Chillin’ by the Fire: An In-Depth Review

Oh man, where do I even start? So there I was, just casually minding my business, thinking about Power Wash Simulator. You know, that weirdly satisfying game? Anyway, I’ve never been a big fan of the whole ‘job simulator’ scene. I mean, pretending to work when I’m supposed to be relaxing? Nah. But then, outta nowhere, a campfire-building sim popped up at the last Nintendo showcase. My first thought? Something like, “Wait, what? Another one of these sims?” But then it hits me. “Hold up—that’s by Oink Games?” Yeah, those folks known for quirky board games. And you know what? This thing’s actually kind of… awesome.

So get this: Oink Games, they’re like these wizards of social board games with titles like Scout and Deep Sea Adventure. Their stuff’s all over the place, in a good way. And their Switch game, Let’s Play: Oink Games? Let me tell you, it’s been my jam. Loads of fun nights online with friends. Now, they shove that fun into this weird, chill campfire-making game that’s oddly deeper than you’d think.

Picture this: you start a level and—bam!—campfire central, logs scattered everywhere, and just this lil’ igniter. You grab tongs, chop wood, stack ’em, light it up. Sounds easy, right? Wrong! You’ve got to keep that fire roaring. Toss in bigger logs that burn slow but steady or splinter them to fan the flames out. Also, you’re twisting logs like some lumber puzzle game. There’s this meter that goes all “woo, big fire!” or “nah, it’s dying.” Starting it? Child’s play. Keeping it alive? Whole different beast.

Here’s where it gets spicy with friends. You don’t even need to buy the game to join in—true DS Download Play vibes here. Weirdly, it turns into this epic social gig. Picture us, two goofy players, piecing together logs while chatting about stuff like, “What would you tell your ten-years-ago self?” Totally unexpected introspection mixed with bonfire stoking! Multiplayer’s chock-full of achievements too. Score points, snag funky axes, fireworks, all sorts of quirky gear. Pure joy.

Not everything’s peachy, though. Would’ve loved motion controls for log-stacking—it’s tricky sometimes. And, can I just say, the deco stuff? Like chairs and tents? Barely more than eye-candy. But it’s cool. It’s a game where chilling is key, something you can half-play while catching up on shows.

So yeah, this isn’t your average campfire simulator. It’s got this killer social twist that makes it special. Oink Games took a wild swing, yet stuck to their roots. Had you told me in 2025 I’d be raving about fire-building games, I’d have laughed but here we are. Anyway—speedrunning this thing? Now that’s a thought. What’s the record gonna be for digital pyromania, huh?