What Remains of Edith Finch Review (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch & PC)

What Remains of Edith Finch excels in its ability to weave a masterclass in visual storytelling from the fragments of an episodic tale that’s both fascinating and surprisingly emotional. With as little as a crooked key, a towering home, and a handful of old memories, Giant Sparrow captures a short yet elegantly crafted plot that gracefully highlights the importance of kin, of loyalty, and of a curse that shrouds the past.

A walking simulator at heart, What Remains of Edith Finch puts you in the shoes of Edith, a teenage girl who, after receiving a collection of journals from her parent, decides to venture out to an old and seemingly forgotten estate. Upon arrival, Edith unlocks the door to a home that holds secrets, memories, and small but invaluable keepsakes that connect the souls of those who came before to an ungodly curse that claimed their lives in the most peculiar ways. A room frames the drastic downfall of a relative, and little by little, the consequences of the curse begin to emerge from old wounds and trinkets that bleed from the walls.

For each and every room that you enter in the home, a new memory jolts to life. An astronaut’s helmet; a collection of photographs; a poem etched on a scroll; and a plethora of heirlooms that each spin their own intimate stories. As Edith, you receive the task of traipsing through the corridors and threading the needle to compile a complete image of the Finch’s lives and eventual demise. What happened to your relatives? How did they meet their bitter fate? And, more importantly, will the curse come to claim you as the next in line to a seemingly unshackle relationship with an old shack that looms on the horizon?

In the two hours that you spend with Edith, you have the opportunity to explore various rooms, wings and cloisters in the Edith estate. As a linear game, you typically enter one room, unlock a memory, and then witness a small episodic tale—an interactive event in which you can play from the subject’s perspective and experience their final moments on earth. Once you complete a memory, another passageway opens up to you, and then, in an effort to weave the timeline into one compressive image, you slowly begin to follow a series of breadcrumbs towards the pinnacle of the estate.

Of course, if the aforementioned memories were strictly text-based, then there probably wouldn’t be a lot to write home about here. Thankfully, though, What Remains of Edith Finch is an incredibly creative game that doesn’t lean on predictable gameplay facets or dull mechanics. For example, in one memory you take control of a youth who can manipulate objects. In another you fill the small shoes of a baby that can, for some ludicrous reason, control rubber ducks and inflatable toys in a bathtub. You also have a cat, a shark, and a teenage castaway who can blend fantasy with monotonous fishmonger humor. The point is, every tale here has its unique charm, and nothing is ever made to feel predictable.

Given the theme and tone, What Remains of Edith Finch is, and understandably so, a rather emotional game that can often tug on your heartstrings when you least expect it. On occasion, it finds a way to tickle your funny bone and give you something to chuckle at. However, more often than not, it leaves something of a bitter taste on your tongue. You know how each story will end, yet you often wish for an outcome that isn’t quite as dismal. But that’s essentially what What Remains of Edith Finch is, in a nutshell: a sob story that cradles emotion and a false sense of optimism.

While still rather short, What Remains of Edith Finch is an utterly brilliant walking simulator that manages to check all of the right boxes — and then some. With a stellar cast of voice actors and a melancholic OST to help ferry its short and somewhat bittersweet tales, it honestly does a remarkable job of holding your attention for the short amount of time you spend in Edith’s shoes. Could it be longer? Sure. Does it ever dwindle in pace or creativity? Absolutely not, no.

Creatively, What Remains of Edith Finch hits the nail on the head to incubate an original and well-balanced tapestry of tales that each harbor their own intriguing ideas and emotional trappings. Mechanically, it’s all rather straightforward, given that it primarily involves walking, hitting button prompts, and unlocking doors. However, its lack of depth in its gameplay is but a mere setback for what is, in all honesty, an excellent game that does more than enough to bridge the gaps and keep you hungry for more.

From an visual standpoint, What Remains of Edith Finch captures a beautiful world that feels both lived in and in receipt of countless personal touches. From its cluttered quarters to its towering portraits, its crooked exterior to its multi-themed rooms, every area here has its own story to tell, thus making the act of exploring them a real delight. Depressing, at times, sure, but overall a lot of fun to unearth.

Suffice it to say that, as far as walking simulators go, What Remains of Edith Finch has all of the qualities and emotional tidbits of a superior game. To that end, it feels like a bit of a no brainer. Surely, if you enjoy story-driven games that combine lightweight puzzles with short yet compelling interactive tales, then you should be able to find more than enough here to keep you entwined for the long haul.

Verdict

What Remains of Edith Finch leans into its role as a masterful storyteller in the walking simulator field, where its emotional bearings and creatively woven interactive segments provide an intimate glimpse into a world of intrigue and adventure, misery and despair. With a stellar cast of original characters and an OST that perfectly reflects the message, Giant Sparrow delivers a thoroughly compelling and oftentimes tear-jerking experience that will likely linger on your mind long after the final memoir sheds its weight.