What Remains of Edith Finch

Genre: First-Person Walking Simulator

Players: 1

.

Review:

What Remains of Edith Finch falls somewhere in the realm of Graphic Adventure, and is probably best described as a Walking Simulator, because there is no real difficulty to the gameplay and what few choices you have do not affect any of the game’s outcomes in any significant way. However, at the same time this descriptor may be selling the game short, because throughout the game it is constantly giving players new ways to experience it.

What Remains of Edith Finch is, first and foremost, a game with a focus on story. Players primarily take the role of Edith Finch, revisiting her family’s unusual home. The Finch family, she explains, believes itself to be cursed, and the home is a reflection of that – it is full of rooms that have been sealed off, hidden passages connecting them in odd ways, and ungainly add-ons hastily added to the house, only to be sealed off as well.

One by one, Edith visits the rooms in this house to uncover their secrets, with each holding a written account of the ultimate fate of its resident. Through this writing, the player is transported into that Finch’s final day and we can see firsthand their tragic end.

While it’s a game with somber overtones and a setup that could easily make for an excellent horror game, this game never quite attempts to be scary, and in fact it frequently depicts the tragedies within it as whimsical and even uplifting. The very first of the Finch family line you’ll experience the tale of, for example, is a young girl whose great hunger drives her to imagine herself as a series of voracious creatures stalking their prey.

Right from the start, this game makes it clear that every one of these sequences is going to be a unique experience in itself, with each flashback to a different Finch bringing a new twist or new style of gameplay. I won’t spoil them here, but suffice it to say that these sequences bring the game some refreshing variety and make discovering each new family member an experience to be anticipated.

Graphically, this game looks very good, and the transition to the Switch doesn’t seem to have made for any negative effects that I can tell, with the game reputedly running at a stable framerate of 30FPS, with a dynamic resolution (up to 1080p, down to 720p) that never interferes with the gameplay. The game isn’t going to floor anyone with its visuals, but it looks nice, and the visuals aren’t really the point anyway.

As for the negatives, it kinda’ comes down to personal preference. Firstly, I know that some people take issue with “walking simulators”, but if you’re that sorta’ person… well, then just don’t get one, I guess? Secondly, this game is very short, only about two hours long, which may strike some as a bit low for the $20 asking price. And finally, on a personal note, while the game’s story struck me as very interesting, it also seemed a bit too sobering for such a bizarre, unusual central locale and strange premise, and I wasn’t personally thrilled with the ending. But that’s just me – you may very well feel differently.

In the end, What Remains of Edith Finch is a solid port to the Switch, and an excellent, imaginative, emotional journey through the short lives of its much-maligned family. This is not a game for everyone, but it’s a unique experience and especially those looking for an interesting story would do well to check it out.

tl;dr – What Remains of Edith Finch is a Walking Simulator that has you exploring the short lives of the tragic Finch family in an imaginative and emotional story that re-imagines the way the game plays with each new chapter. It’s short, and the gameplay and story may not be for everyone, but those looking for a unique and moving tale should definitely give it a try.

Grade: B+

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}