Alright, let’s dive into this. So, I’m not really one to get lost in simulator games, you know? Except for that weird afternoon I spent with Power Wash Simulator. Yeah, don’t ask why. Anyway, those game types? They just feel like a big reminder: Hey! You’re playing a game. So, when a campfire-building-simulator popped up in the Nintendo showcase — my first thought wasn’t “Seriously? Another one?” Nope, it was more like, “Wait, did Oink decide to play with fire?” And yeah, they totally did. It’s wild.
Oink Games, if you’re not familiar, have these board games that some people are obsessed with: Scout, A Fake Artist Goes to New York, Deep Sea Adventure — ring a bell? They’re Japanese, known for keeping things slick but super fun. Their designer Jun Sasaki’s kinda like a genius. They dropped Let’s Play: Oink Games on Switch and phones a while back. It’s been my favorite for messing around with friends online. It’s simple, but man, the laughs? Endless. Anyway, the way they’ve made this campfire thing? Way cooler than you’d think.
So you start off with this campfire setting — a single igniter and logs just hanging there, waiting. You grab a log, chop it up. Repeat. Mix it around a bit. You strike the fire, watch it grow. Seems basic, right? But keeping that flame going becomes this whole art form. Bigger logs? They’re a slow start but pack a punch once fired up. Tiny splinters? Perfect for flaming edges. Shifting logs around with buttons? Oddly satisfying. The fire meter dances to how well you’re keeping things lit. Really, the magic’s in the growing part.
But doing this alone? Nah, having pals make it pop. There’s online, local — heck, even a camera thing to see your buddies. Flashback to DS Download Play days, remember that? So refreshing! So there my friend and I were, stacking logs like it’s our jam. I’d be all over tracking which log needed to move. Meanwhile, they’d chop away. And the convo prompts? Gold. Stuff like, “What life tips would you give yourself reading this ten years back?” makes for chats to remember. Oh, and achievements! You rack up game points for cooler axes or goof-off stuff like fireworks.
But hey, not everything’s perfect. The wood stacking? Kinda clunky without motion stuff. Logs tend to bounce up when you squeeze them in tight. And sure, you can snag chairs and tents, but purely for looks. Once you’ve hit chatty mode or maxed fire height, options are slim. Which, actually, might work. It’s more of a chill vibe, perfect for background fun during hangouts or shows.
It’s bonkers to say a campfire simulator stands out, yet this one’s got this social angle that keeps you coming back. Oink shook things up with this, sticking to their roots, somehow. Did I ever think I’d be telling someone to light simulated fires in 2025? Surprises everywhere, but here we are. Who’s gonna speedrun this thing first? I’m curious.
