not complex or rich, does the job just right. It's all about how you tell a story, and Firewatch knows exactly how to do it.

If you're in the mood to watch a movie, play this instead.

Enjoyed the game every single bit of it. Wish i had more and Stuff were a bit changed but its the story! you shared with me and i will forever be happy for it :D

Amazing little game that you can absolutely get lost in if you let yourself. Fantastic atmosphere and soundtrack, great mystery with surprising twists and and a moving story.

simply put. this is the best game i have ever played. do yourself a favor. go in blind and play it

"I came out here for a breath of fresh air and some adventure."

- Henry

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This Game has been in my Library for quite a long time, and I finally was able to play it. Considering the year this Game came out, I gotta say I'm impressed. I really love the Level Design, where the Environment has "natural landmarks" all over the place without you really realizing them, so going from one place to another was pretty easy, even without the Map (still use it from time to time tho). The Mechanics were pretty bland and straightforward, but the Narrative is *chef's kiss*. The Story really kept me intrigued along the Game, and I can say I was sad when it's over, like, I want more. Also, when you really look into it, the Story has a very deep meaning and symbolism about "Life".

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I'm gonna give this game an "Turtle" out of "Turt Reynolds".

Firewatch is a unique & interesting game. The game is so unique that it’s unlike anything I’ve played & the game does not fit neatly into any one genre. I would describe Firewatch as an interactive movie, walking simulator, suspense game. One playthrough of Firewatch took me roughly 9 hrs. But I play games slowly, so a typical gamer could finish the game in 4-5 hours.

Firewatch is polished & high quality. The game has a good frame rate & quality, smooth gameplay. Moreover, the game offers intuitive & responsive controls. Also, the game is easy yet not boring or shallow. And, the game’s art design is stylized. It’s eye-catching & interesting, looking like a realistic painting.

Firewatch boasts some of the best voice acting I’ve heard in a game. The performances are believable & compelling. The stellar voice acting carries the game; the phenomenal voice acting makes the game stand out, given that a major part of the game are the conversations by radio the MC has with Delilah. Since you never see Delilah, the voice acting does the heavy lifting.

Let’s discuss the game’s ending without spoilers. Many people don’t like the ending. To be fair, the ending is straightforward & anticlimactic. But the ending is also surprising, shocking & profound. To me this shows the genius of the developers. I ended up liking the ending once I understood it (I had to Google it as the ending’s meaning is profound & hard to see). I loved that I came away from the game with such thought-provoking & deep commentary on the human condition.

Firewatch does have some flaws. The biggest flaw is the mediocre & disappointing free roam mode. After you beat the game, you can free roam the beautiful game world. But you don’t keep the tools you gained from beating the game. Hence, large parts of the game world are unavailable for free roam. This was a huge disappointment for me.

Another flaw, although minor, is that the game does not have auto-walk or auto-run. So you have manually walk & run. Thankfully, the game map is not huge. Even still, it was annoying & rather tedious to have to constantly hold the movement buttons.

Another minor flaw is that in one aspect, the game suffers from a lack of realism. The game takes place in a forest, yet there are almost no animals. This is unrealistic. Just realize that Firewatch is not an animal watching game.

In conclusion, Firewatch is a prime example of video games as art. It’s amazing to see what the video game medium can produce. I highly recommend Firewatch, especially if you’re looking for something unique & want a memorable experience. I know I’ll be thinking about this game for a long time.

Not just a Walking simulator Game.