tl;dr: I really liked Firewatch and you should play, unless this style of game doesn't appeal to you. Minor Spoilers I guess I loved every second of Firewatch, unquestionably. It made me feel like I was the one who decided what Henry does, not the invisible hand of the game. Which isn't to say that the game gives you infinite freedom. More that it makes you *feel* like you have a lot of freedom. It immerses you in a story with excellent dialogue performances and a great script. Lots of little details make the dialogue feel natural and unique, even though your actual path is quite linear. The cost of such a gripping story is that every event, from those small details to the biggest twist, is ruined when you know what's going to happen. Messing with someones campsite and later finding a furious note from them felt really organic, but on replay it felt forced. And that's why I wouldn't recommend replaying Firewatch unless you desperately want to. I wouldn't suggesting trying to get it all done in an afternoon either. Play a few in-game days every day, it adds a lot to just think about what has happened so far, and some days leave a delightful amount of tension and mystery. The environment is stunning, with a beautiful art style and direction. The use of bold color is lovely and adds a lot of character which contributes to the timelessness of the game, most realistic graphics aren't always the best and this game proves it. Chris Remo doesn't disappoint, and the soundtrack is also fantastic. Those who say it's too short or not "enough of a game" really miss how much value games provide, and how flexible games are as a medium. Even just 3-4 hours of gameplay for 20 dollars still costs less per hour than a movie. Finally, I think that the argument about whether or not Firewatch is a game is dumb. It is, plain and simple. If you want a rich narrative in a beautiful setting, this is your game. If you want more solid gameplay, which is totally fine, then it isn't for you.
