Firefightingmight not be as exciting as law enforcement or breaking the law, but it has its place in the video game industry. Because there’s actually an obscure genre ofvideo games about firefighting. And even beyond that, other games are known to incorporate firefighting as a side mission or activity.
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In-game, fighting fires is ironically one of the most relaxing ways to shake off the gameplay loop, especially if it’s an open-world game. Though in other titles that focus solely on firefighting, that is the main loop. But in case players want tofire themselves upand scratch that burning itch to be a fireman, then these games offer that opportunity in spades.
10GTA: San Andreas
The first twoGTAgames that came beforeSan Andreasalready hadfiretruck side missions. ButSan Andreassomewhat perfected the activity by making the rewards more worthwhile, and the graphics more updated.
Like inVice City, players can initiate firefighting inSan Andreasby ironically stealing a firetruck and pressing a button. Putting out fires is simple enough; players just need to aim the hose and blast away with water. The real challenge is getting to the emergency destination.
9GTA: Chinatown Wars
GTA: Chinatown Warsdeserves a spot here for going back to the oldGTAperspective with its top-down isometric view. Like its predecessors,Chinatown Warsalso has a firetruck minigame which is arguably more forgiving.
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Thanks to the birds-eye view of traffic, players can maneuver their firetrucks more accurately. The rewards are somewhat similar to the olderGTAgames; players becomeimmune to fireafter completing a certain number of emergencies.
8Firefighters 2014
Firefighters 2014is one of the earliest fully-fledged fireman games though the limited release did affect its popularity, along with the current culture at its time of release which heavily favored more violent action games. Still, it’s worth a shot as one of the earliest firefighter simulator games.
Firefighters 2014comes with an immersive first-person or third-person view of the action (during hosing time) and features most of the tools and vehicles of well-equipped fire departments. Do be aware that it’s a Eurojank game made by a small German development team, so bugs and glitches are part of the package.
7Idle Firefighter Tycoon
Being a firefighter isn’t just about heading out into the urban jungle and putting out fires (though that’s the main job description). There’s also plenty of administrative work and logistics to be managed, and that’s whatIdle Firefighter Tycoonlays out.
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This is a business simulation game that lets players manage fire departments and expand fire stations all throughout the in-game cities. Thus, they handle the purchase of firetrucks, firemen squad assignments, and most otherbackground tasks in a firedepartment.
6Firefighting Simulator - The Squad
For those looking for something more modern thanFirefighters 2014and with a bigger production value, thenFirefighting Simulator - The Squadis one of the hottest games right now. It’s an in-depth and intense simulation/action game complete with next-gen visuals.
Players control a fireman squad from a third-person perspective as they hose out fires manually and drive trucks with manic precision to get to emergencies. The game also has a fun multiplayer mode for up to a group of four to make firefighting more chaotic or easier.
5Fire Commander
LikeFirefighting Simulator - The Squad,Fire Commanderis a hot and fresh game— with a 2022 release date nonetheless. The action is shown here through a top-down isometric view where players control the tactics of firefighting, as the game’s name implies.
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Part of that gameplay loop involves managing squads and keeping morale high. To that end, this is a tactical RTS but with plenty of action for players who wantexplosions and fire(killing fire, of course). It’s a good change of pace compared to the usual action-oriented firefighter games.
4Emergency 20
Emergency 20isn’t just about firefighting; it also includes all other aspects of urban emergencies, such as law enforcement and medical aid in addition to firefighting. Players assume the role of a first responder coordinator in this tactical emergency experience.
There are tons of missions and different emergency types that need different approaches. Apparently, these range from illegal street races to even something as destructive as a nuclear meltdown. At the players' disposal are the fire department, medical services, police force, and even technical units.
3Firewatch
One usually doesn’t expect a game with firefighting in its title to be a journey about a middle-aged man’s soul-searching, butFirewatchhas its story to tell. It’s a story-driven mystery game where a man named Henry takes up a short-term job asa fire lookoutin a watchtower.
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It’s his own form of isolation and therapy in lieu of a crumbling marriage. Most of the fire-prevention and fighting activities are scripted story bits. The game’s main course is Henry’s meditative and deep interactions with another anonymous fire lookout named Delilah.
2Flashing Lights: Police, Firefighting, Emergency Services Simulator
Flashing Lights: Police, Firefighting, Emergency Services Simulator,as the title suggests, is a game that’s all about keeping order in the urban world. It’s also an open-world game, giving players plenty of freedom in how they approach and respond to emergencies.
Like inEmergency 20, players are tasked with controlling the police, fire department, and other emergency services. It’s still an early access title so don’t expect a complete experience, but this one is one of the most ambitious firefighter or emergency simulator games out there.
1911 Operator
911 Operatoroffers a different approach in emergencies as players step into the shoes of the titular 911 operators. Players choose how to respond to emergency calls and can even decide whether to escalate the situation to the proper service, such as the fire department.
If not, players can always advise the callers and give them first-aid instructions before using up the taxpayer’s money. If players do decide to bring the fire department into the loop, then their involvement in giving directions is also a key element to the emergency response.
