Okay, so let’s get this out of the way first: I’ve never been sucked into the whole simulator thing. Like, sure, I fooled around with Power Wash Simulator once, but the moment I realized I was literally, uh, pretending to wash a sidewalk? I was out. But! Then the universe threw this curveball at me. A campfire simulator at some Nintendo showcase and—wait for it—it’s an Oink game? Mind blown. Not “another boring simulator” but “whoa, Oink’s in the house!” And the fire, it’s seriously lit—pun kinda intended? No clue why I adore this, but here we are.
Okay, Oink Games—ever heard of them? They did gems like Scout, and crazy fun ones like A Fake Artist Goes to New York. These geniuses from Japan conjure up board games that are social wizardry, all under Jun Sasaki’s lead. And their “Let’s Play: Oink Games” on Switch? Pure multiplayer madness, I swear. Now, they’ve gone and wrapped that whole social bonanza into something like, campfire vibes. Chill, yet, uh, unexpectedly deep.
Fire up a level, and bam—you’re face-to-face with nature’s TV: a campfire, with an igniter and some logs scattered nearby. Weird, right? You pick up logs with these tongs, hack ‘em on a chopping block, and into the fire pit they go. Flick the igniter and watch it all catch fire—like a metaphor for life or some nonsense. Keep the fire alive for as long as you can. Add bigger logs for a fat flame or go tiny for tactical burning. Twisting logs with buttons? Oddly satisfying. A wild ride, watching that fire meter dance up and down. Easy to start, tricky to master. Just like, well… I dunno, pancake flipping?
But here’s the twist: it’s actually a social gig when you’re not flying solo. Friends, video chat, the whole shebang. Game-share with folks who don’t even own a copy! Total DS Download Play throwback. I was with a pal, stacking logs and making strategic calls on which ones to toss. There’s, like, conversation prompts too. Stuff like “advice for your past self?” Mid-firefight chit-chat? Genius. And oh, you get achievements too. Points for cool gear—glow sticks and whatnot. No clue why I’m into this, seriously.
Not saying it’s flawless. Would be awesome with motion controls. Shove a log into a gap, and whoops, it’s at the top of the pile. And the extra stuff like chairs? Purely decor. Once you’ve got a raging bonfire, what else is there? But hey, that’s the charm. Super chill, perfect for zoning out with friends. Or while bingeing yet another show (guilty as charged).
Honestly, this simulator takes “extra” to a new level. Oink’s playing it different while keeping it real. Did I think I’d dig a fire-building simulator in 2025? Heck, no. But now I’m all like, how soon ‘til the pros speedrun this thing, huh?
