The big shock from Nintendo’s Switch showcase today was a campfire game (that's pretty good!)

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Switch 2 exclusive Chillin’ By The Campfire. Screenshot: Oink Games, captured by Game File

A new Nintendo Direct “partner” showcase today started with the reveal of a new Monster Hunter spin-off game and closed with dual announcements from Square Enix. But I was most delighted by the strange mid-show announcement of a game called Chillin’ By The Fire.

It’s about building campfires. That’s it!

I took a break from writing this newsletter to play it. Twenty minutes later… I like it.

I chopped logs on a beach, piled them on (little ones first!) and blew on the fire a bit. I got my fire from a level 1 to a level 6, though not yet to the target level 10 blaze.

I was ensnared for a good 20 minutes of unironic low-stress pleasure, as I tried to get the temperature up, and as I jostled logs to give them oxygen.

Chillin’ By The Fire comes from niche Japanese board game specialists and occasional video game makers Oink Games and costs just $15.

It’s bizarre, and it is a terrific sign that one of the best aspects of the original Switch—bold, surprising indie developer support—could also be coming to Switch 2.

Early signs of such support have been scarce.