Subj : A Firewatch replay
To   : All
From : Mike Powell
Date : Sun Jul 19 2026 09:35:06

I replayed Firewatch a decade on  and its storytelling is still some of the 
best Ive ever experienced

Date:
Sat, 18 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0000

From the Backlog 

We come back to the emotional storytelling of Firewatch a decade after 
release -- When developer Campo Santo
released Firewatch in 2016, it was an unexpected hit. A debut title launching 
from a tiny indie studio with zero combat and doing really well is usually 
the stuff of fantasy, but Firewatch surpassed expectations  and it certainly 
surprised me.

Firewatch follows Henry, a man with a harrowing past. His
wife, diagnosed with early-onset dementia, has been moved across the world to 
be cared for by her family. So, Henry makes a complicated decision to throw 
himself into an even lonelier situation by becoming a fire lookout in an 
expansive national park. Hes searching, perhaps, for an answer to all his 
problems. Its one of those games that doesnt sound incredibly captivating. I 
mean, how hard can living in a remote tower looking out for flames really be? 
But its Firewatch s narrative-driven storyline where the true magic lies, 
carrying you on an unsuspecting journey over a number of hours.

For some players, it could be a dull proposition. If Im honest, 10 years ago, 
I wasnt really into solely storytelling games. My brain worked a lot faster, 
and I was heavy into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (and Im still busy writing my 
feature wishlist for The Witcher 4 ). Yet, I played Firewatch on a whim, and 
it changed my mind.

As the From the Backlog series launched, it felt like the perfect excuse to 
replay it. Oh, and the fact its celebrating its 10th anniversary!

The biggest surprise for me was how little I remembered. I had forgotten the 
immediate depth the narrative throws at you as conversations unfold on 
screen. I almost felt like Id never played the game at all. I became lost in 
thought about whether I actually paid enough attention the first time around. 

Everything I loved back then was still here  the art style, the mystery, and 
the problem-solving. But, as Ive told people over the last ten years that 
they should play Firewatch, Ive always been at a loss when it comes to 
explaining why. Now, I know exactly why. While Firewatch presents as a game 
thatll follow just Henry, its the conversations he holds over his radio with 
Deliah, another lookout based across the park, that are utterly captivating. 

Like Rob Dwiars Eastshade retrospective, Firewatch is a lesson in how to slow 
down wrapped up in a video game. This second time around, my mid-30s brain 
appreciated the pace, and for a replay, it almost felt like I was playing an 
entirely different game.

Through voice acting alone, they banter, swear, and even flirt at 
times. There are laughs shared, memories unravelled, and a deep connection 
sets itself firmly at the center of the game. 

Perhaps its because youre alone, or perhaps its because Campo Santo knew how 
to make you care, but whatever it was, it still works. Delilahs constant 
reassurance (and occasional squabbling) over the radio is so much richer when 
theres absolutely nothing to distract you. I realised Ive been searching for 
this same feeling in games over the last decade.

Ive played titles from What Remains of Edith Finch to, most recently, 2026s 
Will: Follow The Light , but while their storytelling is enchanting, nothing 
looks the way Firewatch does. Something about the vibrant hues and vintage 
aesthetic makes me listen, and it turns out, all I needed was a replay to 
remember how intense and emotionally compelling the story really is. 

As the days passed in my fire lookout tower, I didnt want the story to end. I 
didnt want to bury Firewatch for another ten years. And yet, after a handful 
of hours, it had come to an end once again. 

At least, I thought, Im finishing this time round safe in the knowledge that 
if I played again in 2036, Id still get to feel the same way about this game. 
Oh, and Ill also remember that Ill always be bad at reading maps.

Link to news story:

https://www.techradar.com/gaming/i-replayed-firewatch-a-decade-on-and-its-stor
ytelling-is-still-some-of-the-best-ive-ever-experienced

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