Firewatch

 PC
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

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  1. amfxc
    Feb 9, 2016
    10
    A thrilling story accompanied by absolutely beautiful artwork. Ever since you start playing the game it will be hard to put down. The conversation you have with the other character is never boring.
  2. jooob3
    Feb 9, 2016
    0
    fredhorrigan SAYS IT BEST!!!! JUST DONT BUY IT IF YOU ARE GONNA SPEND THE MONEY GET UNRAVEL FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!

    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 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    fredhorrigan SAYS IT BEST!!!! JUST DONT BUY IT IF YOU ARE GONNA SPEND THE MONEY GET UNRAVEL FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!

    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 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.    … Expand
  3. mevsthevoices
    Feb 29, 2016
    10
    This game is immensly, staggeringly beautiful, it hurts within minutes, I found myself sturggling to decide, torn apart by options, this game is what all games should be, human. The story intersperses with what is, to me atleast, one of the prettiest renderings of nature I've ever seen. It is truely like no other game I've ever played, and I love it, this is what game developers should beThis game is immensly, staggeringly beautiful, it hurts within minutes, I found myself sturggling to decide, torn apart by options, this game is what all games should be, human. The story intersperses with what is, to me atleast, one of the prettiest renderings of nature I've ever seen. It is truely like no other game I've ever played, and I love it, this is what game developers should be striving to be, orignal. Maybe it's not all perfect, but who cares, nothing you'll ever love will be, and this game makes that case throughout, making this game quite often a truely moving experience. A+… Expand
  4. gloriouspotato
    Jan 3, 2017
    8
    With it's striking art style and overall strong presentation, Firewatch was one of my favorite games from 2016, though this is coming from someone who's no stranger to the "walking simulator" genre. Every piece of dialogue between Henry and Delilah was something to look forward to as they conversed about the hardships of life. Through this, Firewatch explores the degradation ofWith it's striking art style and overall strong presentation, Firewatch was one of my favorite games from 2016, though this is coming from someone who's no stranger to the "walking simulator" genre. Every piece of dialogue between Henry and Delilah was something to look forward to as they conversed about the hardships of life. Through this, Firewatch explores the degradation of relationships and the tendency for escapism. This is accompanied by a very fitting ambient soundtrack and an occasional dose of wit and comedy. I thought the resolution to the mystery/thriller aspect was a bit contrived, and perhaps the setting could've felt that more authentic if there was more wildlife and things to see and interact with, but on the whole I found Firewatch to be a fulfilling experience.… Expand
  5. ciopenhauer
    Feb 14, 2016
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Excellent game for the non-gamers and gamers alike. It requires a certain maturity and attention span to play. Most cellphone-addicted teenagers wouldn't find this very interesting. It's a very short game, which is its best strength: it's great for casual gamers who want a fun experience without too much time commitment, but also a quick change of pace for most hardcore gamers out there. But if you're someone who wants a lot of content out of his game, you should probably skip this. This is all about the ambiance and the mystery.

    As someone who hasn't played a great many story-driven single player games, I found myself interested in this one. I didn't feel overwhelmed with things to do, because it's driven by a single "quest" every day, and you have a friendly voice guiding you. The mystery is effective. The ending is slightly disappointing, and you'd have hoped of at least finding a picture of Delilah in her tower or something. When I saw that she wasn't there, I started thinking it had all been a lie, until I found her drawing. So the mystery does keep going until the very end.

    The biggest flaw with this game is how you can't go past certain objects and terrain elevation that looks like you easily could. It takes away from the immersion tremendously. The small list of actions gets repetitive as well. I would have liked to see a little bit of extra content/hidden areas that aren't related to the main story, and having the opportunity to explore the area that you can see a little more would have made this an absolutely amazing game.

    Despite its flaws, it's a gorgeous game with great voice acting and an effective, realistic mystery. Recommended.    … Expand
  6. Thejaywhip
    Feb 17, 2016
    5
    Look I get that it was indie developers and all and that's fine. The +'s of the game are the art direction and voice acting. However there are so many -'s. The game was buggy half the time, while it made you feel like it was open world it was very structured. You had to find paths that didn't seem to be there at all. So game play was average at best and very frustrating at times.

    WIth    Look I get that it was indie developers and all and that's fine. The +'s of the game are the art direction and voice acting. However there are so many -'s. The game was buggy half the time, while it made you feel like it was open world it was very structured. You had to find paths that didn't seem to be there at all. So game play was average at best and very frustrating at times.

    WIth all that said, I could look past it. However the biggest negative is the STORY! What a pathetic story for a game. I mean why spend all this time for something so minor and insignificant. I can tell you exactly what happened. They started with the art direction and this game was solely made with that in mind and the story game later. That's great and all until you realize how pointless it was and what a waste of time it all was. My advice for the developers...hire a better writer next time.    … Expand
  7. Fadeley
    Feb 10, 2016
    8
    The game plays a bit differently from what I expected going in. But the story kept my full attention, and the experience leaves me pining for more. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, and I truly hope to see more from Campo Santo in the future, but perhaps next time they could make their game a bit longer.
  8. bordibalint
    Feb 12, 2016
    10
    Holy sh!t.

    This game is a definitive title in first person storytelling. I haven't experinced anything like it since I first played Half Life 2, which is still one of the best videogames of all time. As an action-adventure FPS it sucks, but if you play it as an interactive artistic movie, it is just perfect. The characters are so real I felt emotionally connected to them during the 4    Holy sh!t.

    This game is a definitive title in first person storytelling. I haven't experinced anything like it since I first played Half Life 2, which is still one of the best videogames of all time. As an action-adventure FPS it sucks, but if you play it as an interactive artistic movie, it is just perfect. The characters are so real I felt emotionally connected to them during the 4 hours of gameplay. You are not controlling much of the events, but it just feels like it's happening.

    Everyone should experience it! It is an interactive 4 hour movie, so don't expect some life is strange, but it is awesome!    … Expand
  9. Boney
    Feb 15, 2016
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. More of an interactive video than a game, It should be noted that Firewatch contains absolutely zero actual gameplay besides walking and occasional interaction with items. There are no puzzles to solve or obstacles to overcome. There is no challenge present, it is entirely narrative-driven.
    The illusion of choice is present to add an element of drama or suspense, though ultimately nothing you say or do makes the slightest difference in the plot or progression of the game.

    That being said, It's a beautiful experience with amazing graphics and incredible voice acting. I enjoyed the brief experience this game had to offer, and unraveling the mystery kept me entertained for it's duration. However, the plot really falls short at the end, and you're left with even more questions than you start with. The relationship you have tended throughout the game disintegrates into nothing, and I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed and unsatisfied.    … Expand
  10. jlcfreitas
    Feb 9, 2016
    8
    If you are tired of something, and you want to play anything different, go Play Firewatch and enjoy a good story, funny/serious characters, enjoy the music and the visuals meanwhile you are searching the woods. I really needed a game like this for a long time, just chill and play
  11. AlkaVirus
    Feb 9, 2016
    3
    Hardly a game, more like a mediocre story-based game trying to show off animation and graphics. Lots of backtracking, uninspiring characters, and cheesy conversation lines. The only redeemable factor is that it shows a glimpse of suspense, but that which quickly dies away.
  12. hornygoatweeds
    Feb 28, 2016
    0
    It's very frustrating to me to see this walking simulator well reviewed because its creators are part of the hipster video game former-editorial club.

    "ZOMG ITS THE GUYZ FROM IDLE THUMBS THEY ARE MISERABLE HIPSTERS LIKE US, THE REVIEWERS!" Dialogue is trite, gameplay is as boring as its close cousin Gone Home. **** game, save your money.
  13. Daedulos
    Feb 9, 2016
    9
    this is a really great and fun game. i was hooked from beginning to end. only problem i had was the length which wasn't too bad considering the game and content and the anti-climactic ending. but all and all this is an amazing game about nature, mystery, and finding ones self in the woods. i highly recommend this game to anyone who with a PC or PS4. great game. great visuals, greatthis is a really great and fun game. i was hooked from beginning to end. only problem i had was the length which wasn't too bad considering the game and content and the anti-climactic ending. but all and all this is an amazing game about nature, mystery, and finding ones self in the woods. i highly recommend this game to anyone who with a PC or PS4. great game. great visuals, great writing. truly a adventure into the great outdoors.… Expand
  14. CJozsa
    Feb 10, 2016
    9
    Amazing characters, dialogue and voice acting.

    Beautiful visuals and aesthetic. Story was great. Loved how it explored human emotions in an isolated environment, with a childlike sense of adventure. Sad to see so many haters posting 0's when they could've known it wasn't their cup of tea before playing (which i doubt many of them even did) by simply watching a trailer. I guess    Amazing characters, dialogue and voice acting.

    Beautiful visuals and aesthetic.

    Story was great. Loved how it explored human emotions in an isolated environment, with a childlike sense of adventure.

    Sad to see so many haters posting 0's when they could've known it wasn't their cup of tea before playing (which i doubt many of them even did) by simply watching a trailer. I guess that's just the internet though.    … Expand
  15. bisson420
    May 14, 2016
    9
    Firewatch is great!

    That being said, I have to say that Firewatch is not for everyone. The story is great and the voice acting is one of the best I've ever heard in a videogame but it is for a more mature audience, younger gamers might not understand what Firewatch is about. Tackling some very serious subjects, the game is beautifully directed, I really felt like I was in Henrys    Firewatch is great!

    That being said, I have to say that Firewatch is not for everyone. The story is great and the voice acting is one of the best I've ever heard in a videogame but it is for a more mature audience, younger gamers might not understand what Firewatch is about.

    Tackling some very serious subjects, the game is beautifully directed, I really felt like I was in Henrys shoes and after a short time, I was completely absorbed by the story. There is a lot of plot twist, strong emotional moments and some very creepy parts that made me wish I wasn't playing alone in the dark.

    The atmosphere is great, the art style is wonderful and animations are well done. The only thing I could say against the world itself is the lack of animals, you are in the middle of the forest and you encounter very few living creature during the whole game.

    I give this game a 9 out of 10 because it kept me searching for answers. I did not want to interrupt this beautiful adventure, I wanted to know more, to know wtf is actually going on. The story, atmosphere, voice acting and the lack of dull moments makes this game a MUST. Campo Santo is an independent developer and this is an example of what gem can be created when you think outside of the box, they hit the bullseye!    … Expand
  16. riniolosalvator
    Feb 12, 2016
    10
    This game is not for everyone. I believe its one of the most mature games ive played in the sense of empathizing with very real relationship building and life's moral dilemmas. Its one of the few games that uses not responding as a response in itself and the game is not AAA big budget length which I really appreciate. It was enough to get through in one setting without the story gettingThis game is not for everyone. I believe its one of the most mature games ive played in the sense of empathizing with very real relationship building and life's moral dilemmas. Its one of the few games that uses not responding as a response in itself and the game is not AAA big budget length which I really appreciate. It was enough to get through in one setting without the story getting old or repetitive. Don't play if you just love saving the galaxy, social team experiences, or shooting your friends. Do play if you want to see and feel something interesting in a well done piece of independent art.… Expand
  17. darkwolf79
    Feb 13, 2016
    10
    It's a fantastic story driven experience with some of the best voice acting I've heard in a while.
    Some might complain it doesn't have much gameplay, I would say however that this is more of an interactive experience.
    A fantastic one at that. I am not going into any details here to not spoil anything but the character interaction felt meaningful throughout the game. Also. the ending,    It's a fantastic story driven experience with some of the best voice acting I've heard in a while.
    Some might complain it doesn't have much gameplay, I would say however that this is more of an interactive experience.
    A fantastic one at that.

    I am not going into any details here to not spoil anything but the character interaction felt meaningful throughout the game.
    Also. the ending, critisized by some, worked well in my opinion. It felt right. There doesn't need to be a payout or reward or whatever else some might have been expecting. In live, not everything pays out. Sometimes all you get are lessons learned.

    In any way, fantastic game. :) If you like well told stories then this is up there amongst the best.    … Expand
  18. AstiX
    Feb 12, 2016
    10
    Oh. My. God. This is not a game. This is art. This is something completely different, a next level experience.

    The graphics are amazing, the atmosphere is beautiful and haunting. You really feel like you're there. I felt shivers throughout the entire game. The acting is incredible, the characters are so believable and really manage to get you immersed in the story, which is by the way,    Oh. My. God. This is not a game. This is art. This is something completely different, a next level experience.

    The graphics are amazing, the atmosphere is beautiful and haunting. You really feel like you're there. I felt shivers throughout the entire game. The acting is incredible, the characters are so believable and really manage to get you immersed in the story, which is by the way, not what I expected, and I loved it.

    Most of the negative reviewers were disappointed because of how the story turned out, but in fact if it turned out any other way (to meet the average player's expectations) I wouldn't have been writing this review. The game is exactly what it's supposed to be, it's realistic, and conveys it's story perfectly.

    I completed this in one sitting, and for about 4.5 hours I was completely isolated from the real world and couldn't move away from my screen playing. I don't spend too many hours in the day playing games, so I don't remember the last time a game kept me glued to the chair for so long. BUY THIS GAME!    … Expand
  19. Bloiky
    Feb 21, 2016
    10
    I love open world first person games with strong elements of exploration so this fits the bill perfectly. Looking forward to more titles like this from this highly creative software house.
  20. Messiah9000
    Feb 27, 2016
    10
    This game goes all the way to 11, on the scale of 10 of course :) I think all the positive reviews have said everything there is to say about this game, so I won't add much in that department. But I wanted to mention that this game stays with you long after you have finished it. The experience was so immersive, that even 3-4 days after completing it I miss the characters and world it allThis game goes all the way to 11, on the scale of 10 of course :) I think all the positive reviews have said everything there is to say about this game, so I won't add much in that department. But I wanted to mention that this game stays with you long after you have finished it. The experience was so immersive, that even 3-4 days after completing it I miss the characters and world it all happened in. I want to go back to my tower, look at the breathtaking view, push my walkie-talkie's button and ask Delilah: "Hey, what's up?" :)

    But what I am worried about is a new trend with players complaining about the cost of the game. Since everybody is downloading games on Steam, there are no more physical packages. So that kind of gives a feeling of games and money quickly moving both ways and some players feel that they always have to have a say on this subject. Steam has (too) consumer-friendly refund rules and some players have started to become vile and childish exploiting those rules.

    Good example is Firewatch. Some reviewers here say it is too short and it's not worth the asking price. That the "fair" asking price should be 2-3 times lower. How can someone judge if the price for a product is fair or not? If its too expensive don't buy it. If you bought it and didn't like, tough luck. That's life. Then in the future avoid games from the same developer. Same thing with movies and books. If the movie sucked then you don't go to movie theater's website complaining and claiming that instead of 8 bucks the ticket should have cost 2 bucks. If you saw your first Michael Bay movie and you think it was horrible, then suck it up and in the future don't go to another Michael Bay movie. It is that simple.

    Is there a manual how to evaluate games? Reading the negative reviews here it seems there is. First and most important criteria must be - more hours of play equals a better game. If a game leaves you a deep impression then whats the difference if play time is 3 hours or 30 hours? My humble opinion is that the value of a game should be measured in the amount of positive emotion not in hours played. So if you didn't like the game, or you didn't understand it then just say so. It is ok to say that you didn't like the game. Complaining about short play time is absurd.

    And last but not least - this is a game for adults. By that I mean someone older than 14 :) Main driving force behind this game is a quite layered and somewhat complicated relationship between the main characters. Middle aged and older people are not really into games, that is changing, but slowly. So most reviewers are younger and you can really see that in the users reviews here. This game should be reviewed like a movie or a book. On that scale this game is a full 11 :)    … Expand
  21. OllyNorton
    Feb 14, 2016
    6
    There is a lot to like about Firewatch, the atmosphere, the environments, the 2 main characters. The way the game is established is quite unique and whilst I don't think the choices made in that opening make any difference whatsoever, it is quite an interesting opening none the less, establishing the protagonist and his sad past. Unfortunately with a game like this the story is key, thereThere is a lot to like about Firewatch, the atmosphere, the environments, the 2 main characters. The way the game is established is quite unique and whilst I don't think the choices made in that opening make any difference whatsoever, it is quite an interesting opening none the less, establishing the protagonist and his sad past. Unfortunately with a game like this the story is key, there is no real skill in the gameplay and whilst the environments are a joy to explore without something driving you through it's all for nothing. That said the story does a good job of driving you through the game, it's offers mystery and suspense, however the ending (explanation of the events) is utterly mundane and delivered in a very direct manner which counter acts the prior more subtle delivery methods on display in the rest of the game. Firewatch is part of an ever growing selection of exploration story games, and it adds some great things to the mix, but ultimately all of these games live and die on the story and unfortunately this one just doesn't round off well at all. In short you'll have fun playing it, but probably won't remember it with much fondness.… Expand
  22. Davidtiger
    Aug 19, 2016
    10
    A beautiful story starts with introducing the main protagonist with text in conversational form, first pleasing you, then causes worry. The feeling of anxiety doesn't leave you during the entire game.
    "Firewatch" is a story about problems, usual problems of simple life.
    It teaches us to not run away from those problems, but to face them, to continue live with them. Fiction tells us to    A beautiful story starts with introducing the main protagonist with text in conversational form, first pleasing you, then causes worry. The feeling of anxiety doesn't leave you during the entire game.
    "Firewatch" is a story about problems, usual problems of simple life.
    It teaches us to not run away from those problems, but to face them, to continue live with them.
    Fiction tells us to love at all costs instead of teaching us how to make decisions within a romantic relationship that aren’t ultimately centered on selfish motivation. This creation centers on making right decisions. It teaches us to let it go when it's necessary.
    This beautiful and short story is accompanied by a delightful graphics and an excellent theme music.
    The game has it's logical ending, and it's very disappointing to see how many gamers haven't understood it.    … Expand
  23. Zoup
    May 4, 2016
    10
    MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing MindBlowing
  24. legendaryns
    Sep 14, 2017
    0
    The writing, voice acting and story is interesting for what it is but the game is short, linear and there is no replay value. It's hard for me to call it a game since it's a walking simulator as well. For a walking simulator, there's a ton of backtracking through the same environments. That removes the spectacle of discovering and looking at new locations. While it's visually appealing,The writing, voice acting and story is interesting for what it is but the game is short, linear and there is no replay value. It's hard for me to call it a game since it's a walking simulator as well. For a walking simulator, there's a ton of backtracking through the same environments. That removes the spectacle of discovering and looking at new locations. While it's visually appealing, you'll be staring at the same places for the entire game. In addition, the choices you make in the game have basically no effect on the story outside a few lines of different dialog.… Expand
  25. TheWaffle
    Feb 19, 2016
    8
    Having completed the game, I'm bumping up my rating. The game does a good job of building tension, confusing you with misdirects, and engrossing you in the world. It is very much a novel in game form. It also does a good job at making you feel a variety of emotions based on what's going on at any given point. A spoiler-free note on the ending, I've seen many criticisms of the plot and itsHaving completed the game, I'm bumping up my rating. The game does a good job of building tension, confusing you with misdirects, and engrossing you in the world. It is very much a novel in game form. It also does a good job at making you feel a variety of emotions based on what's going on at any given point. A spoiler-free note on the ending, I've seen many criticisms of the plot and its conclusion, but almost all of those criticisms ignore every note from the prologue and the characters' development. From the very start, as you craft Henry's backstory and get to know Delilah, Firewatch makes it very clear that there are no clean and easy paths in life. The sort of plot that most people seem to have wanted would have conflicted jarringly with Firewatch's entire philosophy.

    Firewatch is certainly not for everyone, it wasn't necessarily even great for me. But considering how many books that I've started and never finished it's worth pointing out that I finished Firewatch, and did not regret the time put in.    … Expand
  26. invizo
    Sep 20, 2017
    1
    Don't support game companies that try to grab publicity by damaging someone's reputation. Most people didn't know what Firewatch was until they pulled their little stunt.
  27. Distrait
    May 25, 2016
    5
    Very short. Boring game-play. The dialogue is good, but the story falls flat in the end. Disappointing to say the least, if not for the scenery this would be a 4 for me. Spend your money elsewhere and save your 4 hours.
  28. Neng-
    Dec 17, 2016
    8
    Firewatch is a very enjoyable game that heavily relies on it's main characters, their conversations and voice acting is one of the best i've seen in a videogame and that makes it special. The enviroment is well crafted and looks great.
    Plot wise, it is nothing really special, but as i said earlier, the protagonists make it so believable that you get instantly engaged with the story.
    I    Firewatch is a very enjoyable game that heavily relies on it's main characters, their conversations and voice acting is one of the best i've seen in a videogame and that makes it special. The enviroment is well crafted and looks great.
    Plot wise, it is nothing really special, but as i said earlier, the protagonists make it so believable that you get instantly engaged with the story.
    I really recommend to check this out    … Expand
  29. palehorse
    Sep 20, 2017
    1
    Very linear game play. Scripted in a way that is not fun. You can basically watch a stream and get as much enjoyment for free. Check it out on twitch if you're curious.
  30. Riskyreview
    Feb 9, 2016
    10
    From the writers of Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 1 (A.K.A the best game Telltale will ever make) comes Firewatch!

    Firewatch is the most atmospheric game I have played to date and the only thing this year that might beat it's atmosphere is Mafia 3 but other than that this is going to be the most atmospheric game this year no doubt! The gameplay is a sort of mix between a    From the writers of Telltale's The Walking Dead Season 1 (A.K.A the best game Telltale will ever make) comes Firewatch!

    Firewatch is the most atmospheric game I have played to date and the only thing this year that might beat it's atmosphere is Mafia 3 but other than that this is going to be the most atmospheric game this year no doubt!

    The gameplay is a sort of mix between a Telltale game and a "walking simulator" and the results are incredible!

    Basically if you like mystery, exploration and dialogue choices this is the game for you!    … Expand
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. CD-Action
    May 1, 2016
    80
    Firewatch is hands down the best, the most engaging first person walker I have ever played. Something doesn’t let me rate it higher though, and I guess it’s my common sense. [04/2016, p.50]
  2. GameSpew
    Apr 15, 2016
    80
    The look of this game is nothing short of stunning… Each detail is carefully designed and thought out with a charming feel to it overall.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 12, 2016
    100
    This unconventional game combines strong story, beautiful natural surroundings and fantastically written and played characters. What it lacks in classic adventure mechanics, it makes up in great dialogue system between the main protagonists. [Issue#262]
See all critic reviews »