Firewatch

A distant watch tower surrounded by pine trees, mountains, and flying birds.
  • Developer: Campo Santo
  • Publisher: Panic Inc. Campo Santo
  • Year: 2016
  • Genre: Adventure Walking simulator
  • Platform/s: PC

When exploring in Firewatch, the player-character, Henry, discovers information about Dave and Ron. Dave is a lookout who worked in the same area prior to the narrative within Firewatch, and notes and objects found throughout the game and conversations with Delilah via walkie talkie reveal that Dave was gay. There is a story about Dave being beaten up for being gay at a bar, and an implication that he took the job in Wyoming to escape the opinions of his family. The letters found between Dave and Ron imply that Dave has feelings for Ron, despite Ron being straight and having a girlfriend. Ron seems to respond with respect and understanding.

Respondents to the Queer Representation (2016) survey had high opinions of other aspects of representation within Firewatch. One respondent mentioned the representation of gender and critique of masculinity as positive, while another praised the platonic relationship between Henry and Delilah and how organic it felt, as well as the realism of the text-based relationship discussed in the game's prologue.