Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
In 2017, the gaming scene was enriched by a big indie surprise in the form of a fantastic adventure game called What Remains of Edith Finch. According to the official website, the game won 29 awards, and the development studio Giant Sparrow was immediately catapulted into the ranks of the most respected developers.
A House of Memories and Secrets
The unforgettable story revolves around the Finch family and their extraordinary house. Many years later, we visit the home of Edith, a young girl who used to live there with her family. Yet she has never been in half the rooms because her mother has sealed them up. The Finches have lived in this house for generations and have long suspected that a mysterious curse lurks around them. It is this that seems to be responsible for the untimely deaths of most of the family, who live in various ways, often in childhood. This is also why the main character’s mother hides the preserved rooms of the deceased and tells Edith nothing. She thinks that there is quite possibly no curse and that people unwittingly induce death simply by anticipating some lousy event. On the threshold of life, however, Edith’s mother hands over the key that unlocks the first door of the hidden room. Thus, one by one, we will explore the secrets of the rooms, and in each of them, we will experience part of the life and the end of the life of its owner, i.e., one of our relatives.
Echoes of the Past
The stories take us back to the 19th century, looking, for example, at the life story of a young film star named Barbara, Walter hiding for many years from the war, and Lewis, who spent his days at work chopping off fish heads while his thoughts drifted into a colorful and vivid imagination. It’s incredible how you experience each story, and, for example, with the latter character, you actually monotonously move the lever on the controller for the decapitation routine while controlling the doll in front of you, representing our imaginations. You start in a 2D world, march ever forward until you reach a 3D world, and eventually experience the imaginary world straight through a first-person perspective. This corresponds to getting more and more into the imaginings, and it’s far from the only convenient analogy. You eventually settle in the top room and write up all your past experiences in a journal. And who is the diary for? I’ll leave that as a surprise…
From Strangers to Family
From almost unknown relatives, you get closer and closer to the present until you reach your closest relatives, such as your grandmother, brother, or mother. Each story you experience is recorded in a diary using a drawn avatar, including something that characterizes the story. This way, there is no need to remember names, which would undoubtedly lead to confusion between some characters. In the notebook, you have a list of names to research beforehand, which also serves as a checklist. It may be that, like me, you accidentally bypass a character, and it would be a shame to miss one of the stories.
A House That Breathes Emotion
Words can hardly describe the game’s atmosphere and how easily it engulfs the player. The title gave me goosebumps on several occasions, whether it was watching the impending death of a toddler or visiting the cemetery next door. While memorable scenes are relatively rare in other games, you encounter one extraordinary scene after another here. One room, for example, is completely covered in pink, another towers over the house and offers a spectacular view of the ocean, while another, on the other hand, is an underground dark hideaway. I would never have believed a house could evoke many different impressions.
Engagement Through Interaction
Empathy is further supported by the controls. Instead of sporadic clicks, everything here is controlled by moving a lever on the controller (if you play on PlayStation like I do). So, you must pull the lever in the appropriate direction when you want to open a door. The same goes for turning the handle, lifting anything, and other movements. The game marks where interaction is possible, and it’s hard to miss what it offers you.
A Narrative Gem Without Barriers
Adventure games are my favorite type of video game, so What Remains of Edith Finch pleased me with its flowing experience. The events build on each other beautifully without the player being relegated to the spectator position, as with games from Telltale Games, for example. At the same time, the game is not spoiled by any complex puzzles or other interactions that would allow one to get stuck and thus disrupt the experience. However, there are moments when a more attentive player will notice the below-average graphics, which can disturb the experience. However, most players won’t notice this in the whirlwind of the extraordinary atmosphere and story. On the other hand, the music, dubbing, and overall sound system is outstanding.
Conclusion
Therefore, I recommend getting straight into the game. It will take you about two, maybe three hours, and while many would have liked a longer game, it is questionable whether this would have been at the expense of quality. You’d better find another game if you expect a cheerful story, smiling faces, and valley sunlight. Here, we experience the end-of-life theme, and the death dates are clearly indicated.
About the Game
Title: What Remains of Edith Finch
Type of Game: Adventure, Walking Simulator
Developer: Giant Sparrow
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS
Where to Purchase
What Remains of Edith Finch you can buy it digitally on theser platforms:
- PC players can grab the game on Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG.
- PlayStation users can find it on the PlayStation Store for both PS4 and PS5.
- Xbox players can purchase it through the Microsoft Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
- Nintendo Switch owners can download the game from the Nintendo eShop.
- iOS users can play the game on mobile by getting it from the App Store.