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. JohnWitten
    May 8, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [Condensed]

    Edith Finch very much finds itself fixated with the prospect of death and yet it also proves that there is always something to live for. It is a very interesting and unique take on the human condition in more ways than one and even livens up the otherwise tried and tired concept of walking around a house or other mostly linear area and reveling in your exploration a la Gone Home and Firewatch. Rather than merely be a carbon copy of all things done in the past, E.F. makes its own strides work and pushes far beyond what we’ve seen thus far.

    There is still the detailed way in which you must inevitably uncover clues and progress the plot, however the mere way the text is represented and narrated as you watch the words shift and fold onto the screen and on objects of interest makes things interesting enough. As you search the house and come across items belonging to lost relatives or objects of interest the creative ways in which the smoky text scrawl onto the screen and off of it when your perspective shifts are always engaging and imaginative. Although you are playing as the last Finch and the titular Edith, it’s also interesting to note that you’ll be literally living through the morbid ways in which your relatives bit the dust as well through reenactment and reading.

    There is an attention to detail in both the narrative and housing situation that constantly wowed me in ways that the admittedly bland games that have come before have not. Edith Finch looks graphically amazing and it also adds a believable amount of clutter to its main setting in ways that Gone Home and Firewatch and other similar title have not managed to do. At its root it is essentially the same type of game and yet with its variety of established characters and rich story it feels radically different as well. Although you will find yourself listening to just as many narrations and dialogues as any other exploration game in the same vein, the way it dynamically draws players in is both admirable and thoroughly worth the investment of a few short hours.

    What Remains of Edith Finch is both an experience grounded in reality and one that offers a sublime and surreal quality not before seen in the genre of late. Adventure games are very much making a comeback and in my mind Edith Finch is leading the charge as of right now. There is an ironic sense of childish fantasy overlapping with discussion of adult subjects and overall mortality and morality which is something that remains engaging throughout the morose and macabre environments you’ll explore. The game does a great job of balancing the lighter and darker elements and sometimes they’re quite difficult to distinguish from each other a well.

    Although there is a degree of linearity particularly in how each segment where you “play” as another family member pans out, it’s interesting to note that there are still those little instances of openness and ambiguity offered to the player in how you approach situations that eventually lead to the same inevitable conclusion. In some ways it operates as the Telltale brand of interactive storytelling does, albeit without the same level of choice in terms of alteration to the overall narrative. The text-driven narration and the general environments themselves often mesh together in ways that draw your attention from one thing to the next and never leave you feeling out of the action or bored for a moment- something that even excellent AAA games could learn from lengthy audio tapes and collectibles.

    There is a certain degree of ambiguity to the game’s eventual conclusion despite the premise being relatively straightforward and to simply ascertain what has lead to the demise of your relatives. That is your main goal and an easily accomplished one, however part way through the story it also becomes clear that something darker and more sinister is also afoot. Although there are hints as to how and why your relatives have been lead like lambs to the slaughter, it’s left ultimately up to players to mostly infer why and how. The saddest thing of all is that this information is purportedly available to you however circumstance dictates time and time again that you’re denied the full revelation and as such culminates in a slightly disappointing finish to an otherwise brilliant title.

    Graphics: The game is artistic and beautiful and constantly shifts between realistic and surreal at the flick of a switch. It conveys the tone and the mood throughout the narrative and often reflects what is being said as well as what is being felt in a believable manner.

    Sound: At times the voice-work can be quite mesmerizing and is certainly one of the higher points for the game. The sound work is also respectable and shifts to suit the tone of the moment being played out.

    Replay Value: Low.    … Expand
  2. lager96
    Jul 15, 2020
    8
    I've been playing my back catalogue of games since we all have more time and Edith Finch drew me in and I played it in one sitting. I really appreciate the way they told this story and the ending was something I didn't see coming. You can miss so much in this game and that's what makes the exploration and attention to detail is so great!
  3. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    8
    The story isn't perfect, some of the writing and mini stories could have been better. However, it's still has an engaging story with good writing and unique game-play situations.
  4. SuperDuck23
    Jul 16, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While the 'walking-sim' genre is not for everyone, I can say that 'What Remains of Edith Finch' is one of the best the genre has to offer. The game is packed full of tiny details that make the immersion so much more weighty. The gameplay is livened up by some truly imaginative moments that I've never seen done in a video game before - with the comic strip sequence being my personal favourite. While I didn't find the story to be anything more than a vessel for the gameplay, overall it's a very well constructed game that deserves to be recommended to others on account of its originality.… Expand
  5. Wander22
    Feb 17, 2019
    8
    Gameplay/Mechanics: 9
    Sound/Music: 9
    Graphics/Art: 8.5
    Story/Atmosphere: 9
    OVERALL: 8.9/10
  6. Winko
    Jan 9, 2018
    8
    Good:
    - Going into the game thinking it was just going to be another walking simulator, I was very happy with what the game actually turned out to be
    - Every story was extremely strong, unique, and fun to experience - The story replay feature is a nice touch - The story ended strongly - Overall it was a solid length and didn’t over stay its welcome - The overarching story was    Good:
    - Going into the game thinking it was just going to be another walking simulator, I was very happy with what the game actually turned out to be
    - Every story was extremely strong, unique, and fun to experience
    - The story replay feature is a nice touch
    - The story ended strongly
    - Overall it was a solid length and didn’t over stay its welcome
    - The overarching story was captivating and unique
    - The Unfinished Swan easter egg was a neat nod to the developer’s past project

    Mixed:
    - The house and overall environments looked nice and were brimming with great details, but walking from story to story was weak the weakest part of the game, especially when compared to the what the mini games had to offer

    Bad:
    - There were a couple of unnecessary, ham fisted hints that try to guide players through the story
    - Technical hiccups throughout    … Expand
  7. Toxic_Boy
    Apr 25, 2017
    8
    A fresh and rewarding adventure. What Remains of Edith Finch will delight those looking for a story well told. It successfully captures each tale with surprisingly tailor made game mechanics that offer both diversity and emotional resonance. It was a pleasure to play and explore the history of this mysterious family.
  8. vdanja
    Mar 6, 2020
    8
    I think it is an amazing short game in its own category, a quite touching story! :) 2 hours gameplay max?
  9. Alvokun
    Jun 12, 2019
    8
    What Remains of Edith Finch is mostly a narrative experience, though it does have some interaction too. Its main strengths are definitely the atmosphere and storytelling; the idea that imagination may become deadly is brilliant and very well conveyed in the game.
  10. richp
    Apr 28, 2017
    8
    The story is beautifully told, it's not quite the epic tale that some of the 10/10 scores would suggest but it's quite touching in places. Don't expect a mystery (or a resolution), the story is about the various lives/journeys rather than it leading you through the normal start, middle & end.

    I did wish more of it could be interacted with. Gone Home nailed the "explore an empty house"    The story is beautifully told, it's not quite the epic tale that some of the 10/10 scores would suggest but it's quite touching in places. Don't expect a mystery (or a resolution), the story is about the various lives/journeys rather than it leading you through the normal start, middle & end.

    I did wish more of it could be interacted with. Gone Home nailed the "explore an empty house" slightly better in that regard but it told a simpler story as well.

    It's not great value in terms of hours for your money but it's quite special in its own way and will stick with you longer than the time you spend playing it.    … Expand
  11. Jaunegros
    May 5, 2017
    8
    Ce jeu est une experience narrative réussie de bout en bout, que ce soit dans les visuels, la bande originale ou le scénario. Mais au délà de ces aspects que l’on a l’habitude d’analyser et de critiquer, le studio a été plus loin. Giant Sparrow a cherché à créer de nouvelles idées à partir de rien, de nouvelles experiences qui foutent en l’air les idées préconçues que l’on peut avoir surCe jeu est une experience narrative réussie de bout en bout, que ce soit dans les visuels, la bande originale ou le scénario. Mais au délà de ces aspects que l’on a l’habitude d’analyser et de critiquer, le studio a été plus loin. Giant Sparrow a cherché à créer de nouvelles idées à partir de rien, de nouvelles experiences qui foutent en l’air les idées préconçues que l’on peut avoir sur le jeu d’aventure.

    Ce jeu est avant tout une experience à vivre, je ne dévoilerai donc rien sur l’histoire ici.

    Il n’est toutefois pas exempt de tous reproches. Le jeu est court, bien trop court et d’un dirigisme extreme. Vous voilà prévenu, mais franchement, malgré cela, ça vaut carrément le coup.    … Expand
  12. Tellus12
    Jun 3, 2019
    8
    Hmm, a difficult game to review due to its nature and uniqueness. 3-4 hours gameplay seems small for a game nowadays, but it doesn't tie itself up with that, fortunately. You explore a house, you don't really solve puxxles apart from the odd key hunt or navigating where to go next. You unlock all the stories of the Finch family who tragically died in all sorts of ways to discover whatHmm, a difficult game to review due to its nature and uniqueness. 3-4 hours gameplay seems small for a game nowadays, but it doesn't tie itself up with that, fortunately. You explore a house, you don't really solve puxxles apart from the odd key hunt or navigating where to go next. You unlock all the stories of the Finch family who tragically died in all sorts of ways to discover what happened to Edith Finch, the narrator and last surviving member of the finch family. It's very easy going, and you almost have to relax playing it despite the tragedy and brutal emotional stories that the game rolls out. It doesn't really tax you much to work out how to play each story through flashbacks but you just have to go with it, which is one of the moral metaphors the games holds.

    The control is as good as it needs to be and the graphics are detailed throughout. Some scenes are very moving and elements of mystery and wonder are brought to you as you search through all the belongings of what these characters' lives held. The soundtrack is well placed and the intruiging outcomes keep you interested until the end. Overall its a very well put together piece of interactive art. Not much replay value though as the impact wouldn't hold up a second time.    … Expand
  13. DrFriendless
    May 16, 2019
    8
    I have to admit I am in two minds about this game. On the one hand, there wasn't much to do, but on the other hand it was awesome.

    It's basically a walking game - at every point, you have very few options. On the other hand, when you do need to do something, it's not just a stupid quicktime event to keep the story moving, nor click X nor hammer square, it's actually something    I have to admit I am in two minds about this game. On the one hand, there wasn't much to do, but on the other hand it was awesome.

    It's basically a walking game - at every point, you have very few options. On the other hand, when you do need to do something, it's not just a stupid quicktime event to keep the story moving, nor click X nor hammer square, it's actually something interesting. I very much appreciate the design that went into the minigames.

    So I am torn because I was simply told a story. On the other hand, it was a great story. I guess what I need to tell you is, play this game.    … Expand
  14. Justmygaming
    Aug 15, 2018
    8
    Edith Finch is a great game, though I didn't care much for the first half. The second half of the game, however, was very moving, with characters that are interesting and scenes that are compelling. The game nails its atmosphere, making everything feel delightfully magical, yet sad at the same time.
  15. 613th
    Jun 2, 2019
    8
    Good 2-3 hour story. Very atmospheric. That is all I can say about it. I recommend to everyone.
  16. SaturnReviews
    Aug 30, 2019
    8
    The game is really beautiful and unique, and each story has its own charm. It's one of the first so-called "walking simulator" games I've played, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I totally recommend giving a try, even though the only con I find is the duration of it (it takes about 2-3 hours to complete a full playthrough).
  17. mistadikay
    May 16, 2019
    8
    Heartbreaking, terrifying and beautiful. I wish it was a bit longer. Loved all the little mini-games, especially the one where you are chopping the fish but at the same time being a character in your fantasy. Very unique experience overall.
  18. svonton
    May 18, 2019
    8
    it interesting game …. or not (I mean its not a "game" its interactive story what u sink by playing it). It kinda short but on my mind it not a weakness it strong part of this story (or story collections of mystery family called Finch).
  19. nathangwk
    Jun 14, 2019
    8
    This game is one of the better games I've played on the PS4. It's short and sweet and the perfect length for a walking simulator like this one.

    The stories told by each family member are very cute and are told using a very fitting art style and great narration from each family member. The only gripe I have about the voice acting is during Barbra's story, where the comic book had some    This game is one of the better games I've played on the PS4. It's short and sweet and the perfect length for a walking simulator like this one.

    The stories told by each family member are very cute and are told using a very fitting art style and great narration from each family member. The only gripe I have about the voice acting is during Barbra's story, where the comic book had some laughable voice acting.

    I would visit this story again, it was cute and overall a very nice presentation told in a very fitting way.    … Expand
  20. AMKrishnan
    Jul 22, 2019
    8
    This is an excellent achievement for indie games. The story of the Finch family is beautifully told by the creative ways of introducing each character's tale by exploring the family house. Exploring the house itself is very enjoyable - it's as if you have actually come to this mysterious house and are exploring it yourself, finding each hidden contraption by yourself. The plot isThis is an excellent achievement for indie games. The story of the Finch family is beautifully told by the creative ways of introducing each character's tale by exploring the family house. Exploring the house itself is very enjoyable - it's as if you have actually come to this mysterious house and are exploring it yourself, finding each hidden contraption by yourself. The plot is beautifully told and at a pacing that's appropriate to match your exploration speed.

    I highly recommend this for a good 2 hour ride.    … Expand
  21. FuriousAegon
    May 7, 2022
    8
    What remains of Edith Finch is magnificent.
    Developers from Giant Sparrow have done an incredible job to mixing up Visual Novel and Action Adventure game elements, and combining them into one unforgettable experience.
    The plot tells us about a pregnant woman Edith Finch whose goal is to create a diary for her child about her siblings and parents, and every time before you interact with    What remains of Edith Finch is magnificent.
    Developers from Giant Sparrow have done an incredible job to mixing up Visual Novel and Action Adventure game elements, and combining them into one unforgettable experience.
    The plot tells us about a pregnant woman Edith Finch whose goal is to create a diary for her child about her siblings and parents, and every time before you interact with the memory to write to your diary you see a unique story of every family member and what happened to them ( what killed or caused death ), and I’ve gotta admit that every story of her relatives is very interesting and visually done at great level.But from every story my favorite is Lewises story, that shows his mental issues and it has the best direction and visual design amongst all the stories.
    Soundtrack is good but I’ve only remembered main theme of the game, but still soundtrack completes atmosphere of locations and sometimes it can be really dramatic, and just hide the fright of situation ( like in Gregoris story ).
    8/10    … Expand
  22. Patrick73
    Jun 29, 2020
    8
    Gioco bello e coinvolgente anche se praticamente privo di un vero gameplay. L'ho giocato senza alcuna pausa spinto dall'interesse di scoprire tutti i segreti che riguardavano la famiglia Finch. L'esperienza è sicuramente valsa l'impegno ed il tempo impiegato. Consigliato
  23. Shaw2266
    Oct 27, 2020
    8
    Simple, yet great, for what it is i'm very glad I played it. Was just an amazing short story that is totally worth playing.
  24. xilef2007
    May 15, 2021
    8
    The story 10/10, gameplay 10/10, soundtrack 7/10, characters 8/10, world 7/10, atmosphere 9/10.
    It is very short but the gameplay and the story are very good.
    Hours played: 5
  25. tariq_almandhar
    Aug 16, 2020
    8
    لست خير من يقدم مراجعات لكن الموقع لا يحفظ التققيم دون كتابة مراجعة
  26. HeavyMachineGon
    Mar 20, 2022
    8
    8分，流程太短了，虽然是独立游戏但是也过于太短，还没有很多手游流程长，2小时就可以结束整个故事。如果每个故事都可以像Molly和Babara的故事那样丰富饱满就好了。
    游戏感觉更像一本家族史名著的极简版，每个章节介绍家里的一个人。
    喜欢游戏里的字幕，有一定的引导性，如果中文字体再特别一点就更好了。互动效果挺好的，会有真的在翻书开门的感觉，如果有更多物品可以互动就好了。 总体感觉这个游戏更像一个半成品，除了部分故事比较饱满，很多部分都点到为止。    8分，流程太短了，虽然是独立游戏但是也过于太短，还没有很多手游流程长，2小时就可以结束整个故事。如果每个故事都可以像Molly和Babara的故事那样丰富饱满就好了。
    游戏感觉更像一本家族史名著的极简版，每个章节介绍家里的一个人。
    喜欢游戏里的字幕，有一定的引导性，如果中文字体再特别一点就更好了。互动效果挺好的，会有真的在翻书开门的感觉，如果有更多物品可以互动就好了。
    总体感觉这个游戏更像一个半成品，除了部分故事比较饱满，很多部分都点到为止。
  27. Maurer
    Jan 15, 2021
    8
    The game is just pure story which is very nice really movie or book like and it makes it really nice. Short nice story good gameplay as for free in ps+ is a very fair option
  28. iCampoRamil
    Nov 12, 2021
    8
    Está muy cuidado, jugablemente no es nada, pero la historia te embauca, gozada.
  29. tekkenjoe
    Jan 18, 2021
    8
    Morale della favola? Non mandare a letto senza cena i bambini, non viziarli e non illuderli, non mettere altalene in posti pericolosi, non andare a caccia di cervi, non lasciare i neonati a fare il bagnetto da soli, non avere una sega elettrica in casa, non lavorare in fabbriche di pesci in scatola... Insomma avere una vita sana e socialmente normale basta e avanza per non fare una brutta fine.
  30. Primebear
    Apr 12, 2021
    8
    Fresh direction shines. The static but immersive way of telling the story isn't boring. But that's all.
    It might be enough for a game like this.
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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 »