[SPOILER ALERT, ENDING REVEAL]
I played Firewatch, a walking sim by Camp Santo for outdoorsy young adults and older. This is a beautiful, intimate, and slightly disturbing mystery. I actually watched my friend play the first half a while ago, so I chose to play the second half for this critical play. Walking tells several stories in Firewatch—the mystery behind Brian/Ned Goodwin, the unsettling air of this National Forest and its workers such as Delilah, and even my own story as Henry.
As I dove into Firewatch’s back half, I found myself captivated not just by its stunning visuals and immersive environment, but by the layers of storytelling woven throughout the game. At its core, Firewatch is a mystery, and it’s one that doesn’t just unfold through dialogue and cutscenes, but through the very act of walking and exploring the wilderness of the Shoshone National Forest.
The mystery of Brian/Ned Goodwin looms large throughout the game, and as I wandered through the forest, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his story than met the eye. The clues scattered throughout the environment hinted at a tragic tale of a young boy lost in the wilderness, and the truth behind his disappearance was somehow darker than I initially anticipated. Walking underground to see his body was so shocking. There was no real build up to it either, so it happened as I was just eating my TAP quesadilla. I thought he would’ve just disappeared. But instead, they really made me feel like I walked in on a crime scene.
But it wasn’t just the central mystery that kept me engaged—it was also the characters I encountered along the way. Delilah, my only real point of contact in the outside world, added a layer of complexity to the story with her cryptic messages and mysterious past. Was she hiding something from me, or was she just as much a victim of the forest’s secrets as I was? She left me behind which is crazy, and THEN I straight up missed the helicopter (-> end credits) because I only play when I’m eating. So, it’s a dark ending for me!
And then there was my own story as Henry, a man grappling with his own demons and seeking purpose in the solitude of the wilderness. As I walked through the forest, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of growing kinship with Henry, so as the game drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on the choices I had made and the paths I had taken, wondering if I had truly found the closure I was searching for.
Firewatch is a testament to the power of storytelling in video games, and a reminder that sometimes the most compelling narratives are the ones we uncover ourselves, step by step, as we wander through the virtual worlds that developers create. Whether you’re a fan of mystery games or simply enjoy exploring beautiful, immersive environments, Firewatch is a walking sym that shouldn’t be missed.
