Firewatch

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 693 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 404 out of 693
  2. Mixed: 167 out of 693
  3. Negative: 122 out of 693
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  1. dethrush
    Mar 15, 2016
    8
    Great storyline, fantastic voice acting. A little bit overhyped game imho, but still wonderful one. I really enjoyd playing it, but at the end I was like "that's it? Is it really over?"
  2. TaylorRevelator
    Mar 25, 2016
    8
    I purchased Firewatch without knowing too much about it. What I discovered was a great story that pulled me in, a great journey and an ending which did not leave me disappointed. I guess it depends entirely on what you want out of a game. The characters were believable, the environments were beautiful and atmospheric and I felt totally drawn into the world of the game. If you wantI purchased Firewatch without knowing too much about it. What I discovered was a great story that pulled me in, a great journey and an ending which did not leave me disappointed. I guess it depends entirely on what you want out of a game. The characters were believable, the environments were beautiful and atmospheric and I felt totally drawn into the world of the game. If you want action, guns and split-second decision making, look elsewhere. If you want an engaging and atmospheric story that you can take your time with and get absorbed in, Firewatch will fit the bill.… Expand
  3. GrunklePaul
    Apr 10, 2016
    8
    This is a relatively short game, I will agree. But it doesn't need to be any longer, truthfully. People complain about the length but they're the same people that will go spend $15 on a movie that's only 2 hours long. This is $20 and its several hours of unique, beautifully drawn entertainment. The story is good, the acting is great, and it was great entertainment for me. There's no realThis is a relatively short game, I will agree. But it doesn't need to be any longer, truthfully. People complain about the length but they're the same people that will go spend $15 on a movie that's only 2 hours long. This is $20 and its several hours of unique, beautifully drawn entertainment. The story is good, the acting is great, and it was great entertainment for me. There's no real action, so those that like shooters and that type of thing will be bored, and they should check reviews to know what they're getting instead of complaining about wasting their money and giving it a low rating because it's not the type of game they like. Story-8/10 Graphics-9/10 Gameplay-7/10 Overall-8/10… Expand
  4. sirbakedalot
    Apr 11, 2016
    8
    I really enjoyed Firewatch.It has a great story and is easy to follow,You will find yourself lost in the wilderness.This game does a great job of creating an atmosphere.There were parts of the game I felt isolated and at other times scared,The controls are easy to use and the mechanics of the game are excellent.The two problems I have is with this game is the price and the fact the game isI really enjoyed Firewatch.It has a great story and is easy to follow,You will find yourself lost in the wilderness.This game does a great job of creating an atmosphere.There were parts of the game I felt isolated and at other times scared,The controls are easy to use and the mechanics of the game are excellent.The two problems I have is with this game is the price and the fact the game is very short.Overall I thought this was a great game.… Expand
  5. Mars1922
    Apr 29, 2017
    8
    This is what a walking simulator should be. Responsive controls, well designed visuals, excellent sound. And an immersive story that keeps you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I would have given it a 9 or 10 had the ending not left a little bit to be desired in regards to a conclusion. But that doesn't take away from everything the game does to keep you immersed in it'sThis is what a walking simulator should be. Responsive controls, well designed visuals, excellent sound. And an immersive story that keeps you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I would have given it a 9 or 10 had the ending not left a little bit to be desired in regards to a conclusion. But that doesn't take away from everything the game does to keep you immersed in it's environment. You play as a forest ranger of sorts, who encounters some strange mysteries out in the wilderness. Someone is watching him and his only contact to the outside world, a woman named Delilah in a nearby tower. You get to care about these characters, and about what happens to them.… Expand
  6. mbrigham1223
    Jan 12, 2017
    8
    An gorgeous, tense first person walking simulator focusing on the relationship between the player and his only source of communication.

    Pros: - Excellent writing, both Delilah and Henry are well fleshed out, and their banter is so casual and authentic the conversations are a joy to listen to. - Excellent voice acting; what good is writing if it isn't well delivered? This absolutely    An gorgeous, tense first person walking simulator focusing on the relationship between the player and his only source of communication.

    Pros:
    - Excellent writing, both Delilah and Henry are well fleshed out, and their banter is so casual and authentic the conversations are a joy to listen to.
    - Excellent voice acting; what good is writing if it isn't well delivered? This absolutely is.
    - Visually striking. The depth of the trees and mountains in the distant, the vibrant colors of the meadows. It's nice just to sit back and look at it
    - Perfect atmospheric sound. Very little music is used in the title, leaving you alone mostly with your thoughts and the sounds of the world around you, and that world is brimming with sound. From wind swirling around your tower to the rustle of leaves on the ground, the sound really brings the world home, helping to build the sense of isolation and nothingness this game strives to achieve.
    - Well-built tension. The tense moments pack a serious punch in this game, with certain occurrences turning my arms to gooseflesh.
    - What music is there adds to the atmosphere, though it's exclusion was a good decision

    Cons:
    - The game stutters consistently. Sometimes every few seconds
    - Incredibly long load times. When I hit the first loading screen, I actually became worried that the game had crashed
    - Pop-in can be a real problem sometimes
    - The plot ends anticlimactically
    - The world and paths often feel gamey and inorganic
    - Animations are awkward. In a game where movement and pace are slow, Henry's ninja-like hand movements are out of place and unnecessarily quick.

    Overall, Firewatch is a tense and nervewracking experience that is held up by technical flaws. Any fan of story driven walking simulators will find a well crafted tale and plenty of beautiful visuals here, just expect to pulled out of the immersion occasionally when the games stutters for the third time in ten seconds.    … Expand
  7. Nobanterzone
    Jan 10, 2017
    7
    I enjoyed this game, but it could have been better. It's strong points were definately the personality of the characters and the art style mixed with the graphics. The plot was interesting and had a really good concept, it even got me paranoid momentarily. However this game had a little too many let downs for it to be an essential. The fact that there is no platinum trophy for ps4 users isI enjoyed this game, but it could have been better. It's strong points were definately the personality of the characters and the art style mixed with the graphics. The plot was interesting and had a really good concept, it even got me paranoid momentarily. However this game had a little too many let downs for it to be an essential. The fact that there is no platinum trophy for ps4 users is my first complaint and I guess because it was a short game I could see why it didn't, which brings me to my next point. The game was too short, I just started to get a thrill and the game ends. Speaking of which the ending wasn't that great neither, It felt really rushed, but considering it was a short game it wasn't really a big deal. Overall not so bad, would I recommend it.. Yes. But I'd advise getting it digitally considering its one of those games you may never play again and will just end up in your attic collecting dust.… Expand
  8. uVimOvil
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    increible juego para ser el 1º de esta compañia es una autentica obra de arte, el juego no se en que genero catalogarlo pero sin duda es de 10 es muy inmersivo y la historia que narran los dos protagonistas es una historia que podria pasarnos a cualquiera es un juego adulto sin duda y el suspense que te mantiene hasta el ultimo instante lo sientes de verdad, obra maestra.
  9. Mr_Dante
    Mar 16, 2017
    8
    It is hard to compare Firewatch with it's other counterparts on the platform, as Firewatch offers a very unique experience in the current world of bells and whistles shooters, third person survival, and aimless fodder that's all too familiar. So if you feel like you need a breathe of fresh air and live life at a slightly slower pace, then perhaps Firewatch is the break you've been tryingIt is hard to compare Firewatch with it's other counterparts on the platform, as Firewatch offers a very unique experience in the current world of bells and whistles shooters, third person survival, and aimless fodder that's all too familiar. So if you feel like you need a breathe of fresh air and live life at a slightly slower pace, then perhaps Firewatch is the break you've been trying to catch?

    Firewatch almost feels like a one-man-show piece of theatre (accompanied by an off stage voice over), and you're allowed to progress through the events at your own pace. A pace that at times I pounded the forest floor, while at times I stopped to take in the vistas and the beautifully crafted environment. It's short, maybe five hours, but that's OK, the story feels probably weighted and not either eeked out or rushed, and in Firewatch, it's narrative and story that is King.

    The biggest problem with Firewatch are the controls, they are far from perfect. Sometimes rather frustrating. Although by the end of the experience I was more than competent and knew how to beat the gremlins that haunt the navigation.

    To summarise, if you like the idea of some gentle orienteering mixed with some very dramatic story ( with possibly some of the best voice acting in any game to date) then I would definitely recommend experiencing Firewatch at least once.    … Expand
  10. bobbsyw
    Sep 25, 2017
    7
    A nice story, that captures the feeling of loneliness brilliantly, but it's not really a game. Yes, you move a character through an environment and interact with stuff, but it's incredibly linear, and I think that I'm right in saying that it's impossible to fail at anything - you can't die, or run out of time, etc. You can, however, influence how the story ends through your dialogueA nice story, that captures the feeling of loneliness brilliantly, but it's not really a game. Yes, you move a character through an environment and interact with stuff, but it's incredibly linear, and I think that I'm right in saying that it's impossible to fail at anything - you can't die, or run out of time, etc. You can, however, influence how the story ends through your dialogue choices, but for me that isn't the definition of a game - more like a Choose Your Own Adventure on the TV. And considering that, the story is well crafted and laid out, so it's worth a punt.… Expand
  11. vahn
    Aug 26, 2019
    3
    I really wanted to like this game but, after reaching the very lackluster and disappointing ending, I was left with a huge sense of incompletion that only games who try to be pretentious seem to have.

    Let's start from the very beginning: the game, which is mostly story by the way, is about a man named Henry who decides to work as a fire lookout in order to escape his life for the summer    I really wanted to like this game but, after reaching the very lackluster and disappointing ending, I was left with a huge sense of incompletion that only games who try to be pretentious seem to have.

    Let's start from the very beginning: the game, which is mostly story by the way, is about a man named Henry who decides to work as a fire lookout in order to escape his life for the summer and in here he'll "meet" with a woman called Delilah, however something happens and you will have to discover why this is happening.

    I'm not going into spoilers but for what it was, it was very disappointing: it starts out very interesting at first but then it turns out it was just a flash in the pan, and the ending was just "there" to be made but with really no big send-off.
    I was told this game had a great story, and I think there was one somewhere buried beneath the rocks from mountains of this area, but it was so poorly written and explained that I just couldn't see the big picture. There WAS something but it was just there without an actual good explanation, and in the end it felt like none of my choices mattered: I could replay the game and I bet the results would be the exact same!

    Let's skip to the gameplay, which is barebone too: the place is rather large I'll give them that but with the inability to jump and being forced to go through forced paths throughout the area - and overall lack of exploration rewards - the big area feels as empty as a small mansion: it's big, nice and looks great at first glance, which I have to give them credit, but the interaction with the environment is very limited and you can only pick up some items and that's it.

    Overall, I don't think this game is bad, but it's just...uneventful, to say the least: something happens, which could lead to something interesting, but in reality nothing has really happened and I felt so underwhelmed when I finished the game because it just stops with nothing solved, nothing gained.

    Do I recommend? At full price no: try to find it at a discounted price and give it a look, although I got mine very cheap and I still don't think it was worth it.    … Expand
  12. mech
    Dec 30, 2016
    7
    It's a wonderful concept, but the execution is mediocre. For a game that takes place outdoors the movement is very poorly implemented. There's no free movement like in most modern open world games which I found very annoying, the game will block you with invisible walls and keep you moving along very limited invisible corridors. You can't even jump over a rock without a canned animation.It's a wonderful concept, but the execution is mediocre. For a game that takes place outdoors the movement is very poorly implemented. There's no free movement like in most modern open world games which I found very annoying, the game will block you with invisible walls and keep you moving along very limited invisible corridors. You can't even jump over a rock without a canned animation. Also I fell through and got stuck in the world geometry more than once.

    Other than that, it's quite short (like 3 hours?) and the mystery part of story is weak, but at the end of the day it's not about the actual story but rather about the interaction between the two people who got caught in it which I though was very well done and enjoyable.

    9/10 for the concept, 5/10 for the technical bits, 7/10 for the story.    … Expand
  13. drlowdon
    Apr 30, 2020
    6
    When his wife develops early-onset dementia, Henry takes a job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. On the first his boss Delilah sends him out to investigate illegal fireworks by the lake, but upon returning to his watchtower he finds it ransacked….

    Firewalk is essentially another addition to the ‘walking simulator’ genre, with the game largely involving walking    When his wife develops early-onset dementia, Henry takes a job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. On the first his boss Delilah sends him out to investigate illegal fireworks by the lake, but upon returning to his watchtower he finds it ransacked….

    Firewalk is essentially another addition to the ‘walking simulator’ genre, with the game largely involving walking around the forest pressing buttons when prompted to perform context sensitive actions. With such minimalist gameplay games of this ilk live or die by the quality of their story telling, and in large part thanks to the excellent voice acting, I did find myself drawn into the mystery. Unfortunately the ending doesn’t live up to the great premise, which was a big dampener on my overall experience, but if you like this genre of game this is a competent effort.    … Expand
  14. MikefromAngus
    Mar 19, 2018
    5
    The game started out very well. There was an atmosphere of mystery, I wanted to know what would happen next! the last 10% of the game is where the game loses a lot of points. It seems rushed. The gameplay mechanics are no very good. the game is very linear to the point where you cant walk over fallen logs.
  15. Unbiased
    Jan 2, 2017
    6
    *SPOILER* *SPOILER*

    I am about in the same boat as most people here. The game was great up until the end. I am not disappointed that the wild conspiracy plot that was being built up by the characters in the middle ended up not being what they thought. I thought that was a good twist and was cool. I, like many others, was let down by the end. I know some people are saying that its    *SPOILER* *SPOILER*

    I am about in the same boat as most people here. The game was great up until the end.

    I am not disappointed that the wild conspiracy plot that was being built up by the characters in the middle ended up not being what they thought. I thought that was a good twist and was cool. I, like many others, was let down by the end. I know some people are saying that its supposed to be like that. That its supposed to be like real life and suck. But no one wants "real" real life in games. I was left with emotions floating in the ether. I don't want that.

    Delilah acted in a way that I don't believe she really would have if it were real. You don't build up this relationship (complete with sexy time talk over the radio one night) then when it's time to go your just like "welp, gotta go. Maybe I might talk to you again. Later." On top of that not even being interested in seeing Henry at least once. If there were going to somehow be a part 2 or DLC Episode that sealed the deal, then that would be cool, but I dont think they will.

    Overall it's a good game(story) and is well made. I never experienced an issue except for a plane in the sky at the end that was stuck in place. The graphics were minimal but pretty. The writing was good (till the abrupt, lacking end) and the voice actors did amazing. Cissy Jones as Delilah was wonderful. I looked her up after the game and she is as pretty as Id have imagined Delilah to be. Her eyes smile. :D She is a great voice actress and has been in more games than I thought. Henry's voice actor is amazing as well.

    At any rate, a 6 out of 10 is not bad. With a better ending it could have reached 8-9 territory. I'm just a dude writing a review that most people will never see. My opinion doesn't count much but I figured id throw it out into the abyss. :)    … Expand
  16. nascent
    Oct 7, 2016
    8
    Firewatch is a really well made game. It's short, 2-4 hours (depending on how much you explore, and I recommend you explore a lot to make sense of the story), beautiful and full of intrigue. It's often called a 'walking simulator' and this fits fairly well, you walk from a to b, then b to c etc, while you investigate things and plot unravels. You're limited in actions, the gameFirewatch is a really well made game. It's short, 2-4 hours (depending on how much you explore, and I recommend you explore a lot to make sense of the story), beautiful and full of intrigue. It's often called a 'walking simulator' and this fits fairly well, you walk from a to b, then b to c etc, while you investigate things and plot unravels. You're limited in actions, the game completely depends on dialog. This is where you choices fall. You choose the questions/answers of the dialog, and this affects your understanding of the plot, so choose well. This game is a roller coaster of mystery and suspense. Sadly many people have been underwhelmed by the ending, but this is mostly due to human nature of imagination running amok and expectations getting out of control I found the ending completely satisfying and beautifully bleak.… Expand
  17. sityoazzdown
    Aug 19, 2019
    4
    Wait.. wha... what? What was the point of this game? was literally my last thoughts as the credits rolled. I bought this game because of my pleasant experience with what remains of edith finch, but this game just disappoints on all levels.
    Pros: Mildly interesting mystery.
    Cons: Framerate chugs literally every step i take in this game, to the point it was nauseating. The yellow/orangey    Wait.. wha... what? What was the point of this game? was literally my last thoughts as the credits rolled. I bought this game because of my pleasant experience with what remains of edith finch, but this game just disappoints on all levels.
    Pros: Mildly interesting mystery.
    Cons: Framerate chugs literally every step i take in this game, to the point it was nauseating. The yellow/orangey hint of the wilderness literally hurt my eyes. The dialogue between you and dialogue becomes quite pointless and uninteresting. The dialogue is like a choose your adventure game, except it's really not. The game was advertised as an light-hearted romp, it was anything but. There was no view in this game where I was blown away, it was drab and boring. The walking part was a chore, between the frame rate and bringing your map up every 15 seconds, what a chore. Like i said the mystery was mildly interesting and everything else isn't, I found myself just rushing to finish the game to see the ending (my god; the framerate). And then the game ends, and your just like...that was it? And by the way the collectibles (if you can even call it that) was literally collecting trash.
    To end, this game sucks..from the technical standpoint, gameplay standpoint, and story standpoint. This isn't buy when on sale, this is a wait for a ps plus, even then I would'nt reccomend it that much.    … Expand
  18. Markos-
    Feb 5, 2021
    7
    I enjoyed playing a simple game with a more mature storytelling and space for reflection. The camera made me feel a bit dizzy at times and the last few walks felt too long. Apart from that, interesting game that can be finished in around 5 hours.
  19. traskular
    Mar 27, 2018
    0
    Lead up, build up, for nothing. I don't feel good, I'm not sure I had a good time. There is no ending, don't waste your time :(
  20. chr1so
    Dec 27, 2017
    3
    I have no idea how this game has a semi-decent rating. It's just a nothing game really. Not fun, not exciting, no action, not really any puzzles. Just a time waster really.
  21. R3bbit
    Aug 21, 2023
    6
    After years of keeping this on my to play list due to great reviews and hype, I eventually got down to play this apparent masterpiece.

    Turns out it is the most overhyped game every released. Beautiful open world scenery.......nope, small areas you can circle within 10-15 seconds with subpar graphically details, no wildlife, flat trees and grass, bland environments and utterly terrible    After years of keeping this on my to play list due to great reviews and hype, I eventually got down to play this apparent masterpiece.

    Turns out it is the most overhyped game every released. Beautiful open world scenery.......nope, small areas you can circle within 10-15 seconds with subpar graphically details, no wildlife, flat trees and grass, bland environments and utterly terrible fps and pop in on ps5.

    Exciting mystery story......yes, the story had me hooked until the 70% mark...turned out to be one big nothing burger of a narrative....really....nothing but a waste of a few hours.

    Though not being an utterly bad game....it is not.....I however really suggest you just give this a complete miss.

    The one moment near the end of the game where the developers had a chance to bring some emotion or shock into the story....were a body is discovered...they drop the ball...no small cutscene or even change in music....you literally make a comment on the radio and step over the body and move on..

    Very weak.    … Expand
  22. DrZomboid
    Jan 16, 2018
    6
    Nice setting and nature, voice acting and mistery.
    Story is underwhelming after first half, too much running and run is slow. Need more ambiental sounds, map using is clumsy and difficult to reed often. And frame drops!
  23. PeterAlexander
    Aug 14, 2018
    9
    Firewatch is powerful in its simplicity. It tells a tale which combines pure heart-wrenching and somber moments, with those that are exhilarating, passionate and scary. The relationship formed between Henry and Delilah is simply beautiful and is the centrepiece of what is a charming yet thought-provoking game.
  24. MattchewHawk
    Sep 6, 2022
    9
    A great story. with an opening on par with Disneys Up. You really fall in love with Henry's character. Its not a long game, but the time you spend in its world sticks with you long after you finish playing it.
  25. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    5
    It starts off promising and has a fantastic presentation, but it falls apart by the end. Which is a shame because I wanted to love it.
  26. Eduarfin
    Jun 20, 2016
    10
    Surpreendentemente bom. Poderiam fazer uma sequencia. Finalmente um jogo de historia/drama que vale a pena, não aquelas baboseiras apocalípticas ou infantis.
  27. KayVen17
    Jul 25, 2019
    6
    + toller Grafikstil
    + gute Synchronsprecher
    + Musik geht in Ordnung
    + kurzes Spiel

    - nicht alle Möglichkeiten ausgeschöpft aus der Handlung
    - Ende ist ernüchternd
    - Gameplay kommt zu kurz
  28. FabioC
    Aug 7, 2016
    9
    Beautiful story, immersive and emotional, maybe a little short, but if you try to understand what Henry is feeling you'll be amazed by the plot. Nice graphics, wonderful audio, some frame skipping and long loading, but the style and the acting is awesome.
  29. dolphindiddler
    Jul 6, 2016
    6
    This game is very divisive. I can only sum that thought up by the idea of expectation.

    Typically when I go into one of these games I watch the trailer and see what the length is. Already knowing this was a narrative driven game I had little expectation other than an intriguing story, which to a point I agree with. The trailer frames the game up to be a thrilling mystery with discovery    This game is very divisive. I can only sum that thought up by the idea of expectation.

    Typically when I go into one of these games I watch the trailer and see what the length is. Already knowing this was a narrative driven game I had little expectation other than an intriguing story, which to a point I agree with. The trailer frames the game up to be a thrilling mystery with discovery and intrigue. I was having a rough week (low on money, family issues, etc.) and wanted to have a quick getaway so this game would be perfect.
    I beat the game on one sitting with my girlfriend watching and we were let down by how everything abruptly ended, leaving us with very little to mull over. At the end the game's purpose is to tell you that resistance is futile and you shouldn't run away from your problems.

    In that sense it felt like a waste of 3-4 hours when the marketing for the game framed it up to be a much different experience. I understand that this is "art" and for us to interpret, but being that divisive puts a bad taste in my mouth. It would be like buying the new halo game and all you do is throw pillows at people. While throwing pillows is fun, you need to be in a specific mood to do so.

    I was happy to support the Campo Santo studio in hopes that the continue making games. If it wasn’t for the obvious love and articulate care I see behind the product, I would’ve given this game a 4 or 5. There are a lot of aspects to this game that I liked. I just don't care for how they manipulated the marketing to be something other than what it is.    … Expand
  30. Slobr18
    Aug 23, 2016
    8
    Firewatch is an amazing game, with great gameplay, and great graphics. The only down side with the game is it's ending, it feels rushed and goes completely off tone the game set up. If you like more character driven games, play Firewatch.
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Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
70
#70 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 45
  3. Negative: 1 out of 45
  1. games(TM)
    Apr 4, 2016
    70
    Firewatch is a brief but enjoyable experience set in a stunning and lovingly crafted environment, but there is no real ending – there’s simply the place where you stopped reading the story.
    Read full review
  2. IBTimes UK
    Apr 2, 2016
    80
    Firewatch is a simple game that tells a simple, far from impactful, tale, which approaches greatness thanks to superb writing, acting and design work. Gameplay is kept light and straightforward, but is always engaging – befitting a game that revels in the unique storytelling potential of games. This is a new studio's debut title, but it bears the quality of a product made by a team of veterans who have a great deal more to offer.
    Read full review
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 31, 2016
    70
    Dares to ask us how we deal with mistakes. It’s a shame the answer it provides is flat and unfulfilling. [April 2016, p76]
See all critic reviews »