Firewatch

Firewatch is a very good plunge into an atmospheric forest reserve in the middle of wild Wyoming. You'll get to experience the sights, sounds and wonders of a beautifully crafted world. Sparsed inbetween is a great look into the human mind and what makes someone tick at all. Spoilers: I'm glad that whatever huge thing some players were expecting did not happen. The end result is more real and more dramatic. I really liked that.

If you like story-driven games, this one will hook you up. The narrative is solid, the two main and only actors are pretty strong and deliver hitting dialogues which make you care about them. By the end of the game, I was nearly in love with Delilah, even if it was just a voice over the radio. Yeah, falling in love for a voice, sounds strange, right? So, why not 5 stars? Because choices don't affect the ending, but I don't it's a major let down in this case, because such "fake" choices have a purpose: to plunge you deeply in the story. So, 4 stars because of the marvellous job done by the two actors. They did amazing voice acting. Reccomended ONLY to people who loves to immerse theirselves in games.

A great, but short game with an engaging story and relationship that unfolds over a radio. The scenery is lovely, and the tension builds as you slowly explore the location and events that occur. For the most part, you can go at your own pace, so don't expect this to be a pulse-pounding action ride, although it does have its tense parts. If you want something you can relax into while still having an emotional attachment to the plot, this is the game for you. I completed it in only a few hours, but there's a free-roam mode available after completion of the main game if you want to explore further.

Some may call this a "walking simulator", but it is more than that, it feels more like reading a book, you just want to see more of it, find the little secrets, explore all the nooks and be in the right place at the right time. It is well written and focused, with likeable and somehow relatable characters, by the time of the big reveal I had several theories in my mind (even some outlandish ones - I blame the duck for that) and that's a good sign for a story. Excellent game, probably the best "walking simulator" I have ever played. I'll replay it some time in the future to see if my decisions actually have some impact in the ending.

There is something very... cozy... about hearing the banter between you and the other ranger as you absorb the feeling of isolation and its weird... you feel safe up there. If they made an entire game of just day to day duties with them talking I'd buy the game. Not for everyone to be sure, but those looking for an experience this is one to get.