Firewatch Reviews

Firewatch is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
GBAtemp
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 13, 2016

I really liked Firewatch. I really liked Delilah. I really liked the story told, even if the game doesn't end in an interesting or exciting way. Firewatch is simply the type of game you'd turn to if you're in the mood for story telling. It's a one-off game, and something that can be enjoyed without really putting much effort into playing it.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 9, 2016

Like a good thriller, the whole time I was playing Firewatch I was completely engaged and couldn't wait to see where the story went next. The tale raises interesting questions about solitude, privacy and paranoia. However, a weak ending and some occasionally strange pacing ultimately detracts from Firewatch's spark of greatness.

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Sep 27, 2016

The ending really was disappointing, but it’s so superbly done in every other department that it really doesn’t matter. People will be talking about their experiences with Henry and Delilah rather than what happened afterwards. Find yourself a free afternoon, no distractions or spoilers, and experience Firewatch.

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B+
Apr 16, 2020

I found myself melancholy when all was said and done, and although I’ll likely never get to hear more about the lives of Delilah and Henry, I’m grateful for the summer I got to spend with the two of them. Firewatch seems to want players to understand that sometimes, life is about the moments you’ll never get back, the decisions you can never unmake. I’m glad I chose to spend that night in the woods with Campo Santos’ inspired first effort.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 8, 2016

An industry supergroup brings together their experience to tell an engaging narrative in a beautiful world. Firewatch explores love and commitment through two of the most authentic videogame characters I've seen. A simply wonderful game.

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8 / 10
Feb 22, 2016

In the heart of its beautiful landscapes, Firewatch tells an engaging, mysterious story that explores many aspects of human nature. And despite a few flaws, Firewatch is a kind of a game that you don't see very often. With its fantastic characters and superb dialogues, Firewatch is one of the most memorable few hours of this year that you will remember for some time.

Review in Persian | Read full review

9 / 10
Aug 6, 2017

All in all, I loved playing through Firewatch and ended up finishing it in a single epic 4-hour long session that ended at almost 2 a.m. I highly recommend this purchase to gamers looking for a different experience from your usual gaming sessions.

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Sep 26, 2016

After finishing 'Firewatch', I sat in a kind of stunned silence for awhile, the same way I do after watching a particularly powerful movie. It's the rare game that makes you feel something human, something ethereal and difficult to describe. It's not a long game but I finished it in one sitting, completely spellbound. If you are at all a fan of gaming as a method of storytelling, you should probably play 'Firewatch'.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2016

With both the beauty of Firewatch and its varied tones and exploration, this is one game that will resonate with players just as variously. As such, I wonder if, like Life is Strange or Beyond: Two Souls, there is a "set path" that the developers plotted out where everything lines up perfectly if these "set decisions" are made.

74 / 100
Feb 16, 2016

It's a beautiful, beguiling place to spend some time, absolutely worth it while you're there, but sooner rather than later you'll yearn to shed its shackles, to get off the beaten path.

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8.2 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2016

But in the end, Firewatch is one of those games that will satisfy those looking for a more cerebral, perhaps even sentimental interactive adventure. It's only about 4-5 hours in length and in some ways, that does feel too short given the amount of unanswered questions that continue to bounce around our brains. Still, the game offers one such a unique and palpable sense of tension, and it excels in the realm of pure immersion.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 11, 2016

Firewatch shows how a good combination of narrative, character interactions, exploration, and visuals can create a unique experience that keeps gamers engaged despite the limits of the actual gameplay.

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63 / 100
Feb 15, 2016

Despite its technical hitches and messy conclusion, Firewatch's study of a flowering friendship makes for a riveting experience, against a gorgeous backdrop that breathes with fragile solitude.

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6 / 10
Feb 12, 2016

Firewatch has got an interesting style to it, but it just doesn’t have the follow-through. It’s not a terrible game, but rather an undercooked one. Those looking for something new will likely appreciate its unique style, but even the most fervent of fans will be aware of its faults.

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Sep 22, 2016

You seriously need to play Firewatch. It's a five-star game, and an experience I will remember for a long, long time. Now that there's been a release on Xbox One, nobody has an excuse to miss out.

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Adam Riley
Top Critic
8 / 10
Mar 5, 2017

Do not let the ending put you off Firewatch, nor let the talk of 'Walking Simulator' give any sort of preconceived notion of this being boring. What has been delivered is one of the most engaging narrative experiences in recent times, draped beautifully over a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, with plenty of scope for going back to uncover more details, finding new conversation avenues, and stumbling upon all manner of intriguing information not seen the first time round.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 19, 2018

Firewatch has an affective and engaging story that draws you in, and I couldn't put the game down after the halfway point. What initially seems like more of a relaxing walking simulator becomes something more consequential and dire. Anyone interested in great stories—not just those told through video games—needs to pick up Firewatch. Like Celeste and GRIS, Firewatch is a triumph of artistic and thought-provoking game design, and it can remind you of summer as you bundle up for the cold winter ahead.

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8.4 / 10.0
Mar 18, 2016

Overall, Firewatch is a game you want to spend time in if you just want pure conversation and story. The narrative is what makes this game great even if it's a 5 to 7 hours of gameplay. And if you want to have pure adult-rated amusing conversations and jaw-dropping views of landscapes, then Firewatch is the game you definitely need to try out.

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4.5 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2016

Unfortunately, Firewatch left me unfulfilled to say the least.

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10 / 10.0
Nov 8, 2024

Firewatch is a masterpiece in the walking simulator genre and is a must-try for anyone looking for something more introspective. If you're going to give it a try, get ready for it to be added to your best games list.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review