Firewatch
A first-person adventure set in a Wyoming forest in 1989, with simple puzzles and no free roam mode.
Firewatch is a 2016 adventure game from Campo Santo, which co-published it with Panic. It launched in February 2016 on Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, and Windows, with an Xbox One version following in September 2016 and a Nintendo Switch release in December 2018. The game centers on Henry, a fire lookout stationed in Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest. He communicates with his supervisor, Delilah, via walkie-talkie, and the player selects dialogue options that shape their evolving relationship. Over the summer, the pair contend with unseen threats and investigate a mystery spanning several years.
The game was directed by Olly Moss and Sean Vanaman, written by Sean Vanaman, Olly Moss, and Chris Remo, and produced by Gabe McGill and artist Jane Ng. Jake Rodkin served as a designer and producer. Ng modeled the environment after a single painting by Moss, with design influences from New Deal-era National Park Service advertisements and field research in Shoshone National Forest.
Firewatch earned generally positive reviews, praised for its story, characters, dialogue, and visuals, though technical issues and the ending drew criticism. It won Best 3D Visual Experience at the Unity Awards 2016, Best Indie Game at the 2016 Golden Joystick Awards, Best Narrative at the 2017 Game Developers Choice Awards, and Debut Game at the 2017 British Academy Games Awards. By 2018, it had sold over 2.5 million copies.
**Gameplay**
Firewatch is a first-person adventure game set in Wyoming in 1989. Like many walking simulators, it lacks combat but includes simple puzzles. The player controls Henry, a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest. By exploring the area, Henry uncovers clues about strange events tied to his ransacked tower and a shadowy figure watching him from a distance. Navigation relies on a compass and a map that Henry annotates as he progresses.
Henry’s only communication tool is a walkie-talkie linking him to Delilah. She assigns minor tasks—like checking on campers using fireworks—and engages in conversation. The player chooses from dialogue options when discovering new objects or environments, or may stay silent. These choices affect the tone of Henry’s relationship with Delilah. As the story advances, new areas open up, and events occur at different times of day. Supply caches contain items like ropes for accessing new locations. Other objects, such as a dispo
- Developer
- Campo Santo
- Publisher
- Campo Santo in partnership with Panic
- Release Date
- February 2016 (initial); September 2016 (Xbox One); December 2018 (Nintendo Switch)
- Platforms
- Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Adventure game (walking simulator)
- Directors
- Olly Moss and Sean Vanaman
- Sales
- Over 2.5 million copies by 2018
Lore & Background
Firewatch follows Henry, a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming, who communicates with his supervisor Delilah via walkie-talkie. The player chooses dialog options that influence the tone of their relationship. Over the summer, Henry and Delilah are menaced by unseen forces and unravel a years-old mystery involving a missing boy named Brian Goodwin and his father Ned, a former lookout. The game features no combat but includes simple puzzles, relying on exploration and narrative choices.
Reader's Guide
Firewatch is significant as the debut game of Campo Santo, founded by former Telltale Games and other industry veterans. Its development began with a single painting by artist Olly Moss, inspired by New Deal-era National Park Service posters, and the team conducted field research in Yosemite National Park. The game's environmental art, modeled by Jane Ng, hand-crafted 23 types of trees placed 4,600 times. Firewatch won awards for Best 3D Visual Experience, Best Indie Game, Best Narrative, and Debut Game. Its legacy includes critical praise for its story and visual style, though technical issues and the ending drew criticism. By 2018, it had sold over 2.5 million copies, cementing its place as a notable indie title in the walking simulator genre.
Did You Know?
- Firewatch was developed by a team of 11 people—eight in-house and three remote workers.
- The game's environment was based on a single painting by Olly Moss, who emulated New Deal-era National Park Service posters.
- The game features a free roam mode unlocked upon completion, with a day-night cycle and no objectives.
- A developer commentary mode adds listening stations with cassettes providing behind-the-scenes information.
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