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.