What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch has raised the bar for interactive stories and visual storytelling. The impact of static objects, while the story is beautiful and heartbreaking. This, like the Finch family members, cannot be improved, merely built upon and remembered.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a personal story, one that really hit home for me in just about every way imaginable. It’s a game that finds beauty in death and demonstrates the importance of appreciating what little time we are given to experience what life has to offer. The story of the Finch family is strange and at times might not seem possible, but dig deep enough, and you’ll find a wonderful game with a profound perspective on life, family, and what we leave behind.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a short experience, but one of the best that has been released in recent memory. Giant Sparrow rose to prominence with The Unfinished Swan and here the studio has cemented itself as one of the best at constructing narratives intertwined with engaging environments. Both a celebration of life and a commentary on the tragedy of death, What Remains of Edith Finch should be experienced by as many people as possible.

A story like no other; both very grounded in reality, yet at times other-worldly beyond imagination. It’s touching and thought-provoking; daring to explore dark subject matters rarely delved into by video games. It may only take a few short hours to complete, but every moment is so packed with significance that it hardly matters.

Giant Sparrow delivers beyond our expectations once again. A touching story about a tragically unlucky family hits all the right notes, making What Remains of Edith Finch a worthy successor to the studio's sublime The Unfinished Swan. A walking simulator with a smart delivery mechanism paints the picture of a family tree full of misfortune and sadness, but leaves room for some happiness and sunshine. Between the most realised home we've ever seen in a game, the incredible voice work, and the moving, intriguing story, this is the genre's new golden standard.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a game that succeeds in recreating the childhood joy of reading a book and being utterly transported into its pages, only to reach the end and realise it’s not real. It will touch the heart of all but the most soulless of gamers.

Giant Sparrow offers a masterpiece. This game is made perfectly and makes us feel so many different emotions at once. What Remains of Edith Finch is surely phenomenal.

While it didn’t bring literal tears to my eyes, there are moments that certainly feel like a kick to the soul thanks to impeccable writing and direction.

Life isn’t often what we imagine and death isn’t usually what we expect. What Remains of Edith Finch responds by capturing death’s despair and tragedy through life’s lenses of whimsy and fantasy. Every emotion and detail is left in frame, exposing profoundly anguishing themes that nevertheless develop into endearing pictures of hope and determination. Edith Finch creates a portrait of a family that, even in their doomed eccentricity, feels not only sanguine, but also deeply human.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a journey to discover truth, even if that truth is debilitating. There is a charm and humanity here that’s hard to ignore and even harder to emulate. One in a million is too often used nowadays, but it holds true here.

It goes without saying that this game sets a new benchmark for storytelling, and the imaginative ways in which it's done, all the while dealing with death in a delicate and poignant way.

It may have little in the way of a challenge and takes around two hours to beat, but this is a masterpiece in storytelling and a game that will punch your feels in their feels. [July 2016, p.97]

A tender exploration of memory, death, and mystery. [Issue#188, p.85]

An exploration of death and memory, Edith's narration makes the family come alive again. [June 2017, p.79]

I would love to just ramble on and on about all the wonderful stories and how they're presented in What Remains of Edith Finch, but doing so would denote spoilers (and no one wants that). But suffice to say, this is a game that needs to be experienced for yourself. As I mentioned in my intro paragraph, the players who take the time to forage through all the post-it notes, diaries, family photos, etc. littered throughout the disheveled Finch house will probably get the most out of this game. What Remains of Edith Finch is a strong contender for my Top 5 Games of 2017, and even if you might not consider yourself a fan of the genre, I would still strongly encourage you to give this game a shot.

Although it’s clear the experimental narrative adventure genre isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, What Remains of Edith Finch proves that videogames are still ripe with opportunities for deep, mature storytelling. Tissue companies might notice a bump in sales as long as developers like Giant Sparrow are around, too.

A remarkable, big-hearted game from a developer whose debut gave barely a hint of the storytelling confidence and poise on show here. What Remains of Edith Finch is anything but unfinished; it might even set a new benchmark for the narrative adventure. [July 2017, p.114]

Beautifully strange and gleefully morose, What Remains of Edith Finch is a singularly amazing work of video game magical realism. Though brief and lacking any gameplay challenge, this is an incredibly special game by virtue of its narrative and creativity alone.

For want of a better term, What Remains of Edith Finch is a playable family tree. Hidden revelations and unpredictable tragedies complement what is an unnerving but somehow warming experience.

Tenderly handling the subject of death while portraying it in interesting ways, Edith Finch is a narrative adventure that deserves to be chronicled.

Giant Sparrow delivers again, with an atmospheric and unique walking simulator that will occupy your thoughts for a long while.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a fairytale. One that not only makes us recover our faith in this kind of genre, but also enforces it with ingenious ideas and a rhythm that makes it impossible not to advance to the very end. Attractive, magical and with a great imagination, Edith Finch is the best walking simulator of the year, and one that best captures the soul of the genre.

What Remains of Edith Finch required me to carry out acts knowing full well how they’d play out. The game isn’t gruesome by any stretch, but it’s not a story of happy endings. It’s a story of sad retellings and painful memories, but ones that a family is desperate to preserve. And despite the painful things I saw unfold in the Finches’ home, I’m glad they preserved those memories for me to find.

I strongly expect that this game will be used for years to come as a ‘textbook’ case to educate developers about how to compose a story by not resorting to screeds of text or long loops of audio (in the form of simulated manuscripts, letters, voice recordings etc.); almost tauntingly, in one story, the letter-being-read crutch is used, but subverted ingeniously through the gameplay.

Despite being left wanting a bit more, What Remains of Edith Finch is a one of those examples of truly interactive storytelling. In gaming, there are many examples of titles that are lauded for their narrative that don’t quite hold up when compared to genre contemporaries in other mediums. There have been and will certainly be many more diatribes that explore this phenomenon. Giant Sparrow has created a title that can be held up against books and movies for storytelling prowess and stand strong. With its contemplative story and consistent interesting use of design, this is a title that should be experienced by anyone interested in what video games can do.

What Remains of Edith Finch is filled with excellent writing, striking visuals, and a significant sense of place, of people, of life’s ephemeral nature and our relationship to it.

If you enjoy narrative-driven games, What Remains of Edith Finch is simply unmissable. The game takes the player on a weird and compelling family journey happening Inside the walls of a house that is explored with absolute fascination. The stories that are told are both beautiful and tragic, and are always told in imaginative ways. The game looks good with its mesmerizing and surrealist atmosphere. And thanks to its high-quality storytelling, this little collection of macabre poems takes the player through a strange story that he will remember for a long time. Unless you are one of those "walking simulators"-hating gamers, you shouldn't miss out on What Remains of Edith Finch.

What Remains of Edith Finch is an intimate and incredible adventure that uses very intense feelings to tell a pretty sad story. If you liked The Unfinished Swan, you should check out this tittle.

The goals of playing What Remains of Edith Finch? are partly to answer the title's question for yourself, learn the tragic history of the Finch family, and see if the Finch deaths are part of some curse as the locals believe or merely a series of misfortunate accidents. The house and Edith's traversal of it, as well as the gameplay sequences for each family member, serve to drive that story and perhaps answer those questions. If you're looking for a more traditional adventure game, you may be disappointed by it and its short length. Otherwise the game comes highly recommended; it's an experience you'll remember for quite a while after you finish the game.

Yes, it’s a slow-paced, story-driven walking sim, but What Remains of Edith Finch is also one of the finest of its kind; an example of how the genre can tell stories in a way which no other form can achieve, and an enthralling journey from start to finish.

Almost everything about What Remains of Edith Finch is head and shoulders above its competition, though some may be disappointed by its ending and some of the graphical issues. The game’s short length (it can be fully completed in just a few hours) and lack of replayability may also be a turn off for some, but anyone looking for innovative gameplay and some of the best storytelling in gaming should seriously consider picking up Giant Sparrow’s latest effort.

What Remains of Edith Finch may only provide a brief glimpse into the lives of its characters like a family photo albums filled with moments that have long since passed, but it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

What Remains of Edith Finch is an emotional journey through some of the most beautiful stories ever told in videogames. Some might call it walking simulator, others simply a masterpiece. We undoubtedly prefer the second one.

Although What Remains of Edith Finch is a short experience, Giant Sparrow’s second game tells a beautiful and emotional anthology of stories, woven together by the titular characters equally touching tale. The allegories are unique and convey just what is possible from video games, in terms of storytelling and design.

If you enjoy narrative-based games, this one sets the bar higher and makes us thing we're still scratching the surface of the genre. A beautiful adventure that will be remembered.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a hauntingly memorable experience even though it's only a few hours long. You will have a hard time forgetting any of the Finches and what they did with their time on the now-hallowed grounds. Equal parts somber, whimsical, devastating and charming, What Remains of Edith Finch is a moving exploration of what it means to be a family, to be loved, to be missed, and how the places we call home become just as much a part of us as we are of them.

By the end of What Remains of Edith Finch, I felt close to the Finch family. I felt close in a way that only games could articulate with their unique interactive language. I was a kid on a swing, trying to get as high as he can. I was a baby in a bathtub. I was a curious, hungry kid. What Remains of Edith Finch doesn't just tell you about the tragic history of the Finch family, it allows you to embody it.

Quotation forthcoming.

One of the most engaging pieces of interactive storytelling I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.

It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming.

It's an exceptionally well-told story, an anthology of remembrances experienced through the eyes of each family member at the precipice of their demise.

In Edith Finch, death is a certainty and life is the surprise. Its stories are enchanting, despite their unhappy ends. I was sad I never had the chance to know the Finches while they were alive, but thankful for the opportunity, however brief, to learn a bit about them. The final farewell left me crying, but What Remains of Edith Finch is, without doubt, love.

Edith is the last living Finch and that's meaningful because the Finches have one hell of a tough time staying alive. By my count, there are 37 tombstones in the cemetery -- 12 for the humans and 25 for the pets. I probably missed some.

What Remains of Edith Finch could have had a cheaper price tag and that would have reduced the negativity from critics due to its 2 hours length. But, if you agree to that $20, Giant Sparrow brings you a new way to experience walking simulators, with a straightforward, great plot that entangles you and is true poetry, taking advantage of that unique level of interaction that only videogames offer. It has a magic halo above it, and that makes it the best indie this year so far.

Though it only took me just under two hours to complete, the second the credits stopped rolling I immediately restarted What Remains of Edith Finch. Each of the vignettes is so distinct and surprising that I didn’t have enough time to absorb and dissect what I had just played before being whisked away to the next one. But after fully piecing together the threads of the family and sifting through the allegories of their final moments, I was left with a beautiful, heartbreaking mosaic that exudes life, even when mired in death.

Juggling multiple perspectives and thoughtful reflections, What Remains of Edith Finch is an excellent example of what makes games unique as a storytelling medium.

A wonderful game that shares its weird, bittersweet story with the player in a most creative and lively way any walking simulator ever did. A storytelling marvel.

In a nutshell, this is the best storytelling game in recent years and a sure hit for gamers who like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter or Gone Home. The magical sadness reminds you of Ray Bradbury, the morbid flair of Tim Burton.

A perfect example that video games, as a form of expression, are something unique with a lot to say. You haven't seen, read or listened to anything that can compare to What Remains of Edith Finch.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a masterful piece of storytelling: well told, heartbeaking, and its variety of styles compensates for the lack of interactivity.

Different, beautiful and unique albeit too short and not very 'interactive'. An experience that is worth playing if you are into walking simulators.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a short journey about death and its influence on other people’s lives. A rare concept in video games industry that makes Edith Finch’s journey a special one. A journey full of passion that asks one important question: is there something more deadlier than death itself?

While there are only brief glimpses into the life of each person, there’s a sense of connection that grows with the Finch family over time. The episodes that make up its story explore a variety of subject matters, tapping into the psyche of getting to know your roots, with all of the flaws and mistakes of the past laid bare. What Remains of Edith Finch isn’t a long tale, but it’s a sensory journey, imaginative and thoughtfully realized. It makes an impact that keeps us thinking well after it’s done.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a fantastically memorable experience, one which only the interactive medium of videos games could provide. Yes its short, and yes it has limited interaction, but if you’re looking for a novel and consistently surprising game then this is for you.

All in all, What Remains of Edith Finch is a solid experience. You're going to play through it once, which makes the $20 price tag a little difficult to swallow, but it's a well-made and interesting experience that does an excellent job in evoking emotions. The plot is slightly inconsistent, but it more than makes up for it with style. It's absolutely worth the time it takes to play through, and even if every beat doesn't hit, enough of them do to be worth your time. It won't change your mind if you dislike the "walking simulator" genre, but if you're a fan, then Edith Finch is a great experience.

What Remains of Edith Finch stands proud among its contemporaries, but still manages to stand out by constantly twisting and changing its looks and mechanics.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a gripping exploration game, and will likely leave you thinking about it long after the credits roll.

A compelling story well told, and although it’s still not very interactive the variety and artfulness of the presentation feels like something only a video game could do.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a good game, but it fails to arrive at a satisfying conclusion, or build on its gameplay and narrative themes in any satisfying way. Thus, it never elevates itself to be something more than a series of interesting distractions, tied to a mystery that never resolves itself.

Some of the games moments feel a little forced, but as a whole, everything fits together quite nicely. The game is incredibly linear, and it’s unlikely you’ll have any need to return aside from collecting some missed Trophies/Achievements. The experience is short, but ultimately well constructed.

At its best, the game is a perfect marriage between the telling of a story and one's first-hand engagement with it.

What Remains of Edith Finch is an immersive and memorable experience that succeeds at pulling you into its richly detailed and dreamlike world. However, its short length and relatively high price point ultimately make it a questionable value proposition.

What Remains of Edith Finch masterfully shows that narrative-driven games can tell stories in creative ways without sacrificing gameplay. Ultimately, though, the experience is let down by the story itself, which doesn’t do much of anything interesting with its characters or subject matter.