Man, so look, I’ve never really been into those job simulator games. You know, like Power Wash Simulator caught my eye for a bit, but then I was like, “Eh.” I mean, they’re cool or whatever, seeing how stuff changes over time, but I’m super aware it’s just a game, y’know? So, when some campfire-building-sim popped up in the last Nintendo showcase, I didn’t roll my eyes. Instead, I was like, “Wait, hold up, Oink is doing this now?” Yeah, Oink Games, those guys behind those social board games, jumping into the campfire game. Wild, right? And honestly, it’s kinda fire. Literally and metaphorically.
Oink Games. Probably know them if you’ve played Scout or A Fake Artist Goes to New York. Japanese company, real clean art, and games that make you chat with your friends. Jun Sasaki is the mastermind there. Anyway, their Let’s Play: Oink Games dropped on Switch and on phones, and it’s been this awesome multiplayer thing I keep coming back to. Super simple, lots of laughs—your typical good time. So this Chillin’ by the Fire thing? It’s somehow as deep as those chats around a real campfire, which I didn’t see coming.
So, you start a level, campfire staring you down, just an igniter, and some logs scattered about. Grab the logs, chop ’em down, place ’em just right. Fire it up, watch it spread. The goal? Just keep it going, man. Big logs are slow-burners, tiny splinters spread out fast. You can twist and turn stuff around too. There’s this meter showing how hot the fire is, goes up when it’s big, down when it cools off. Yeah, starting it? Easy peasy. Keeping it growing? That’s the trick.
Playing solo is chill, but grab some friends and it’s way more fun. Online, local, whatever. Even video chat if you want. Remember DS Download Play? Kinda like that, and honestly, just hanging out, building a giant fire with a pal was a blast. I’d measure logs, my friend would chop more, and we got these prompts to chat over, like “What would you tell your younger self?” Totally unexpected deep dive while stacking wood. Achievements? Oh yeah, those too. You get points for funky axes and jokey stuff like glow sticks. Fun times.
But, oh man, motion controls would’ve nailed the log stacking. Seems like a missed chance there. And those chairs and tents? Purely decorative. Not a ton happening if you’re not into chatting or making monster fires. But maybe that’s the point. It’s Zen, you feel me? Stick it on while hanging with friends, watching TV on another screen. It’s not trying to be more than it is.
Honestly, didn’t think I’d be all about a campfire sim in 2025, but here we are. Oink Games really nailed something here, somehow. How long till someone speedruns it, right? Let’s circle back on that one.
