Firewatch is a single-player first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness in 1989. You play as Henry, a man who has retreated from his messy life to work as a fire lookout. Perched high atop a mountain, your only emotional connection to the world is over a handheld radio with your supervisor, Delilah. As strange events occur, you explore the wild environment and unravel a mystery that tests your only relationship.

No, Firewatch is not a horror game, though it has moments of tension, suspense, and unease. It is primarily a narrative-driven adventure (often called a 'walking simulator') that focuses on dialogue, exploration, and character development. The mystery can be creepy at times, but there are no jump scares or monsters.

Firewatch is a relatively short experience, typically taking about 4 to 6 hours to complete. The game is designed to be played like an interactive movie or a short novel, prioritizing pacing and storytelling over length or repetitive gameplay loops.

This is a major plot point. Throughout the game, you communicate constantly with Delilah via radio, building a complex relationship. Whether you actually meet her face-to-face is a central question that drives the narrative forward. The game explores themes of isolation and connection without relying on physical presence.

Firewatch is renowned for its stunning stylized visuals created by Olly Moss. The game features vibrant, saturated colors that change with the time of day, creating a painterly aesthetic reminiscent of 1930s National Park posters. The golden sunsets, deep blue nights, and misty forests make it one of the most visually distinct indie games.

Firewatch was the debut game of Campo Santo, a studio founded by veterans from Telltale Games and Klei Entertainment. The writing was led by Sean Vanaman, and the art direction by Olly Moss. In 2018, Campo Santo was acquired by Valve Corporation.

Firewatch generally has a single canonical ending to its story. However, dialogue choices throughout the game affect Henry's relationship with Delilah and the tone of their conversations. While the major plot beats remain the same, the emotional nuance of the conclusion can vary based on how you interacted with Delilah.

Yes, Firewatch is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Windows, Mac, Linux). It runs well on most modern systems, though the Nintendo Switch version has been optimized to handle the open-world environments on handheld hardware.

After completing the main story, a 'Free Roam' mode is unlocked (in some versions, it's a special feature). This allows players to explore the Shoshone National Forest map freely with a dynamic day/night cycle, finding collectibles and secrets they might have missed during the narrative campaign, without the pressure of plot progression.

The term 'walking simulator' is used to describe games that focus on exploration and narrative rather than combat or complex mechanics. Firewatch fits this genre as gameplay mainly involves hiking, navigating with a map and compass, and choosing dialogue options. It is praised for elevating the genre with its reactive dialogue system and compelling mystery.