With about 4-5 hours of gameplay (closer to 5 if, like me, you have a terrible sense of direction), Firewatch is a perfect bite-sized game. It’s the kind of experience you can easily finish in an afternoon or evening. And that’s a good thing, because once you start, you’ll want to see how it ends as quickly as possible.
This is one of those games where going in blind really enhances the experience, so I won’t reveal too much about the story. What I can say is that the short, simple intro immediately sets up a powerful premise that hit me hard. The concise backstory that introduces protagonist Henry (voiced by Rich Sommer, who you might know as Harry Crane from Mad Man) spans several years, detailing how he met his wife Julia and how their relationship evolved over time.
The ups and downs described in the intro not only introduce Henry and Julia but also give you a sense of developer Campo Santo’s intentions. Right from the start, it’s clear that Firewatch isn’t a fairy tale. Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, and the developer makes it evident that they’re not interested in creating that illusion. This is a story about human emotions, real lives, and all the baggage that comes with them.
Escaping Reality
When Henry’s wife, Julia, begins showing signs of dementia at the young age of 41, their lives are understandably turned upside down. The situation quickly worsens, taking a heavy emotional toll on Henry.
There are many ways to escape reality—some people dive into video games, while others choose complete isolation, like taking a job as a fire lookout in the remote Shoshone National Forest. Henry opts for the latter, and this is where our adventure begins. Firewatch follows Henry’s daily life as a fire lookout, which soon becomes far more thrilling and mysterious than just chasing off teenagers who are setting off fireworks and causing trouble in the woods.
You’re Not Completely Alone
From the moment you arrive at your new post, you’re in contact with your supervisor, Delilah (voiced brilliantly by Cissy Jones, known for her roles as Joyce Price in Life is Strange and Katjaa, Kenny’s wife in Telltale’s The Walking Dead), via walkie-talkie. Since she’s your only point of contact throughout the game, it’s crucial that these interactions are engaging and hold your attention. Campo Santo absolutely nails this.
Henry and Delilah share a wonderful connection. Both are nearly isolated in the wilderness and find comfort in each other’s company. Every time I had the chance to reach out (and thankfully, those opportunities are frequent), I looked forward to their witty, sarcastic exchanges.
Their conversations often brought a smile to my face. Delilah is presented with such charisma that I often had to remind myself that ‘I’ still had a wife—a wife who would soon no longer recognize me. In contrast to that harsh reality, Delilah’s sparkling personality and the undeniable chemistry between the two firewatchers stand out. It’s a connection that, based on the brief introduction, mirrors what Henry once had with Julia.
During your talks with Delilah, you can choose from multiple responses, adding a bit of replay value to the experience.
Exploring the Forest: Sometimes Fantastic, Sometimes Frustrating
Delilah sends you out daily for various tasks. As mentioned earlier, on day one, you’re tasked with dealing with some troublemakers. To navigate, you rely on a compass and a map—neither of which is displayed on a HUD but is instead held in Henry’s hand. While this adds to the immersion, it doesn’t always benefit the gameplay. I spent way too much time trying to find the right paths while avoiding those that turned out to be blocked.
“While the exploration could be irritating at times, I never grew tired of the breathtaking landscape Campo Santo created.”
To be fair, I would be able to get lost in my own tiny backyard without GPS, but I’m not willing to take the full blame here. As a player, it’s not always obvious which routes are accessible in the game. When you need to head north, it’s rarely as simple as just following your compass. You’ll often run into small obstacles, like a hill you can’t climb or a thicket that requires a specific tool to pass through. Early on, I didn’t mind this, but as the game progressed, it became increasingly frustrating.
Thankfully, Firewatch is visually stunning. While the exploration could be irritating at times, I never grew tired of the breathtaking landscape Campo Santo created. Whether it’s the sun shining low between the trees, the full moon hiding behind the watchtower, or a peaceful stream surrounded by pink flowers—it all looks picture-perfect. The game doesn’t force you to pick up scattered beer cans, but I often found myself doing so just to keep the forest looking as beautiful as possible.
Whenever Henry stumbles upon something special, he can call Delilah to share it. For example, you can report a gorgeous view, which sparks a short dialogue where they exchange thoughts about Henry’s find.
Another example is discovering claw marks from a bear on a tree stump. For Henry (and me), this was quite alarming, but for Delilah, it was no big deal. Henry’s panic humorously contrasts with Delilah’s complete refusal to reassure the newbie firewatcher.
Scattered across the map are several supply caches. You unlock these with the, as my Henry sarcastically called it, “very secure” code 1-2-3-4. Inside, you’ll find a map update and sometimes tools like a flashlight, or letters that offer insights into the experiences of the firewatchers who came before you.
The Isolation and Tension Are Palpable
During my walks, I gradually became increasingly aware of an eerie feeling—a sense of not being completely alone. Firewatch is certainly not a horror game, but it convincingly evokes a sense of discomfort. This is heightened by events in the story, with tension building at a perfect pace.
The atmosphere between Henry and Delilah is often light and familiar, but it can shift dramatically in response to certain events, and those moments are brilliantly brought to life by the tiny cast. You know you only have each other, but even that connection feels tenuous, as communication is limited to a walkie-talkie. You realize that if something happens in this forest—whether it’s a grizzly bear or someone with ill intentions—you’re ultimately on your own. Each time this realization struck me, a shiver ran down my spine.
By the Time the Credits Rolled, I Was Left Feeling Disappointed for Several Reasons
For me, all this built-up tension wasn’t fully realized when the game ended after about five hours, though. I completely understand what Campo Santo was aiming for in the final phase, and I can appreciate it to some extent. However, I personally would have preferred a different outcome. Not only did I find some elements not entirely logical upon reflection, but I also had envisioned a scenario that I would have liked to see more than what the developers ultimately went for.
Conclusion
Firewatch is a stunning adventure both visually and emotionally. The dynamic between protagonist Henry and Delilah is captivating, and their many interactions never grew dull.
Exploring the beautifully designed Shoshone National Forest is a delight for the eyes, though it can be frustrating from a technical standpoint at times. Aside from the last phase, which I found personally disappointing, this is a game I won’t soon forget and would recommend to anyone in the mood for a short gaming experience.
