Fireboy and Watergirl
- Genre Puzzle games
- Players 1–2
- Session 10 min
- Price Free
- Updated
Fireboy and Watergirl in the Forest Temple is the 2009 original that started the series, and this is the Flash version as Oslo Albet released it. Two elemental heroes wake up in an overgrown temple and have to climb out of it together. Fireboy can wade through red lava but dies the moment he touches water. Watergirl is the mirror image: blue pools are harmless to her and lava is fatal. Green goo kills both of them, and it tends to sit exactly where you would like to jump.
Every level ends with two doors, one for each character, and the exit only opens when both of them are standing in front of their own door. That rule turns a simple platformer into a puzzle about cooperation. One character stands on a button so that the other can ride a lift, a lever has to be pulled by whoever can reach it without drowning or burning, and a stone block pushed into the wrong gap can leave somebody stuck. Along the way there are red gems for Fireboy and blue gems for Watergirl. Collecting them, and finishing quickly, raises your grade for the level.
The temple is a branching map of levels rather than a straight line, so when one room is too hard you can come back to it later. The game is at its best with two people sharing one keyboard, one on the arrow keys and one on A, W and D, but it also works solo if you are happy to steer both heroes yourself.
| Arrow keys | Fireboy: run left and right, jump with Up |
|---|---|
| A W D | Watergirl: run left with A, right with D, jump with W |
| Mouse | Menus and the level map |
How to play Fireboy and Watergirl
- Wait for the game to load, press Play in the loading screen and then Play in the main menu.
- Pick the glowing gem at the bottom of the temple map to start the first level.
- Move Fireboy with the arrow keys and Watergirl with A, W and D. The two can move at the same time.
- Keep Fireboy out of blue water, Watergirl out of red lava and both of them out of green goo.
- Use buttons, levers, lifts and blocks to open the way, then bring each hero to their own door to finish.
Tips
- Before moving anyone, look at the whole room and find out which character must reach each button or lever.
- Buttons only work while someone stands on them. Levers stay where you leave them, so they are the safer tool for long routes.
- Gems of your colour are optional, but they decide the grade. Get to the exit first and chase a full set on a second run.
- When you play alone, move one hero to a safe ledge and then switch your attention to the other, rather than steering both at once.
Questions about Fireboy and Watergirl
Can two people play Fireboy and Watergirl on one computer?
Yes. It is designed for two: one player uses the arrow keys for Fireboy and the other uses A, W and D for Watergirl.
Can I play it alone?
Yes. You control both characters yourself, one hand on each set of keys, which turns it into a trickier coordination puzzle.
What kills Fireboy and Watergirl?
Fireboy dies in water, Watergirl dies in lava and both of them die in green goo. A death restarts the level.
Is this the original game?
Yes. It is the 2009 Flash original by Oslo Albet, and it runs right in the browser with nothing to install.
Does it work on a phone?
Not well. The game needs a physical keyboard, so play it on a computer or laptop.
