History VideoGame / Firewatch

Henry is a middle-aged man, happily married to his wife, Julia. Ever since he learned that she was suffering from early onset dementia, however, he has been struggling with how to care for her, if he even should. One day, he finds an ad for a [[TitleDrop firewatch]] position in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming, and takes it to get away and maybe contemplate. Arriving at the tower that is to be his home for the summer, his only regular human contact is the radio voice of the senior watcher in the next tower over.

* TheFaceless: Everyone in the entire game, since you never really get to look to another person in the eye. [[spoiler: Delilah only ever communicates with you via radio. Jules' face on your photo is [[PlotBasedPhotographObfuscation obscured by her own camera]]. The two drunk girls only appear as silhouettes in the distance. The only time you see Ned, he shines a flashlight in your face. The firemen at the firebreak are long gone by the time you reach their camp. The fireman who hauls you aboard the chopper has a fogged-up visor. Even Brian's dead, withered body is buried under rubble from the shoulders up]]. You do, however, get to see your own face in several photographs and sketches. [[spoiler:As well as Ned's and Brian's.]]
* FirstPersonSnapshooter: At one point of the game, you find a disposable camera which you can use to take pictures, naturally: these pictures [[CreativeClosingCredits are shown in the end credits]], and afterwards you're given a link to view them online and can even have [[{{Feelies}} physical versions of them delivered to you]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The fact that the wilderness is actually a very dangerous place is constantly foreshadowed up until [[spoiler:TheReveal.]] E.g., early in the introduction Henry walks past a trail head sign that states very clearly these trails are dangerous and for experienced hikers only.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Ned's paranoia causes him to obsess over monitoring Henry and Delilah, which in turn provokes them into trying to figure out what is going on when they would've just ignored him in the first place. Additionally, his fake conspiracy ends up getting himself discovered, and creates the massive forest fire that drives him from his makeshift home.]]
* HollywoodDarkness: Even though you have a flashlight, you never really need to use it. There is plenty of blacklight even inside the cave, or at night.

* InsurmountableWaistHeightFence: The player cannot stray far from the main paths before bumping into insurmountable bushes and knolls which can get frustrating over time.

* ItsAllMyFault: [[spoiler:Delilah feels this way upon the discovery of Brian's body. Because she allowed Ned to keep Brian with him on the site, she feels like she's responsible for his death. The news of his death leads to her having a HeroicBSOD for the remainder of the game.]]

* ManipulativeEditing: [[spoiler: The first recording left for you by Ned is a segment of one of your radio conversations with Delilah in which she tries to convince you that burning down a campsite is the best course of action. It's edited to make the evidence even more damning. ]]

* MinimalistCast: Henry doesn't interact with many people during the course of the game, which makes sense as he's in the middle of nowhere. The few people he does interact with are either just a voice on the radio (Delilah), or obscure figures off in the distance (the two teens, and... other visitors). [[spoiler: In fact, in the entire game you only come face-to-face up close with one other human being, and that person had absolutely no role in the plot whatsoever (it's the rescue personnel who helps you get into the evac chopper at the end and even they are wearing a helmet that covers their face).]]
* MinorCrimeRevealsMajorPlot: [[spoiler:Ned vandalizing the lookout, and [[CutPhoneLines cutting the Thorofare wire]] - Vandalism and Destruction of Public Property, end up exposing much more serious crimes, Attempted {{Blackmail}}, [[StalkerWithoutACrush Stalking]], and Arson, which reveals the entire plot in the first place, Manslaughter and Obstruction of Justice.]]
* MoralMyopia: Delilah has a history of playing loose with the rules and she has frequently encouraged you to do things which would get everyone in trouble. Not to mention lying to the authorities on multiple occasions.]] All that is [[KarmaHoudini being passed over]] since she is on your side.

* NothingIsScarier: In the entire run of the game, you there are no people you can see in the face, but most of the time you know or suspect that someone is out there.

* TheParanoiac: Ned. [[spoiler:The 80% of the events of the game would have been avoided if he hadn't been paranoid about Henry]]
* PlatonicLifePartners: Henry and Delilah seem to have this type of relationship. Delilah reveals that she never talks to the other rangers like the way she talks to Henry. It's also implied that she might have developed feelings for him, despite his marital status.

* RedHerring: [[spoiler:The possible government conspiracy, turns out to be nothing more than a grieving or guilt-ridden father who can't get over the death of his son. It's up to the player to decide if his son, Brian, was murdered by his father or died by accident during a hiking trip.]]
* TheReveal: [[spoiler:Brian Goodman never went home like Delilah thought. He died years ago in the Shoshone forest because of his dad's recklessness and he covered it up.]]

* ShellShockedVeteran: Ned served in Vietnam and was discharged due to personal issues which carried over into his later profession as a watchman...[[spoiler: and conspirator]].

** One cache contains a hoodie from [[VideoGame/TheLastOfUs University of Eastern Colorado]], including its iconic mouflon mascot.

** Delilah mentions a budget increase the Forest Service got the previous year after a fire was allowed to burn raged out of control. This actually happened, exactly when she said it did (1988).

* TeensAreMonsters: The teenagers that Henry encounters on his first day are more than disrespectful. They insult him when he asks them very nicely to not fire anymore fireworks, they litter the place with beer cans [[note]]although that part could have been Ned's doing[[/note]], and they turned out to have taken a tractor for a joyride.
* TrackingDevice: Used to find the key for the cave and later the antagonist's EvidenceDungeon.

** Another possibility as for why Henry took the ring off could be [[spoiler: because he's having an affair with Delilah. Note that the wedding ring can only be found removed and on Henry's desk after the events of the night of large fire (June 31st), where one of the dialogue options heavily implies the two engaging in sex over the radio.]]

* YourCheatingHeart: It's possible for Henry to develop a relationship with Delilah in the game. However, Henry can choose to remain faithful to Julia even in her current condition. The fact that Julia may not even remember Henry any more may justify this to an extent.

* ManipulativeEditing: [[spoiler: The first recording left for you by Ned is a segment of one of your radio conversations with Delilah in which she tries to convince you that burning down a campsite is the best course of action. It's edited to make the evidence even more damning.

** Subverted when Ned plants false evidence for a GovernmentConspiracy at Wapiti Station.
** Played straight when you find Ned's hideout.

** Delilah talks about Roy Sullivan, who ''was'' actually hit by lightning seven times, then killed himself in 1983. He holds the Guinness World Record, and even his ''wife'' was once struck by lightning... TheJinx while he was helping her hang clothes on the line.

** One of the other novels you can find in the caches is a copy of ''The Accidental Savior'', the novel written by the protagonist's father in GoneHome.

** ''[[MagicAmpersand Wizards & Wyverns]]'' is obviously a pun on ''Tabletop/DungeonsAndDragons''

** Delilah talks about Roy Sullivan, who ''was'' actually hit by lightning seven times, then killed himself in 1983. He holds the Guinness World Record, and even his ''wife'' was once struck by lightning...[[TheJinx while he was helping her hang clothes on the line.

* TheFaceless: Everyone in the entire game, since you never really get to look to another person in the eye. [[spoiler: Delilah only ever communicates with you via radio. Jules' face on your photo is [[PlotBasedPhotographObfuscation obscured by her own camera]]. The two drunk girls only appear as silhouettes in the distance. The only time you see Ned, he shines a flashlight in your face. The firemen at the firebreak are long gone by the time you reach their camp. The fireman who hauls you aboard the chopper has a fogged-up visor. Even Brian's dead, whithered body is buried under rubble from the shoulders up]]. You do, however, get to see your own face in several photographs and sketches. [[spoiler:As well as Ned's and Brian's.]]
* FirstPersonSnapshooter: At one point of the game, you find a disposeable camera which you can use to take pictures, naturally: these pictures [[CreativeClosingCredits are shown in the end credits]], and afterwards you're given a link to view them online and can even have [[{{Feelies}} physical versions of them delivered to you]].

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:No matter what you do, Ned gets away and the Thorofare Fire is set to burn a swathe of destruction across untold acres of the Shoshone. Anything you leave in Two Forks Lookout will be lost to the flame -- including your books, your pet turtle, your picture of Julia, and possibly your ''wedding ring'' if you forget them. You can't save the lookout, the boombox, Forrest Byrnes, your pine cone collection, or most evidence from Ned's bunker, and there's nothing you can do to stop the oncoming firestorm. All you can do is flee to Thorofare lookout, meet of the evac chopper, and wish there was something you could say to make Delilah stay long enough to meet you.]]

* {{Irony}}: A big deal is made out of Wapiti Station being a "secret base" that "isn't supposed to be there", and is so secret that not even veteran lookout Delilah knows about it. Anyone who's actually been to Shoshone National Forest (or at least looked it up on TheOtherWiki) knows that [[spoiler: it's actually the park's ''central station'' and is usually the first stop visitors go to. In fact, it's the oldest station in the park and is even a ''National Historical Landmark''.

* MinorCrimeRevealsMajorPlot: [[spoiler:Ned vandalizing the lookout, and [[CutPhoneLines cutting the Thorofare wire]] - Vandalism and Destruction of Public Property, end up exposing much more serious crimes, Attempted [[{{Blackmailing}} Blackmail]], [[StalkerWithoutACrush Stalking]], and Arson, which reveals the entire plot in the first place, Manslaughter and Obstruction of Justice.]]

* TheEighties: Takes place in 1989, and the technology of the time reflects that.

* OutOfContextEavesdropping: During the second day, Henry unintentionally overhears Delilah talking to someone on the radio. Henry can choose to confront her about it or just ignore it for the time being.

* {{Irony}}: A big deal is made out of Wapiti Station being a "secret base" that "isn't supposed to be there", and is so secret that not even veteran lookout Delilah knows about it. Anyone who's actually been to Shoshone National Forest (or at least looked it up on TheOtherWiki) knows that [[spoiler: it's actually the park's ''central station'' and is usually the first stop visitors go to. In fact, it's the oldest station in the park and is even a ''National Historical Landmark''. It makes absolutely no sense why neither Henry nor Delilah know about its existence and induces a rather large plothole.]]
** Not really a plothole, since Delilah later explains that she did receive a report about the station but misplaced it and then forgot about it.

* ChekhovsGun: Early in the introduction Henry walks past a trail head sign that states very clearly these trails are dangerous and for experienced hikers only. The fact that the wilderness is actually a very dangerous place is constantly foreshadowed up until [[spoiler:TheReveal.]]
** More attentive players will notice [[spoiler:a shoe in the rocks above the cave. Later on, we see that Brian is missing a shoe.]]
* ClusterFBomb: Delilah sometimes drops these. At one time Henry calls her out for it.

* TheFaceless: Everyone in the entire game, since you never really get to look to another person in the eye. [[spoiler: Delilah only ever communicates with you via radio. Jules' face on your photo is obscured by her own camera. The two drunk girls only appear as silhouettes in the distance. The only time you see Ned, he shines a flashlight in your face. The firemen at the firebreak are long gone by the time you reach their camp. The fireman who hauls you aboard the chopper has a fogged-up visor. Even Brian's dead, whithered body is buried under rubble from the shoulders up]]. You do, however, get to see your own face in several photographs and sketches. [[spoiler:As well as Ned's and Brian's.]]
* FirstPersonSnapshooter: At one point of the game, you find a disposeable camera which you can use to take pictures, naturally: these pictures are shown in the end credits, and afterwards you're given a link to view them online and can even have [[{{Feelies}} physical versions of them delivered to you]].

* JerkAssHasAPoint: [[spoiler: The first recording left for you by Ned is a segment of one of your radio conversations with Delilah in which she tries to convince you that burning down a campsite is the best course of action. While it's edited to make the evidence even more damning, Ned's point is well taken - Delilah has a history of playing loose with the rules and she has frequently encouraged you to do things which would get everyone in trouble. Not to mention lying to the authorities on multiple occasions.]]

* MinorCrimeRevealsMajorPlot: [[spoiler:Ned vandalizing the lookout, and cutting the Thorofare wire - Vandalism and Destruction of Public Property, end up exposing much more serious crimes, Attempted Blackmail, Stalking, and Arson, which reveals the entire plot in the first place, Manslaughter and Obstruction of Justice.]]
* {{Nerd}}: Brian was a typical example. He loved comics and playing "[[MagicAmpersand Wizards & Wyverns]]", while his father obviously wanted him to be more of an action man.
* NoBadgeNoProblem: Inverted. When Henry has to go deal with illegal fireworks being set off, he asks Delilah about what he should do since he technically has no legal authority to punish them.

* PeriodPiece: Takes place in 1989, and the technology of the time reflects that.

** Delilah talks about Roy Sullivan, who ''was'' actually hit by lightning seven times, then killed himself in 1983. He holds the Guinness World Record, and even his ''wife'' was once struck by lightning...while he was helping her hang clothes on the line.

* TeensAreMonsters: The teenagers that Henry encounters on his first day are more than disrespectful. They insult him when he asks them very nicely to not fire anymore fireworks and they cut the phone line on the second day. [[spoiler:Although that last part was probably Ned, they still turned out to have taken a tractor for a joyride.]]

* XMeetsY: At its core, ''Firewatch'' is essentially the exploratory experience of ''VideoGame/GoneHome'' combined with the dialogue[=/=]consequences system of Telltale Games (the core dev team are former Telltale Games employees).

* DadTheVeteran: Ned was in Vietnam, and it made him more than a little unhinged by the time he became a watchman.

* {{Nerd}}: Brian was a typical example. He loved comics and playing "Wizards & Wyverns", while his father obviously wanted him to be more of an action man.

** ''Wizards And Wyverns'' is obviously a pun on ''Tabletop/DungeonsAndDragons''

--> '''Henry:''' [[Music/{{Toto}} '''''I bless the rains down in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAFRICAAAAAAAAAAA!''''']]

--> '''Henry:''' [[Music/{{Toto}} '''''I bless the rains down in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAFRICAAAAAAAAAAA!]]

* AcceptableBreaksFromReality: The US Forestry Service ''does'' have standards when it comes to who it hires, which includes some amount of college education in forestry. You certainly won't get accepted just by answering a flier with "willingness to endure long periods of solitude" as your general qualifications.

* TheAllegedBoss: Delilah, who spends most of her time bantering with Henry instead of giving him instructions. {{Justified}} in that the job itself (watching for fires) wouldn't normally be very labor-intensive.

* BadassBeard: Henry has one. Since the game is show through his eyes, his beard is only shown in pictures.

* {{Handwave}}: The player is expected to believe that two teenage girls could carry full backpacks, with a tent and other necessities, plus a large amount of bottle rockets **and** a full case of beer, probably more, on a multi-day hike into the wilderness. Even an experienced hiker would tell you this would be incredibly unreasonable to attempt.
** Henry hikes in with a typewriter. '''A typewriter.'''

* HappilyMarried: Henry and Julia.

* ArtisticLicenseEconomics: The US Forestry Service ''does'' have standards when it comes to who it hires, which includes some amount of college education. You certainly won't get accepted in just by answering a flier with "willingness to endure long periods of solitude" as your general qualifications.