Firefighting Simulator: Ignite (PS5) Review: We Do Need Water

Like many kids, I used to dream about being a firefighter. There’s an inherent thrill and draw to dealing with a dangerous situation, helping keep people safe, and saving someone’s home from being burned to the ground. Instead, I write about video games, so clearly some poor life choices were made, but the good news is that I get to experience this very satisfaction (albeit in digital form) thanks to Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, which is now available on PlayStation 5.

I’ve played a couple of firefighting games in the past, and the biggest initial wow of Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is just the sheer graphical improvement it is beyond the prior game in the series, Firefighting Simulator: The Squad. While the previous game looked dated upon release, Ignite is inherently modern with some impressive fire effects and realistic-looking models. This upgrade in presentation goes a long way and helps you feel the danger of the moment and feel satisfied by the end of each mission.

Playable in both first and third-person perspectives, it’s apparent that there’s a far higher level of detail in Ignite. From nightclubs that you’d want to party at to suburban homes and businesses, there’s a wide variety of locales and fires you’ll be dealing with. The first time you fall through a collapsed floor is jarring, and there’s a ton of little moments and touches that help make missions memorable even if some animation cycles can be a bit goofy and stiff.

Simulator games’ biggest draw and inherent aggravation is often how methodical they can be. If you want to really get into the nitty-gritty, you can do that here with an array of tools and options at your disposal. Saving victims and putting out fires is your priority, and you can choose how hands-on you want to be. If you just want to aim a hose around, you can do that too, as there are multiple difficulty settings and other teammates (either other players or AI teammates that can take orders or act autonomously) that can pick up your slack.

I wound up being a fan of the pace of Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, as there was an urgency to helping the victims, but also a satisfying quality to actually putting out the fires. Due to the danger, it wasn’t as relaxing as, let’s say, powerwashing, but there was a very satisfying loop. Thankfully, there’s a ton of missions to clear and promotions to aim for, so if you wind up wanting to put dozens of hours into the game, you surely can.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite (PS5) Review: Final Verdict

While it’s not quite making a childhood dream a reality, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is the next best thing. Featuring in-depth gameplay and plenty of variety, it winds up being a great time either solo or with a squad of friends. Fans of the genre will find plenty to like here and it’s the best firefighting game on the market.

Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital copy for our Firefighting Simulator: Ignite PS5 review. Reviewed on version 1.000.002.

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