Firewatch

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. Mashable
    Apr 2, 2016
    Firewatch does some clever things with the central mystery to toy with the expectations of people accustomed to playing video games, but it never delivers strongly enough on that idea — or any other. As strong as the two characters at the heart of the game are, this is a story that struggles to find its voice.
  2. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Feb 8, 2016
    Firewatch is a rare and beautiful creation, that expands the possibilities for how a narrative game can be presented, without bombast or gimmick. It’s delicate, lovely, melancholy and wistful. And very, very funny. A masterful and entrancing experience.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Feb 8, 2016
    There is no fast-paced action or head-scratching puzzles, so the dialogue needs to carry a lot of Firewatch’s weight. Thankfully, the nuanced and intimate performances led by Mad Men’s Rich Sommer and Cissy Jones, of Telltale’s The Walking Dead, are more than up to the task.
  5. Wired
    Feb 8, 2016
    Firewatch may leave you before you’re ready to be done with it; like Gone Home, Oxenfree et cetera it’s a six-hour experience that you can easily start after lunch and finish before bed. But it’s an emotional gut-punch all the way through, for many reasons, and largely a pleasure to explore and find yourself lost in—mentally, if not geographically. This is your next must-play story, another voyage to a place games don’t often take us.

Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Best PC Game of 2016
13
#13 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
55
#55 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1504 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 922 out of 1504
  2. Mixed: 361 out of 1504
  3. Negative: 221 out of 1504
  1. Akolyte01
    Feb 9, 2016
    4
    A very short game where the plot goes nowhere. Beautiful art direction that conveys the sense of an open world, but is really a series ofA very short game where the plot goes nowhere. Beautiful art direction that conveys the sense of an open world, but is really a series of corridors without any sort of gratifying exploration.

    The game is centered around the plot, but the ending leaves you thinking "Well, that was a whole bunch of nothing."

    Do not listen to the shills creaming their jeans, Firewatch is exceedingly mediocre.    … Full Review »
  2. fredhorrigan
    Feb 9, 2016
    0
    Just another "game" where you have barely any interaction and all you do is walk from point A to point B and interacting with the thing theJust another "game" where you have barely any interaction and all you do is walk from point A to point B and interacting with the thing the game tells you to interact with so you'll be able to walk to point C while you choose between a handful of dialogue options that don't change anything.

    The story takes a page from Gone Home where it might look like it's some sort of supernatural mystery or something like that but ends up being a very mundane and very boring.

    SPOILER ALERT: There's no killer or supernatural elements, just a guy trying to spook people because he wants them to leave the forest because he doesn't want anyone to find his dead son's body and the two girls that go missing turn out fine.

    Don't pay money for this **** just watch it on youtube, or even better, watch something less terrible like a movie or a TV show.    … Full Review »
  3. itmo
    Feb 10, 2016
    3
    So did they forget to finish the game but still charge for a full game? The best way to sum up this game is - Good Marketing campaign, DudSo did they forget to finish the game but still charge for a full game? The best way to sum up this game is - Good Marketing campaign, Dud game. The asking price for this game is 3 times to much for what you get, and what you get is a 3 hour walking simulator, on rails, no exploring the great wide yonder, a pretense to an interesting story which falls flat on its backside. There is no climax, there really isn't much of a game. Zero replay value. Reminds me of the beginners guide, it's trying to be arty, cool but comes off as lame, underdeveloped and a missed opportunity to be an innovative idea.… Full Review »
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