10 Small Video Games That Left HUGE Impacts

Multi award-winning indie smash Firewatch sees Henry take a job as a fire lookout one spring in the scenic wilderness of Wyoming. Secluded from the world outside, his only contact is with his boss Deliah through a walkie-talkie.

While at first Henry’s new job is the peaceful change of pace he was looking for, the discovery of teenagers with fireworks soon leads down a twisting rabbit hole lined with conspiracy, mystery, and paranoia.

Though the engaging mystery is a huge factor in what makes Firewatch so enthralling, it’s the stunning forest landscape which first draws players into Henry's world. Sometimes beautiful and melancholic while threatening and untameable at others, the environments players explore are utilised to their fullest to create as immersive an experience as possible.

Like Henry, players will be swept up in the growing conspiracy and the vast wilderness will feel like it's closing in around them. However, no matter how pressing Henry's situation seems, his rapport with Delilah accentuates the deeply human aspects of his ordeal.

By the time Henry's time in the woods is over, Firewatch reminds players that escapism isn't always the answer. Sometimes it's better to face your problems rather than running away from them.