To be honest, I’ve never been all that into those quirky job-like simulator games. I mean, sure, I dabbled with Power Wash Simulator once, just out of curiosity. But mostly? They make me too aware that I’m, well, playing a video game. Anyway, I heard about this new campfire-building-sim during a Nintendo showcase, and my brain didn’t even register it as another dumb simulator thing. Nope, instead I was more like, “Wait, Oink’s doing this now?” It’s wild, right? The folks known for social board games dive into video games, and you know what? It kinda works. It’s… surprisingly fun.
Oink Games, if you aren’t familiar, are the brains behind board games like Scout or A Fake Artist Goes to New York. Known for their neat art and design, they dipped their toes into gaming with Let’s Play: Oink Games on the Switch a while back. That became my go-to with friends, whether online or IRL. So now they have this campfire sim thing, Chillin’ by the Fire, that sneaks up on you with its depth. Not kidding.
Picture this: you start with just a campfire, an igniter, and logs scattered around. Grab one with your tongs, take it to the chopping block, make it smaller, and lay it out carefully in the fire pit. Light it up and watch as flames spread — it’s all about keeping that fire going as long as you can. Toss in bigger logs for some slow-burn action or chop ‘em small to spread the flames quickly. Rotating those logs, slotting them just right, it’s like a puzzle you didn’t know you needed to solve. Wasn’t expecting the challenge to be so… engaging.
With friends? It’s even better. You can hook up online or locally, even video chat through the game. I’m serious, it reminded me of the DS Download Play days. You’re having fun, stacking logs, but also getting these random chat prompts — like, “What advice would you give yourself from ten years ago?” — catching you off guard in a good way. Oh, and achievements! Get points to swap for stuff like fancy axes or even use fire blowers. Or just grab something goofy like fireworks. Makes building the bonfire all the more chaotic and fun.
Not that it’s perfect. Oh man, stacking logs? Way trickier than it needed to be. We could’ve totally used some motion controls there. And don’t get me started on those decorative chairs and tents. They look cool, but do nada otherwise. But you know what? That’s okay. It’s a chilled-out experience. A game to play while doing other stuff. Super Zen.
So yeah, this campfire thing might seem a bit extra, but it’s also endearing in its focus on social vibe. Oink stepped out of their comfort zone, staying true to their roots. Never thought I’d be telling people to get a fire-building simulator, but hey, life’s funny like that. Anyway, can’t wait to see how long ’til someone speedruns a campfire into oblivion.
