Review of “Chillin’ by the Fire”

Okay, so I was chilling one evening, right? Browsing through new game releases, as one does. And, man, guess what popped up — a campfire-building simulator, of all things. At first, I’m like, “Great, another simulator,” rolling my eyes so hard you could hear it. But then, wait a second — this one’s from Oink Games! Yes, those guys! The folks behind board games like Scout and Deep Sea Adventure.

Now, I don’t know about you, but Oink Games? They know their stuff. Jun Sasaki, their lead designer, is like, genius level. Let’s Play: Oink Games on Switch? I’ve lost more evenings to it than I’d care to admit. Anyway, Chillin’ by the Fire is more epic than you’d expect. When you start, you’ve got logs scattered around, a single igniter — it’s like camping but without, you know, mosquitoes or actual risk of fire.

You grab logs, chop ’em up, arrange ’em, ignite, and watch it burn. Simple, right? And kinda soothing. The big logs burn slowly but are like, total game-changers. Meanwhile, splinters? Perfect for spreading fire all over. Turn and twist the logs like you’re some kind of fire sculptor. It’s easy to start the fire, but making it thrive? That’s a whole ‘nother challenge, buddy.

Playing solo’s cool, but toss in some friends, and now we’re talking. It’s got this whole online and local play thing. Reminded me of those golden DS Download Play days. Anyone remember that? Anyway, you’re stacking logs, laughing with pals, talking about, like, what advice you’d give your ten-years-ago self. It’s hilariously chill. Plus, there are points to snag for stylish axes or goofy stuff like fireworks.

But listen, it’s not all sunshine and perfectly burning embers. Motion controls — where are they? Jamming a log in place should feel precise, not like you’re trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. And sure, you can buy chairs and tents, but they just sit there. Like, what’s even the point?

It’s a low-key, zen vibe. Something you can have on in the background on a lazy afternoon. And, while it might be the most “extra” campfire sim ever (okay, maybe it’s the only one?), it stays true to Oink’s love for social gaming. Not that I ever thought I’d be hyping a fire-building sim — but here we are.

Now, who’s gonna start speedrunning this thing? I mean, someone’s gotta, right?