Firewatch (2016)

Developer: Campo Santo
Publisher: Panic, Campo Santo
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Adventure, Indie
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 98,608 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 5.0 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A lonely, contemplative hike through a beautiful wilderness, driven by radio conversations and a growing sense of unease.

atmosphericmysteriousquietintrospectivetenseconversationalshortbeautiful

What players say

Players praise Firewatch for its beautiful visuals and immersive atmosphere, but opinions split on the story: some find it deeply personal and emotional, while others call the ending anticlimactic and the choices meaningless. The game is a short, linear walking simulator that takes 4 to 6 hours to finish.

Screenshots

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.