What Remains of Edith Finch

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 880 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 702 out of 880
  2. Mixed: 132 out of 880
  3. Negative: 46 out of 880
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  1. Fyxhcl
    Mar 20, 2023
    6
    What remains of Edith Finch is a pretty walking simulator that tells the story of the Finch family. Impersonate Edith, coming back to your empty family house after several years, explore it, and learn its secrets. You'll discover what happened to your relatives, and you'll be able to make your own reasoning behind the story of this family.

    The game is artistically well done, the house    What remains of Edith Finch is a pretty walking simulator that tells the story of the Finch family. Impersonate Edith, coming back to your empty family house after several years, explore it, and learn its secrets. You'll discover what happened to your relatives, and you'll be able to make your own reasoning behind the story of this family.

    The game is artistically well done, the house is interesting and the story flows smoothly. By visiting the house, you'll unlock several separate game section which will tell you the story of one of your relatives. These sections are imaginative and always different, so you will be entertained and you won't know what to expect next.

    The game is completely linear and there is no difficulty, you just need to walk and follow the story. It takes around two hours to be ended and don't really have any replayability, unless you want to go for achievements, which will add one hour at the most. While the plot is interesting, it's just a little, dark and cryptic story around a family that will certainly make you think, but I feel that it isn't so deep and don't convey any particular message.

    I played this game for "free" through the Playstation Extra subscription, and I was positevely entertained for the short time needed to play it, but I wouldn't be so happy about it if I had to pay real money, so I believe that whoever is interested in playing this needs to consider that it's super short and that you mostly watch the game and move in a linear path, but in case you are still interested, you will probably enjoy the experience!    … Expand
  2. umutation
    Mar 18, 2023
    6
    Another walking simulator that you don’t even use the buttons other than the left stick, but this time with a great story behind.
  3. Jattaman
    Mar 7, 2023
    7
    Non un vero e proprio videogame, quanto più un racconto di un paio d'ore.
    Ottima narrazione, molto onirica.
    Racconto piacevole che affronta temi molto adulti.
  4. BobsityJonesity
    Aug 21, 2022
    7
    An immersive story that engages in compelling storytelling and narrative. However, some of the stories of the characters told here are lackluster, and there are moments where boredom sets in and the game becomes somewhat of a drag. Overall it's a strong game with a cool and unique concept but it doesn't always execute its concept to its full potential.
  5. chrisdan23
    Jun 11, 2022
    5
    Den Hype um die "ach so tolle" Erzählung von What remains of Edith Finch kann ich nicht wirklich teilen. Mir geht ein wenig ab, wo der Titel jetzt so berührend sein soll. Die kleinen Psychogramme die die Erzählung aufstellt, sind sehr erwartbar, weil durchsetzt mit Stereotypen. Wenig überrascht oder irritiert einen letztlich wirklich, deshalb scheinen mir die Episoden auch zu wenigDen Hype um die "ach so tolle" Erzählung von What remains of Edith Finch kann ich nicht wirklich teilen. Mir geht ein wenig ab, wo der Titel jetzt so berührend sein soll. Die kleinen Psychogramme die die Erzählung aufstellt, sind sehr erwartbar, weil durchsetzt mit Stereotypen. Wenig überrascht oder irritiert einen letztlich wirklich, deshalb scheinen mir die Episoden auch zu wenig übertragbar. Wenn man schon ein Spiel entwickelt, das primär erzählen will, dann sollte dies tatsächlich subtiler, auch mit mehr Dissonanz stattfinden. What remains of Edith Finch leidet aber leider an Unterkomplexität. Sehr schade, weil ich mir von dem Spiel deutlich mehr erhofft hatte. Die wenigen Gameplay Elemente, die mal gut, mal weniger gut funktionieren, helfen dem Projekt leider auch kaum über die Mittelmäßigkeit. Also, viel Hype um Nichts. Selbst populäre Teenie Adventures wie Life is Strange bieten da komplexere Psychologie und Spieltiefe.… Expand
  6. GvnGngr
    Nov 21, 2021
    6
    Intriguing storyline told in highly creative ways. However, being a video game, of a medium drawing (one of) its (most important) strength(s) from interaction, a walking simulator never achieves that particular feeling which makes the games great. Worth to mention that there are mini-game mechanics in every chapter but mainly you are left with the feeling of walking while observing around.Intriguing storyline told in highly creative ways. However, being a video game, of a medium drawing (one of) its (most important) strength(s) from interaction, a walking simulator never achieves that particular feeling which makes the games great. Worth to mention that there are mini-game mechanics in every chapter but mainly you are left with the feeling of walking while observing around. For anyone with mental-health issues running in the family (especially the ones transmitted genetically), the story of the game can give them another point of view, help them take some distance to see the overview and better yet, a lot of hope.
    Note that for me 6/10 is not a "bad" rating. The game sufficiently scores above the average, and it will not be a waste of time or money for anyone. But unless its gameplay mechanics or story is a personal preference for the player, it does not achieve that extra something which can make it a solid "good" (7/10) game. Though I don't think it ever aims to achieve that, and it's completely OK because I think creating an artistic indie game is not about aiming for the top quality game-development goals in every aspect. Long story in short, neither this game is bad or underachieving, nor my rating is unfair.    … Expand
  7. Bloodnes
    Oct 30, 2021
    7
    Ничего непонятно, но жутко интересно. В общем, увидев финальные титры, у вас скорее всего останутся вопросы о чем собственно игра и неужели никакой развязки не будет. Увы, возможно у Вас будет другая концовка, но у меня игра оборвалась и остались вопросы. В целом графика приятная, музыкальное сопровождение тоже, проходится за вечер. 7/10Ничего непонятно, но жутко интересно. В общем, увидев финальные титры, у вас скорее всего останутся вопросы о чем собственно игра и неужели никакой развязки не будет. Увы, возможно у Вас будет другая концовка, но у меня игра оборвалась и остались вопросы. В целом графика приятная, музыкальное сопровождение тоже, проходится за вечер. 7/10
  8. Bizancio_Askatu
    Aug 9, 2021
    7
    As a pure exercise to demonstrate in how many different ways a videogame can make use of different narrative techniques this is a master piece. As a videogame it's just a mediocre walking simulator with clunky controls, predictable ending and weird tone.
  9. miguevindiano
    Jul 5, 2021
    7
    I played this game without knowing what to expect, and it's basic if you want to enjoy it how the developers intended you to do. This is a game to end in a day, think about it a couple days and forget it so you can replay it in a couple years and reminisce the feelings.
  10. MNecromancer
    Jun 24, 2021
    5
    It's the Vanishing of Ethan Carter but more whimsical and less satisfying. It's a storybook. You get a dozen little vignettes. The game sets up what you think might be a mystery or some sort of thread between stories, but really they're completely unrelated and there are no answers. I'm fine with that; I like art games. I just wouldn't have been so disappointed if the game didn't heavilyIt's the Vanishing of Ethan Carter but more whimsical and less satisfying. It's a storybook. You get a dozen little vignettes. The game sets up what you think might be a mystery or some sort of thread between stories, but really they're completely unrelated and there are no answers. I'm fine with that; I like art games. I just wouldn't have been so disappointed if the game didn't heavily imply there was some sort of mystery at the bottom of all of it. Like throughout the game you see these missing person posters about your brother and how your Mom never believed he was dead. You eventually find his room and you get NO information about how or if he died. I would mark this as a spoiler, but it's actually a complete non-spoiler because there's no information revealed in the game, so it has no effect on the plot.
    I feel like Firewatch, Gone Home, and Ethan Carter have decent stories. This game, Unfinished Swan, and Everybody's Gone To The Rapture are walking Sims that convey a place and time, but lack the story to really hold the experience together. Maybe that's just me, but I think a walking sim needs a strong satisfying narrative to work.    … Expand
  11. FrpMan
    Dec 19, 2020
    7
    Oyunun farklı bir kafası var. Oyundan çok farklı bir deneyim bence denenmeli.
  12. PantsOnFire
    Dec 15, 2020
    6
    Slow paced walk-sim. The main story is actually quite interesting. The game's premise sounds good too: here is this huge, abandoned mansion, explore it, and learn about the family's dark history.
    The truth is a bit further away. The exploration is extremely coordinated, and the game lets you (accidentally) skip parts - but you can never go back.
    Some of the sub-stories are way too short.    Slow paced walk-sim. The main story is actually quite interesting. The game's premise sounds good too: here is this huge, abandoned mansion, explore it, and learn about the family's dark history.
    The truth is a bit further away. The exploration is extremely coordinated, and the game lets you (accidentally) skip parts - but you can never go back.
    Some of the sub-stories are way too short. There is a great variety in the storytelling: but it's quite a hit or miss. I really enjoyed the part where I was a cat, the end of the sub-mission really made me have goosebumps. And then there is the one when you are playing on a swing...

    Sometimes there is actual 3d interaction with the surroundings, other times you are reading a letter, or skimming through a comic book.

    Anyway... it's a "press X, and read" game for the most part.

    I don't regret buying this game. Is it on sale, and you don't have it yet? Go for it. But I will not fire it up again to see the parts I missed the first time I played.    … Expand
  13. Sky-Line___
    Dec 9, 2020
    7
    Love the storytelling of this game. Each character has its own story with its own style and the addition of all the substories really ads well up. The game is short. Maybe some more depth here and there could have been beneficial. But on average, the story really quickly catches the player’s (and viewer’s) attention thanks to epic ambiance, storytelling, mystery and music.

    Apart from    Love the storytelling of this game. Each character has its own story with its own style and the addition of all the substories really ads well up. The game is short. Maybe some more depth here and there could have been beneficial. But on average, the story really quickly catches the player’s (and viewer’s) attention thanks to epic ambiance, storytelling, mystery and music.

    Apart from length, the downsides of this game lay in its technical quality. The frames per second are super low on PS4 and it hinders the immersion of the game several times. Simplicity is also another trait of this game that can be seen as negative depending on what the player wants this type of game to be.

    That said, the experience that this game offers is enjoyable unique and therefore you should not hesitate to give it a go.    … Expand
  14. GravSuit
    Dec 8, 2020
    5
    I didn't really care for this game at all. I didn't feel the story was very cohesive or compelling, It's a walking simulator/art gallery with set-pieces to me, nothing more. Story was meh.
  15. EdwardG
    Nov 1, 2020
    7
    What Remains of Edith Finch is an interesting collection of stories about the deaths of the members of Edith's family.

    It's a short 2 hour game and it manages to pack a lot of variety into that runtime. The stories are all presented in different ways and all play differently. There's a couple of standout moments that are really worth experiencing for yourself, including the fish cannery    What Remains of Edith Finch is an interesting collection of stories about the deaths of the members of Edith's family.

    It's a short 2 hour game and it manages to pack a lot of variety into that runtime. The stories are all presented in different ways and all play differently. There's a couple of standout moments that are really worth experiencing for yourself, including the fish cannery scene and the bathtub scene. The cannery scene in particular is brilliant in its depiction of the monotony of a dull life and it's effects on a young man. It's a fascinating, powerful part of the game that benefits from the interactivity of the medium. Although some stories are better than others, they're all worthwhile.

    On the gameplay side of things, this is more involved than you might expect from a walking simulator. As the player, you have enough to do beyond watching and listening to keep you invested in the game which also helps further connect you with the characters.

    The game flirts with different styles and tones, and graphically this game does look pretty good. The performance isn't totally stable but it's not much of an issue in a game like this.

    I don't really have a lot to critique or discuss for What Remains of Edith Finch because it's one of those games that's worth just experiencing for yourself, and I don't want to spoil all of the specifics. It's a strong title, and one that triumphs on the narrative front. It's a compelling journey exploring the huge Finch house and discovering the tragic fates of its inhabitants. It's not a totally consistent journey, but it's highs are excellent. Overall, I enjoyed the game but it didn't blow me away.    … Expand
  16. arakui
    Jun 29, 2020
    7
    What remains of Edith Finch is certainly impressive in terms of its visual style and execution, with each chapter sporting a different overall style, from playing a comic book to chopping fish while exploring an imaginary world. The story overall goes for a sed melancholic tone, and while the story is very good, it isn't a masterpiece by any means. Visually the game is rather impressive,What remains of Edith Finch is certainly impressive in terms of its visual style and execution, with each chapter sporting a different overall style, from playing a comic book to chopping fish while exploring an imaginary world. The story overall goes for a sed melancholic tone, and while the story is very good, it isn't a masterpiece by any means. Visually the game is rather impressive, but while some areas of the game are stunning, e.g the lobby of the house and the route leading to the house, some areas like the comic book section look rather rushed. Attention to detail is quite good, every room genuinely feels different, and are all packed with items that exasperate the feel of the room. However, with its very linear 2-hour playtime the game sadly isn't worth a re-play unless you miss something major.… Expand
  17. drlowdon
    May 3, 2020
    7
    Through her journal we see Edith recount her last visit to her old family home, and find out about the lives and deaths of the family members that lived there.

    The writing, and the way the stories of each family member are shown through unique flashbacks, is very well done and in around three hours developers Giant Sparrow are able to tell a deeply personal and emotional story. Of    Through her journal we see Edith recount her last visit to her old family home, and find out about the lives and deaths of the family members that lived there.

    The writing, and the way the stories of each family member are shown through unique flashbacks, is very well done and in around three hours developers Giant Sparrow are able to tell a deeply personal and emotional story. Of course, if you’re not a fan of these games which offer little in the way of traditional gameplay Edith Finch will probably do little to change your mind, but for anyone else this is one of the best examples of the genre.    … Expand
  18. raptus21
    Jan 16, 2020
    7
    Is more like a movie where you need to move main character. You watch many well-drawn stories and locations, some of them interesting, other boring. Visuals are strong side of that "game". Unfortunately gamer has nothing to do here. You cannot make any choices, cannot save anyone or at least unravel mystery. Ending is very disappointing. Game is short what here becomes a plus. I didn'tIs more like a movie where you need to move main character. You watch many well-drawn stories and locations, some of them interesting, other boring. Visuals are strong side of that "game". Unfortunately gamer has nothing to do here. You cannot make any choices, cannot save anyone or at least unravel mystery. Ending is very disappointing. Game is short what here becomes a plus. I didn't want to play it more.… Expand
  19. vahn
    Dec 30, 2019
    7
    It's an okay game: I'm glad it was included with psn because if I bought it I would want a refund right away, and not because it's bad but because it's less than 3 hours long and frankly I didn't get it.

    WRoEF is, in few words, a walking simulator where you discover the story of Edith Finch in her journey back to her old house 7 years after she left it: here she will discover the past    It's an okay game: I'm glad it was included with psn because if I bought it I would want a refund right away, and not because it's bad but because it's less than 3 hours long and frankly I didn't get it.

    WRoEF is, in few words, a walking simulator where you discover the story of Edith Finch in her journey back to her old house 7 years after she left it: here she will discover the past of her family and the presumed "curse" of it, where all of her family members seemed to slowly disappear in a way or another and her job is to discover the reason behind it and why by delving into the large house and eventually figure out why or if there is a curse.

    The game is, as you expected, set into the large house of the Finches and since there's no running you'll be slowly - SLOWLY - walk around without the chance to even increase the pace. I'm not blaming the game to be slow but I wish I could get a little faster in some areas, alas this is not the case. The house is well detailed, very nicely done and I really enjoyed exploring it and see the past of the family members of the Finches, until the very end.

    Now credits where credits due, the presentation is well done and I really like how the dialogue written in a way you don't have to look down on the bottom of the screen. Add a well-written dialogue that is a bit campy at times but it does its job, I overall enjoyed the story and I felt satisfied with the ending as well.

    Still...I don't get it...am I supposed to feel sad? I mean yeah, it was sad to see people dying but that's pretty obvious, but what about showing more about the characters that weren't a few lines and just a short section of them? there was barely enough material for me to care about the family members, maybe some had a few more but there was just not enough. I know show don't tell is a vital rule but sometimes telling me more wouldn't hurt either, especially when it feels the game was deliberately omitting details for some reason!

    If the game doesn't care enough to show me more about the characters, why should I?

    Perhaps I'm too biased against it so let me say this way: if you're into a mystery driven story about the disappearance of family members then this game is for you.

    If not save your money: I don't think it's worth more than 5 bucks, especially when it's so short and not really replayable either.    … Expand
  20. souffle_pan
    Dec 26, 2019
    7
    What Remains of Edith Finch is a quite interesting game. The story is beautifully told, but still, it is not very touching.
  21. GRRicky
    Dec 22, 2019
    6
    Generally pointless and the view point is so bad that causes sickness. However, there where one or two stories mildly interesting. In the end, the stories made them a family and the same stories kills them. Forever reason, the way stories reaches their conclusions are always forced, so in that sense not recommend to whoever wishing for a coherent story, but the general narrative is alright.
  22. Grampus
    Aug 31, 2019
    5
    So angry that people gave this game a 10. That is such a ridiculous notion. I want to give it a 0 to bring down the inflated score but it’s an average game so I’m giving it what it deserves. A 5. This game is the absolute low bar for games worth playing and it’s quite possibly THE MOST OVERRATED GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED. This game should be free, It’s a couple hours long and doesn’t runSo angry that people gave this game a 10. That is such a ridiculous notion. I want to give it a 0 to bring down the inflated score but it’s an average game so I’m giving it what it deserves. A 5. This game is the absolute low bar for games worth playing and it’s quite possibly THE MOST OVERRATED GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED. This game should be free, It’s a couple hours long and doesn’t run smoothly. It’s painfully boring 90 percent of the time and the frame rate dropping every few seconds is pretty much the icing on the **** cake. Absolute waste of money.… Expand
  23. Vzhik
    Aug 21, 2019
    6
    Ожидал большего. В игре, в которой есть миллион способов как увлечь игрока, пользуемся одним- двумя. В итоге история проявляется как факт - "Все умерли", а не превращается в красочное эмоциональное незабываемое приключение.Ожидал большего. В игре, в которой есть миллион способов как увлечь игрока, пользуемся одним- двумя. В итоге история проявляется как факт - "Все умерли", а не превращается в красочное эмоциональное незабываемое приключение.
  24. Suntherion
    Aug 21, 2019
    6
    This is a story driven walking simulator. Its good points is that the narrative is very immersive and one of the best at telling a story. For me, personally, the story itself was not that great thou. I got the game for free and for the time I spent with it it was worth the time, however, my personal recommendation would be to get this game during a sale.
  25. TheRedAvatar
    Jun 10, 2019
    6
    I love walking sims, my favourites being Gone Home and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture but this one just didn't do it for me. Gone Home is actually quite close to Edith Finch in approach: a big house you slowly unlock doors in to uncover a story told to the player. I was quite excited to play this game considering the glowing reviews so imagine my surprise if, after 4 hours of ... well,I love walking sims, my favourites being Gone Home and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture but this one just didn't do it for me. Gone Home is actually quite close to Edith Finch in approach: a big house you slowly unlock doors in to uncover a story told to the player. I was quite excited to play this game considering the glowing reviews so imagine my surprise if, after 4 hours of ... well, walking ... the game ends and I'm left feeling "meh".

    Gone Home was a masterful example of how to drip a story to the player - you get to know a girl and slowly get emotionally engaged, reading about her good and bad times and in the end you really care what happens to her.

    WRoEF takes a very different approach. You wander through a house, not getting to know anyone but several generations of your own family ... superficially. Very superficially. It all revolves around a family with a curse where most family members die really early in life (not a spoiler by the way - on the main menu you can see a family tree with all the dates which gives it away from the start) and the whole game you basically uncover how each family member died.

    It sounds cool but you quickly discover that most of these stories and characters are not that interesting. You got an army kid, a hunter, a kid who loves space, a kid actress, etc. It adds variation but since the game doesn't actually let you connect to these characters, they fall flat when it comes to engagement so it all stands or falls on the merits of the stories themselves and out of a dozen, perhaps 3 are actually good. The game often lets you play a kind of mini-game while exploring these stories but not even that can save what feels like a dozen disconnected stories.

    In the end, I expected there to be some grand reveal that ties it all together but ... no. There is a bit of a twist but nothing grand and again, because you don't really get to know anyone, it doesn't quite work.

    Now, when it comes to how it treats its characters, it's a lot more like Everybody's Gone to the Rapture - that game had a ton of characters you didn't learn much about but the entire game didn't revolve around an emotional connection but rather around solving a mystery. Here in WRoEF, the mystery never gets answered so it leaves you hanging.

    On top of that, the game was impossible to play during day time: it was WAY too dark for no reason at all. Even turning up the brightness, I had to wait till the late afternoon before I could even see half the stuff on my screen.

    If you can get it for free or for €1-2, I'd say give it a go. It only takes 4 hours to "complete" and has zero replay value so the price of a second hand book seems about OK.    … Expand
  26. mikepatyaev
    May 31, 2019
    7
    The game is a collection of short stories. Each of those stories focuses on the death of a different Finch family member and each is meant to look and feel different from the others, the way no two people in any family are alike.
  27. Lewis-Angelo
    May 28, 2019
    5
    una buena historia atrapada en un walking simulator

    jugabilidad pobre y problemas de framerate completan un apartado técnico bastante mejorable

    personajes interesantes, minijuegos divertidos, buena banda sonora
    para lo corto que es, en algún momento se hace hasta largo
  28. Bulletnot
    May 25, 2019
    5
    It's a walking sim so its all about the story. It's not bad but it's a bit short and it didn't keep me massively invested. It does have some good moments but also some pretty silly gameplay elements
  29. borakaykay
    Apr 26, 2018
    7
    Story was unique. Feels like u were having the same emotions with the Finches. 2-3 hours gameplay and its over. Weekend game before going out. Don't expect much. Still cool tho.
  30. LordOMO
    Jan 6, 2018
    6
    I've heard so many people say that What remains of Edith Finch is so much more than a walking simulator, so i gave it a try.
    Unfortunately i discovered that in fact IT IS JUST A WALKING simulator, and a really short one at that.
    You get 2 hours of gameplay (that you will never want to re-experience because the game is incredibly linear) for $20, which quite expensive. Gameplay feels    I've heard so many people say that What remains of Edith Finch is so much more than a walking simulator, so i gave it a try.
    Unfortunately i discovered that in fact IT IS JUST A WALKING simulator, and a really short one at that.
    You get 2 hours of gameplay (that you will never want to re-experience because the game is incredibly linear) for $20, which quite expensive.
    Gameplay feels clunky (escpecially movement).
    The story presents itself in very unique chapters, each with their own visual style and way of storytelling. However i'm not really that fond of the story itself either. It's good, don't get me wrong, but definitely not a masterpiece or must see. In fact it has a few problems, so without getting into spoilers let's just say that:
    1. I have no idea what tone they were going for, the overall story seems to be rather sad and melancholic, but then there are (supposedly tragic?) moments that are just hilarious and silly.
    2. Also has to do with 1. but in general the story lacked weight in my opinion. That has to do with tone issues but also with the fact that this feels more like a colorful book rather than a game. Most of the story is just being told to you. Other games make so much more use of their medium by having you experience a story through interaction and gameplay. I have a hunch that this could have easily just been a book or 60 minute movie (except that reviews then propably wouldn't have been so kind).

    All in all:
    Good enough story 8/10
    Gameplay/controls sucks 2/10
    Decent graphics with very unique presentation for different chapters 8/10
    Too short for 20 bucks    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PS4 Game of 2017
29
#29 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
29
#29 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 24, 2017
    90
    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]
  2. games(TM)
    Jun 23, 2017
    90
    A tender exploration of memory, death, and mystery. [Issue#188, p.85]
  3. Games Master UK
    Jun 20, 2017
    90
    An exploration of death and memory, Edith's narration makes the family come alive again. [June 2017, p.79]
See all critic reviews »