How Long Is Firewatch The Game: Playtime

How Long is Firewatch the Game?

Okay, so you’re thinking about playing Firewatch, or maybe you’ve already started, and you’re wondering, “How long is this game going to take me?” That’s a totally fair question! Firewatch isn’t like some huge open-world game that will keep you busy for hundreds of hours. It’s more of a focused, story-driven adventure, which means the playtime is generally shorter but can vary.

Average Playtime for Firewatch

Most players finish Firewatch in about 4 to 6 hours. Yes, you read that right! It’s not a super long game, which can be great if you don’t have a ton of time to play games. Think of it like watching a really good movie, but you get to be the main character! This timeframe is for a single playthrough, where you mostly stick to the main story.

Factors Affecting Playtime

Now, while 4 to 6 hours is the average, some things can make your playtime longer or shorter. Let’s check some out:

• Exploring the Wilderness: Firewatch has a beautiful forest that’s fun to explore. If you wander off the main path to find hidden items, read notes, or just enjoy the scenery, your playtime will go up. It’s definitely worth it to see everything the game has to offer.
• Dialogue Choices: The choices you make in conversations with Delilah can slightly alter the flow of the story and how long it takes you to get through certain parts. Some choices might lead to longer chats, while others might move things along quicker.
• Your Playstyle: Are you the kind of person who rushes through games, or do you like to take your time and soak everything in? If you’re a speedrunner, you might finish Firewatch in less than 4 hours. But if you’re like me and like to examine every detail, expect closer to the 6-hour mark (or even a little more!).
• Getting Stuck: Sometimes, you might not be sure where to go next, which can add some extra time as you figure things out. But don’t worry, the game is designed so that you shouldn’t get too stuck.

Firewatch Playtime: A Detailed Look

Let’s break down the playtime into some different categories, so you know what to expect:

First Playthrough: The Main Story

As mentioned, a typical first playthrough focusing on the main story will likely take you between 4 and 6 hours. This is when you’re really trying to understand what’s happening with Henry and Delilah, solving the mysteries, and enjoying the narrative. The game doesn’t have a lot of filler, so each moment is meaningful.

Completionist Playthrough: Finding Everything

If you’re the kind of player who wants to find every little secret, hidden cache, or overlooked item, your playtime will go up. You might add an extra hour or two to your total. There aren’t a huge amount of collectibles, but exploring each nook and cranny takes time. Plus, you might retrace your steps to make sure you haven’t missed anything, further increasing that completionist time.

Speedrunning Firewatch

Believe it or not, some people like to try and finish Firewatch as quickly as possible. Speedrunners who know the game well can finish it in under 2 hours! This is a very different experience from a normal playthrough, involving techniques to skip dialog and move through the map quickly.

Replaying Firewatch

Firewatch is one of those games that you might want to play again. Because the story is so gripping and the characters so memorable, some players like to replay it after a while. Your second playthrough might be a bit quicker, since you already know the path and story, so expect it to be around 3-5 hours. However, some will take longer replaying to explore different dialogue options.

Firewatch Compared to Other Games

To give you a better idea of how long Firewatch is, let’s compare it to some other popular games:

Shorter Than:

• Large open-world games like The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Grand Theft Auto V, which take dozens or hundreds of hours to fully complete.
• Longer story-driven games like The Last of Us or Uncharted series, which can easily go over 10 hours for a first playthrough.

Similar Length To:

• Indie titles like What Remains of Edith Finch or Gone Home, which also focus on narrative with shorter playtimes
• Some walking simulators which typically have a playtime in the few hours range

Longer Than:

• Very short narrative games, sometimes described as experiences rather than games, that are often completed in an hour or less.

Why the Length is Perfect for Firewatch

The focused length of Firewatch is actually one of its strengths. Here’s why:

A Concise Narrative

The game tells a very tight story, without lots of filler or extra objectives. The short length allows the narrative to be more impactful and doesn’t let you get bored, and prevents story fatigue, keeping the story engaging from start to finish. It’s like reading a short, powerful novel that stays with you long after you’re finished. This focus is a big part of what makes Firewatch so memorable.

Great for Busy Schedules

Not everyone has tons of free time for gaming. The 4-6 hour playtime of Firewatch is perfect for people with busy schedules. You can finish it in a weekend or a few evenings, without having to commit weeks to a single game. This makes it easier to enjoy for many players who would otherwise not be able to tackle a much larger title.

Easy to Replay

Because it’s not too long, Firewatch is a game that you can easily replay. You might want to go back and explore different dialogue options or just revisit the story and world again. This gives the game some extra value beyond its initial playthrough.

Enjoy the Journey

Ultimately, the exact time you spend playing Firewatch isn’t as important as the experience you have. The beautiful visuals, intriguing mystery, and emotional story make it a memorable game, no matter how long it takes you to complete it. It’s more about the journey, not the destination! So, don’t worry too much about the numbers, and just dive into the world of Firewatch. Enjoy the conversations, the mystery, and the wilderness. You won’t regret it.

Is There More Content After Finishing Firewatch?

After finishing the main story in Firewatch, there isn’t additional story content or post-game exploration that you can do. Once you reach the ending credits, the game concludes. This is a different experience compared to open-world games where you can continue to roam and engage in activities even after the main story has been completed. Firewatch focuses on telling a linear story with a definitive ending. Once you finish, you can always replay the game to experience the story again, perhaps making different dialogue choices. The developers created a self-contained narrative experience, so it doesn’t have any extra, free-roam style post-game content to engage with, rather, it encourages replayability.

Factors That Can Make Your Playthrough Shorter

While most players will take around 4-6 hours to complete the game, some specific actions can shorten your playtime:

• Skipping Dialogue: While it might not be recommended on your first playthrough, skipping through the dialogue with Delilah can shorten the overall time taken. This makes the narrative less immersive, but allows for a very quick replay, if you know the story already.
• Following Guides: If you use a guide to make sure you’re taking the shortest path through the game, you can speed up the experience considerably. You might get less exploration in, and miss more of the little details, but it does cut down on playtime.
• Understanding the Layout: After you play Firewatch the first time, you learn the lay of the land. On a second playthrough, you will be able to move quickly through the map, taking more direct routes.

Factors That Can Make Your Playthrough Longer

Conversely, these choices and actions can make your playtime go up:

• Going Off Trail: Many interesting things can be found if you take the less traveled route! Deviating from the path to explore hidden areas or caches can add a good chunk of time to your playthrough.
• Trying all Dialogue Options: Trying all of the dialogue branches that the story offers can significantly increase the amount of time you spend with Delilah, and in turn, increase your play time. There are multiple choices that you can make, which can result in additional conversations, or even entirely different story-lines.
• Taking in the Scenery: Firewatch is a beautiful game. If you like to simply stop and soak up the environment, you’ll add more time to your playtime. This is a fantastic way to engage with the game, and it really elevates the overall experience.

So, How Long Should You Spend Playing?

The answer to the question of “how long is Firewatch the game?” depends on how you play. There isn’t a right or a wrong amount of time to play. The beauty of Firewatch lies in its simplicity and compelling story. Whether you finish it in 4 hours or 7, the important thing is that you enjoy the experience, and take something meaningful from it. So, get into the woods, pick up your radio, and enjoy this beautiful adventure.