What Remains of Edith Finch

First-person, narrative-driven games generally follow a pattern. What Remains of Edith Finch plays with those established conventions to create a beautiful story that breaks your heart, while making you smile just as much. A triumph in the genre.

94%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, grinding

94% User Score Based on 18,415 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

What Remains of Edith Finch is a single player action adventure game with horror, drama and mystery themes. It was developed by Giant Sparrow and was released on April 24, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of short stories about a cursed family in Washington State. Each story offers a chance to experience the life of a different family member with stories ranging from the early 1900s to the present day. The gameplay and tone of the stories are as varied as the family members themselves. The only constants are that each is played from a first-person perspe…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 18,415 reviews

story6.8k positive mentions

replayability54 negative mentions

The game features innovative storytelling techniques and emotional depth, creating a poignant narrative that resonates with themes of loss and memory.
The stunning visuals and unique art styles enhance the immersive atmosphere, making the experience visually captivating and engaging.
Players appreciate the character development and the distinct storytelling for each family member, which adds depth and emotional resonance to the overall experience.

The game is quite short, lasting only 2-3 hours, which limits replayability and may leave some players wanting more.
Some players find the gameplay to be simplistic and tedious, often describing it as a walking simulator with minimal interaction.
Technical issues such as glitches and inconsistent performance can detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration for some players.

story
14,106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The story of "What Remains of Edith Finch" is widely praised for its emotional depth and innovative storytelling techniques, as players explore the tragic fates of the Finch family through unique gameplay mechanics and artistic styles. Each family member's narrative is presented in a distinct manner, creating a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with themes of loss, memory, and the human condition. While the game is short, lasting around 2-3 hours, its poignant storytelling leaves a lasting impact, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “Although the game is pretty short, it has one of the most unique storytelling I have seen and the artwork is astonishing.”
- “Every character has a unique type of story, and you may never predict the next story.”
- “The storytelling is incredibly creative, the atmosphere is intimate and melancholic, and every story feels distinct and meaningful.”
- “You're walking through the house looking for the next blinking light to click on that brings you to the next story.”
- “The house is whimsically designed, but the story is just about an entire family dying in untimely and terrible ways.”
- “The story is short but held my attention.”
gameplay
2,608 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay in "What Remains of Edith Finch" is primarily a walking simulator, featuring minimal interaction and a linear progression through the Finch family's tragic stories. Each family member's narrative is presented through unique gameplay mechanics that enhance the storytelling, making the experience engaging despite its brevity of around 2-3 hours. While some players may find the gameplay simplistic and lacking in challenge, the innovative use of mechanics to convey emotional depth and the beautifully crafted environments contribute to a memorable narrative experience.
- “Loved the different game mechanics for each family member's story!”
- “Each room is a time capsule, and each story is told through a unique gameplay mechanic—one moment you’re a kite in a storm, the next you’re a monster on a ship, or a king in a cannery.”
- “The gameplay and story still hold up, and while the visuals are a bit dated by today's standards, there are still a lot of beautiful moments and charm to the style.”
- “There's no interesting gameplay; this is just a walking simulator, a short film you go through in about 2 hours, and that's about it.”
- “With all of that being said, I want to warn future players that you will not be purchasing this game for the gameplay itself.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's an interactive story; all that there is to know is that you might sometimes need to move the mouse around to simulate interacting with certain objects.”
emotional
2,211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "What Remains of Edith Finch" is overwhelmingly praised by players, who describe it as a deeply moving and haunting experience that often leads to tears. The game masterfully intertwines unique storytelling with innovative gameplay mechanics, allowing players to connect intimately with the tragic tales of the Finch family. While some players note that the brevity of the game may limit emotional investment for certain characters, the overall narrative is celebrated for its profound impact, leaving a lasting impression long after the credits roll.
- “It’s emotional, haunting, and unforgettable.”
- “A short but powerful experience with a sad, touching story and beautiful presentation.”
- “The story and emotional impact of the game will stick with you for a long time.”
- “To quote another reviewer before me: 'great storytelling, but boring story' summarizes it up fairly.”
- “It's just a boring story about heritage.”
- “Other than that, it's a slow trudge through a boring story.”
graphics
1,956 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics in "What Remains of Edith Finch" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and artistic variety, effectively enhancing the game's emotional storytelling. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environments, with each family member's story presented through unique art styles that keep the experience fresh and engaging. While some reviews note that the graphics may not be groundbreaking by today's standards, they still contribute significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere and overall impact.
- “The myriad of art styles explored in this game weave together beautifully and make for an intriguing and immersive experience.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, and the way it blends storytelling with gameplay is just brilliant.”
- “The graphics and the music, as well as the atmosphere, are just fantastic, and I genuinely wish I could just wipe my memory and play this again because it's an experience.”
- “The graphics could have been more polished to add to the mood.”
- “The environments look great on the whole, although there are some textures that I felt looked really bad and low quality, even on the highest graphic settings.”
- “The graphics are decent (not awe-inspiring, but quite sufficient for the task), the music is lovely, and the story-line is awesome.”
music
1,100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
39%
The music in "What Remains of Edith Finch" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, effectively enhancing the game's narrative and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the poignant storytelling, with many noting its immersive quality that draws players into the experiences of the Finch family. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals and a well-crafted musical score creates a memorable and impactful gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack is immersive.”
- “The music is soft, peaceful, and incredibly well-timed with the emotional beats of the story.”
- “The music, characters, and story all draw you in and hook you until you're finished.”
- “The use of the Halloween theme music during her story felt a little too on-the-nose and pulled me out of the moment.”
- “The music was solid but not breathtaking.”
- “I loved it a lot, though it did run into the problem where a scene was sad not because of what was happening, but because of the music that was playing.”
atmosphere
758 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The atmosphere of "What Remains of Edith Finch" is widely praised for its haunting, melancholic, and immersive qualities, effectively drawing players into the intricate storytelling and emotional depth of the game. Reviewers highlight the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the narrative experience, creating a unique blend of beauty and sadness. Overall, the game is celebrated as a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven experiences.
- “The atmosphere, the music, the way everything looks—it's just perfect.”
- “From the very first moment, the atmosphere pulls you in completely and never lets go.”
- “The storytelling is incredibly creative, the atmosphere is intimate and melancholic, and every story feels distinct and meaningful.”
- “The pretty design and atmosphere serve as a shell for a meaningless story.”
- “Beautiful visuals and excellent atmosphere are a wonderful facade to cover up poor storytelling and bland characters.”
- “The atmosphere is thick and the story is well paced.”
replayability
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
63%
24%
The game is generally characterized by limited replayability, primarily due to its short playtime of 2-3 hours and a linear narrative structure. While some players appreciate the opportunity to revisit the story for its emotional impact or to achieve missed accomplishments, most agree that there is little incentive to replay once the story is fully experienced. Overall, it is recommended for its storytelling quality, but potential buyers should consider waiting for a sale given its brevity and minimal replay value.
- “Easy replay value to get achievements you didn't get the first time, and further replay value when you just want to get involved with a casual sad game with great gameplay and great visuals.”
- “Although its brevity limits replayability, the experience it offers is truly remarkable and worth every moment.”
- “The short overall length lends itself to replayability, which you may want to do after your first pass.”
- “The experience is extremely short (2-3 hours) offering zero replay value and minimal challenge.”
- “There's one goal and one single ending meaning the game has 0 replayability (unless you want to get the achievements, which seem pretty pointless since they don't seem to add much to the story).”
- “The game's original asking price on Steam is 20 € which is a lot to ask for a 2-3 hour experience with limited replayability.”
humor
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "What Remains of Edith Finch" is a complex blend of dark, whimsical, and absurd elements, often juxtaposed with deeply emotional and tragic narratives. Players report experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, from laughter at the absurdity of certain deaths to tears from the poignant storytelling, creating a unique atmosphere that balances humor and heartbreak. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “It's humorous and morbid in a heartfelt way, is all I can say without spoiling it.”
- “What Remains of Edith Finch is a captivating and deeply emotional exploration of family, memory, and loss told through a series of haunting, funny, and surprising vignettes.”
- “It's beautiful, haunting, scary, funny, and sad (though not necessarily all at the same time).”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
33%
63%
The reviews highlight a significant concern regarding the grinding aspect of the game, with many players finding the gameplay tedious and slow, particularly due to the walking mechanics and some interactive elements. While some appreciated the storytelling and found the experience engaging, others felt that the game could benefit from a faster pace and less repetitive tasks, often wishing for a sprint option to alleviate the tedium. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the narrative is compelling, the grinding elements can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Time for grinding will be required.”
- “You'll be grinding a lot.”
- “What an utterly tedious, long, slow, and uninteresting game that was.”
- “As a game, Edith Finch is painfully tedious.”
- “The game looks attractive, but was so tedious to play.”
optimization
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and high frame rates on various systems, while others experienced significant frame drops and stuttering, particularly at higher resolutions or in open areas. Overall, while the graphics and voice acting are praised, many users noted that the game is not well-optimized for all hardware configurations, leading to inconsistent performance experiences.
- “The game seems well optimized; I've never found framerate loss, glitches, or sound bugs throughout my 2-hour gaming session.”
- “In terms of performance, I had no problems on my 5-year-old PC (RX460), easily running the game at 1080p on max settings.”
- “Performance is great too; I got constant 60 fps at ultra settings on a GTX 1080.”
- “It also isn't optimized as it had huge frame drops on 4K resolution.”
- “It is poorly optimized for PC.”
- “I experienced quite a bit of stuttering and some odd frame drops for a title that, while beautifully constructed, is decidedly not a graphical powerhouse.”
stability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
1%
88%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly in specific character storylines like Walter's and Lewis's. While some users experienced smooth performance without crashes or major issues, others faced significant interruptions that hindered gameplay, leading to frustration. Overall, while the game is beautifully crafted, it suffers from persistent technical problems that detract from the experience.
- “I encountered no glitches or crashes.”
- “Runs great under Proton.”
- “It ran pretty much bug-free, and some of the character stories were really good (looking at you Barbara and Lewis).”
- “The game came out years ago, yet the same glitches and errors occur.”
- “My biggest problem with the game is that every time I play Walter's story, the game glitches and the wall never breaks to expose the tunnel.”
- “Very disappointed with glitches that were brought up last year and still have not been fixed... more disappointed that you can't get a refund when the same won't allow you to proceed.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Overall, the reviews highlight exceptional character development as a standout feature of the game, with many praising its depth, emotional resonance, and artistic execution. Players appreciate the intricate storytelling and atmospheric details that effectively convey the characters' journeys, often comparing it favorably to other media. However, there are a few critiques regarding the lack of character development in certain aspects, indicating a mixed experience for some players.
- “A standout feature of the game is its character development that adds depth to the overall experience.”
- “The amount of characterization and detail the extremely talented development team was able to create for each member of the Finch family through narration, atmospheric storytelling, and creative flashback segments in only a few minutes is truly astounding, and in my opinion is more effective than the character development in most AAA franchises.”
- “Deeply powerful emotional buildup and rewarding character development.”
- “It has no actual character development, so it was just frustrating.”
- “Don't expect much action, but expect a ton of character development and exposition.”
- “Video games are frequently reputable and deserve to be commended for their character development, which is tragically lost today.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
24%
63%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, with players appreciating its focus on replay value and creative content rather than exploitative practices like loot boxes and excessive microtransactions. Despite concerns about industry trends, the game is seen as a refreshing departure from typical cash grabs, highlighting the potential for meaningful experiences in gaming.
- “This is what the medium can do, and I am so glad that in a world of loot boxes, DLC, in-app purchases, and annual clones, there is still scope for teams like this to thrive and create something so beautiful and deep.”
- “Microtransactions - check!”
- “When I hear games advertising 'immersion', I couldn't help picturing the advertising team laughing manically, twirling their mustache, and rubbing their hands all over the pile of money that one word had made them.”
- “In a pessimistic time of blatant cash grabs, loot boxes, buggy releases, and milked franchises, experiences like this redeem my hope in the industry.”

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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

What Remains of Edith Finch
First-person, narrative-driven games generally follow a pattern. What Remains of Edith Finch plays with those established conventions to create a beautiful story that breaks your heart, while making you smile just as much. A triumph in the genre.
Videogamer.com
90%

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3h Median play time

4h Average play time

2h Main story

3h Completionist

2-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 176 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Remains of Edith Finch is a action adventure game with horror, drama and mystery themes.

What Remains of Edith Finch is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 2 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 3 hours to finish. On average players spend around 4 hours playing What Remains of Edith Finch.

What Remains of Edith Finch was released on April 24, 2017.

What Remains of Edith Finch was developed by Giant Sparrow.

What Remains of Edith Finch has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a single player game.

Similar games include To the Moon, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Gone Home, Life is Strange, INSIDE and others.

What Remains of Edith Finch

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