Firewatch

 Switch
Firewatch Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 35 Ratings

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  • Summary: The year is 1989. You are a man named Henry who has retreated from his messy life to work as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Perched high atop a mountain, its your job to look for smoke and keep the wilderness safe. An especially hot, dry summer has everyone on edge. YourThe year is 1989. You are a man named Henry who has retreated from his messy life to work as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Perched high atop a mountain, its your job to look for smoke and keep the wilderness safe. An especially hot, dry summer has everyone on edge. Your supervisor Delilah is available to you at all times over a small, handheld radioyour only contact with the world you've left behind. But when something strange draws you out of your lookout tower and into the forest, youll explore a wild and unknown environment, facing questions and making choices that can build or destroy the only meaningful relationship you have.

    A Note: Firewatch is a video game about adults having adult conversations about adult things. If you plan on playing with a younger gamer, that might be good to know going in.

    Includes

    * A stunningly beautiful wilderness environment that expands as you explore.
    * A tailor-made story: the choices you make shape the narrative and build relationships.
    * An edge-of-your-seat mystery.
    * Secrets and discoveries to be made over every hill.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. NintendoWorldReport
    Dec 20, 2018
    90
    What initially seems like more of a relaxing walking simulator becomes something more consequential and dire. Anyone interested in great stories—not just those told through video games—needs to pick up Firewatch. Like Celeste and GRIS, Firewatch is a triumph of artistic and thought-provoking game design, and it can remind you of summer as you bundle up for the cold winter ahead.
  2. Nintendo Life
    Dec 17, 2018
    90
    It really doesn’t matter that Firewatch came out over two and a half years ago, because it’s just as engrossing and enchanting as it was the first time around. From the warm glow of its forests in the morning summer light to the subtle tension of exploring a rocky gorge in the isolating silence of night, Shoshone National Forest is a character in its own right. With a story that’s both funny and heartbreaking – and enhanced by some brilliant performances by its two central actors – this is an essential purchase, irrespective of whether you're playing it for the first time on Switch or simply using it as an excuse to revisit an old favourite.
  3. Nintendojo
    Apr 16, 2020
    83
    It sets out to tell a story and does it astoundingly well. I found myself melancholy when all was said and done, and although I’ll likely never get to hear more about the lives of Delilah and Henry, I’m grateful for the summer I got to spend with the two of them. Firewatch seems to want players to understand that sometimes, life is about the moments you’ll never get back, the decisions you can never unmake. I’m glad I chose to spend that night in the woods with Campo Santos’ inspired first effort.
  4. NF Magazine
    Aug 28, 2019
    80
    Despite only being a few hours long, I found the entire experience satisfying. [Issue #39 – May/June 2019, p. 25]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. Linzlue62
    Apr 25, 2021
    10
    FireWatch is one of my all time favorite games. It’s an emotional story that you feel a part of. Explores the concepts of human interactionFireWatch is one of my all time favorite games. It’s an emotional story that you feel a part of. Explores the concepts of human interaction and the need to be wanted and loved, our nature for companionship and our need to be in nature. This game has a way of sucking you into its world, and you feel yourself feeling the emotions with Henry as he experiences them. I’ve revisited this game several times and I’m satisfied everytime. Drop your guard and you will be surprised what this game has to offer. Hope to see more games like this one day. Enjoyed every minute of it.… Expand
  2. Shouka
    Jun 24, 2020
    10
    I absolutely loved this game from end to beginning, absolutely lovely visuals. And the story was awesome too. Overall a 10/10 for me
  4. RedRice
    Apr 4, 2019
    9
    "9" because of some texture pops and slowdowns in some areas. Everything else was perfect, a laid back, story-driven game. It is not often"9" because of some texture pops and slowdowns in some areas. Everything else was perfect, a laid back, story-driven game. It is not often that a game affects my outlook in life, loss and what love really is. I was able to immediately relate to Henry, the main character. The ending leaves you thinking and reminiscing.… Expand
  5. abhijeetgaiha
    Apr 24, 2019
    8
    The game play is simply a hiking simulator but the engrossing story and stunning visuals keep you hooked till the very end. The Switch versionThe game play is simply a hiking simulator but the engrossing story and stunning visuals keep you hooked till the very end. The Switch version has frame rate issues that can be occasionally jarring and the length is short at less than 5 hours. Overall, still enjoyed the game a heck of a lot.… Expand
  6. BeeSting1
    Jan 1, 2021
    7
    Hiking. Discovering. And making a friend.

    The Good: - The scenery is beautiful. Lighting is done very well. It adjust accordingly if    Hiking. Discovering. And making a friend.

    The Good:

    - The scenery is beautiful. Lighting is done very well. It adjust accordingly if you're surrounded by a lot of rocks, making it more orange. And changes again if you're amidst a lot of trees. I felt very relaxed while journeying through the areas.

    - Having no HUD and a traditional map with a simple compass, made the navigation more realistic, and more adventurous. It made me feel I was in the wilderness with only my wits and very basic equipment.

    - There isn't much background music, but when there was, it matched what was happening in the game, like if you were about to discover something important, it'd ramp up. If you were just hiking leisurely, it'll be relaxing.

    - The conversations with Delilah was very natural. Both your dialogue choices and her responses felt like they were having a real conversation. By the end of the game, I really felt like I made a friend. The jokes and puns were plentiful, but when things were serious, it was made believable too.

    - The plot went in all sorts of directions. Started off slow and heavy, but went into mystery mode. But finished with a rather mellow ending.

    - As a person who has lived alone most of my life, and prefer it, I could relate to the life style Henry had during his time at the watch tower. The experience of living in a small area, and travelling alone spoke to me. Having a single reliable companion is also all I really want in life, which happened to be what Delilah was to Henry during his time there, which I could also deeply relate to.

    - I've also lost a past partner partly due to an incurable illness that she developed. So in a way, I could relate to how Henry felt during the time he struggled with Julia's dementia. Though dementia is probably worse, since she temporarily forgets Henry, only for it to get worse as time goes on.

    - The ending was rather disappointing, but it wasn't bad. Admittedly, it was more realistic than a government cover up. But what made me sad was how Delilah didn't give Henry a chance. I felt they bonded so much during that time, even if only through radio. I chose dialogue options that geared towards moving on, and starting a new life with Delilah. Although what Julia and Henry had were great, I just can't see how it could work out with her dementia. It's a very hard situation either way.

    - There were parts in the game where I felt a lot of suspense even walking through a cartoon looking forest, which no game has ever made me feel with that kind of art style. Spoiler ahead: This was during the time when Henry and Delilah were found out they were being tracked. After Henry got knocked out the first time, I thought someone might come out of nowhere and attack him. I even thought Delilah might have been plotting this. The game really through a lot of possible spins at you mid game.

    The Bad:

    - It's a very short journey.

    - The ending is very anti-climatic. Total buzz kill, albeit down to earth.

    Note:
    - This is a walk em' up, point and click, story-telling game. Meaning no action what so ever. Don't play Firewatch if this genre isn't your thing.    … Expand
  7. nusco
    Jan 7, 2019
    7
    An intriguing short story that doubles as a hiking simulator. Great voice acting, but the immersion is slightly spoiled by a low frame rate onAn intriguing short story that doubles as a hiking simulator. Great voice acting, but the immersion is slightly spoiled by a low frame rate on the Nintendo Switch.… Expand
  8. denden1088
    Feb 14, 2021
    4
    A great game marred by frame drops and low resolutions and blurry textures. While the Nintendo Switch is not the most powerful of consoles byA great game marred by frame drops and low resolutions and blurry textures. While the Nintendo Switch is not the most powerful of consoles by a large margin, the game could be running much better instead of the mess it is now and as a tip for many people, don't try to run the game while on handheld mode unless you're ok with sub 29 FPS framerates for most of the game.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

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