Fireside Review – A Wholesome Chat Around the Campfire

Cozy games are popping up everywhere, making it difficult for developers of the genre to stand out. Many of these games follow similar formulas and routines that can be considered representative and tiresome. However, Fireside manages to handle all of the explorative aspects of cozy games while also focusing on something I haven’t seen before: The things that happen between adventures. While traveling to new areas and meeting new people, you’re encouraged to sit by the fire, chat with travelers, and sell your wares without rushing for the ultimate cozy experience.

The C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G Song

The story behind Fireside is rather minimal. However, that doesn’t mean it’s lacking, especially considering I spent several hours in a single play session without even realizing it. After shipwrecking on an island, you’re tasked with exploring various campsites to trade items with people. You can then use these traded goods to rebuild your home and have those same people visit your homestead later on. The story primarily revolves around these two features, encouraging you to explore further and unlock new areas to gather more items and progress.

As you explore and gather more necessary items, the narrative around various characters develops and becomes more prominent. The spiderweb of connections that emerge just by playing are sweet, funny, and memorable. These interactions make the game worthwhile as you learn more about the characters you meet and what matters to them.

Salesman of the Year

There aren’t many gameplay features in Fireside beyond traveling from place to place and trading with others. In addition, you must keep track of the day and night cycle to attempt to do as much as possible in a single day before returning home. You also need to keep track of the amount of conversations you can have at the campfire. This gameplay element is a bit anxiety-inducing and repetitive, especially compared to the no-rush feel of the rest of the game. I’ll admit that I lost morale a few times before unlocking new campsites and areas around my home in the first few hours.

The aforementioned trading aspect of the game is incredibly fun and feels a bit like a puzzle that you won’t always know the outcome of. You could walk away from a fireside meeting with several commodities or a single large item you traded all your goods for. Comparatively, you could strategically plan where you go and barter for precisely what is needed to upgrade your house. Each day is your oyster, and you can choose to spend it how you wish.

There’s Nothing Like the Sound of a Crackling Fire

Few compare to Fireside when it comes to character and world design. The art style feels hand-drawn, from character NPCs to backgrounds, and is accompanied by appropriate grunts and moans to convey emotions. It’s incredibly simple yet effective, paired with warm music that fits the camping/fireside ambiance well. It all makes you want to leave the game open so that you have something beautiful to watch and listen to.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how expansive the map is. After passing that initial gameplay hurdle, Fireside becomes so incredibly cozy and inviting, encouraging me to explore and discover new campsites and people.

Grab Your Backpack, We’re Going Camping

Fireside is a beautiful and cozy stroll around a picturesque campground where you can meet new people, gather resources, and listen to soothing music. Its gameplay can feel limited, but after a couple of hours, it is fun and relaxing while also offering some challenge. I’d recommend this game to those who enjoy the concept of cozy simulation games without the timed aspect of having to grow crops or do things on certain days. There are very few games that I could compare this to, and that’s a testament to how unique it is.