What Remains of Edith Finch

About

"What Remains of Edith Finch" is a game that explores the history of the Finch family through a series of personal stories, each ending with the death of a family member. As Edith, you'll uncover these tales as you explore the colossal Finch house, experiencing the lives of your relatives and the world's unknowable mysteries. The game offers varied gameplay and tones, providing an emotional and humbling look into the past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 16,164 reviews

story6k positive mentions

replayability53 negative mentions

The emotional depth and innovative storytelling techniques create a deeply immersive experience that resonates with players long after completion.
The stunning visuals and artistic diversity enhance the game's emotional storytelling, making it a visually captivating experience.
The unique blend of dark humor and profound sadness effectively balances the narrative, leaving a lasting impact on players.

The game is short, lasting around 2-3 hours, which limits replayability and may leave some players wanting more.
Technical issues, including glitches and optimization problems, detract from the overall experience for many players.
The gameplay primarily consists of walking and exploration, which some players find tedious and lacking in excitement.

story
12,516 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
1%
The story of "What Remains of Edith Finch" is widely praised for its emotional depth and innovative storytelling techniques, as it explores the tragic history of the Finch family through a series of unique, interactive vignettes. Each family member's story is presented in a distinct style, blending gameplay with narrative to create a deeply immersive experience that resonates with players long after completion. While some critiques mention the game's brevity and linearity, the overall consensus highlights its masterful execution of storytelling, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The story is a masterpiece.”
- “The incredible attention to detail and story tidbits leave a lot of theory crafting and speculating to occur, which is honestly my favorite part of the game.”
- “What remains of edith finch is a beautifully staged story about a very unfortunate family.”
- “It had potential but definitely fails to meet the expectations of any storytelling lover.”
- “The story is short, but it is well worth the experience.”
- “The story itself is quite sad, but includes so many breathtaking moments.”
gameplay
2,314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay in "What Remains of Edith Finch" is primarily a walking simulator, focusing on exploration and narrative rather than traditional gameplay mechanics. Each family member's story is told through unique and inventive gameplay segments that enhance the emotional impact of the narrative, making the experience engaging despite its simplicity. While the game is short, lasting around 2-3 hours, its creative use of gameplay to convey deep storytelling has been praised, though some players feel the price may not justify the limited gameplay time.
- “The gameplay is unique and the storytelling is quite magical and gripping.”
- “Each family member's story is told through unique gameplay experiences, keeping things fresh and engaging.”
- “What makes this game so special is the way it uses gameplay to tell its stories.”
- “The gameplay is simple and consists of exploring the house and experiencing the stories.”
- “While the gameplay isn't particularly exciting, the creative story makes up for it and What Remains of Edith Finch is a must-play for anyone with good taste.”
- “The gameplay is mostly walking and exploring the house and surrounding area, but there's also some mini-games in the individual stories that are quite creative.”
emotional
1,876 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 touching and heart-wrenching experience. The game masterfully intertwines various narratives that explore themes of family, loss, and mortality, often evoking strong emotional responses, including tears. Many players highlight the unique storytelling mechanics and atmospheric design that enhance the emotional weight of each character's story, making it a memorable and impactful journey.
- “The narrative is emotionally driven, heartfelt, and questions life, death, tragedy, and fate.”
- “What remains of edith finch is a breathtakingly emotional experience that showcases the power of storytelling in video games.”
- “Each story felt unique, emotional, and unforgettable.”
- “From the description of the game, I expected some shallow, boring story playing as an annoying kid.”
- “All you do is walk her around and listen to a rather boring story.”
- “Other than that, it's a slow trudge through a boring story.”
graphics
1,772 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The graphics in "What Remains of Edith Finch" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and artistic diversity, effectively enhancing the game's emotional storytelling. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environments, with each character's story presented through unique art styles that contribute to the overall atmosphere. While some users experienced technical issues requiring adjustments to graphics settings, the game's aesthetic appeal remains a standout feature, making it a visually captivating experience.
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with an incredible attention to detail that makes the Finch house feel like a character in its own right.”
- “The graphics and art style are perfectly authentic, the comic book, the rooms of each of the characters that support their personality.”
- “There are still bugs in 2025, and I had to follow other users' guidance to reduce the graphics in order to get through some sections (Windows 10 PC).”
- “The visual style of the game is all over the place, with each story having a distinct art style.”
- “The graphics are decent - not great.”
music
1,008 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
The music in "What Remains of Edith Finch" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, perfectly complementing the game's narrative and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack enhances the storytelling, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a meticulously crafted score contributes to a powerful and memorable gaming experience.
- “The music allows you to dive into each story and feel what the character was feeling.”
- “The soundtrack is equally memorable, with music that perfectly complements the tone of each story—be it whimsical, somber, or bittersweet.”
- “The music, visuals, and voice acting all come together to create a world that feels achingly real and heartbreakingly surreal.”
- “The music was atmospheric and matched whatever plot point was happening in the game.”
- “The music, which ranges from mysterious piano notes to soaring strings, masterfully immerses players in the world of the Finch family and gives each scene a powerful emotional impact.”
- “The music is simplistic but well-placed, setting the mood for every room and scenario this game puts you in.”
atmosphere
676 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
28%
The atmosphere of "What Remains of Edith Finch" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, effectively immersing players in the tragic stories of the Finch family. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, atmospheric soundtrack, and intricate environmental storytelling, which together create a melancholic yet captivating experience. Despite its short length, the game is noted for its ability to evoke a range of emotions, making it a memorable and impactful journey through its richly detailed world.
- “The game's visual artistry and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complement the narrative, creating an immersive experience that feels more like reading a beautifully illustrated storybook than playing a game.”
- “The atmosphere is haunting yet stunning, with a focus on emotions and memories rather than action.”
- “The atmosphere of the Finch house is gloomy but gets progressively warmer as you climb to the top floor where Edith and her brothers lived, finally ending in Edith's old bedroom, one of the only places still lit up after they shut off the electricity years ago.”
- “The atmosphere is both haunting and enchanting, with the Finch home serving as a living museum filled with memories and echoes of the past.”
- “The atmosphere is thick and the story is well paced.”
replayability
210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
62%
25%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily due to its short playtime of 2-3 hours and linear storytelling. While some players appreciate the opportunity to revisit the narrative or achieve completionist goals, many feel that once the story is experienced, there is little incentive to replay. It is recommended to purchase on sale, as the lack of replay value may not justify the full price for most players.
- “Although its brevity limits replayability, the experience it offers is truly remarkable and worth every moment.”
- “The plot is linear, but this one is replayable just for the experience.”
- “I could play this game easily over and over; it has great replay value in my opinion.”
- “However, the story is short and the lack of replayability might leave some players wanting more.”
- “The game is pretty linear and only about 2-3 hours without much room for replay value.”
- “The biggest downside of this game is its length - it'll take you 2-3 hours to complete it and there is no replayability, so keep that in mind before you drop £15 on it.”
humor
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "What Remains of Edith Finch" is described as a unique blend of dark, whimsical, and absurd elements, often juxtaposed with moments of profound sadness. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky storytelling and the absurdity of the Finch family's tragic deaths, while also delivering emotional depth that leaves a lasting impact. Overall, the game masterfully balances humor and melancholy, creating a rich narrative experience that resonates with players on multiple emotional levels.
- “It's wild and hilarious that there's a through-line between this game and blaseball.”
- “An uplifting story of a family of human lemmings where you explore their mostly hilarious and/or nonsensical deaths.”
- “What remains of edith finch isn't just a game; it's a whirlwind adventure that'll leave you laughing, crying, and questioning the very fabric of reality.”
grinding
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
31%
65%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a significant source of frustration, with many players finding the slow movement and repetitive tasks tedious. While some appreciate the storytelling and immersive elements, the overall sentiment suggests that the gameplay often feels drawn out and could benefit from a more engaging pace. Despite these criticisms, a few players still found the experience rewarding, highlighting the balance between narrative depth and gameplay mechanics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Time for grinding will be required.”
- “You'll be grinding a lot.”
- “The game is just tedious.”
- “Such utterly shallow and tedious gameplay that lasts for far too long.”
- “The interactive parts of the game feel tedious; I just found myself wanting more exploration and story.”
optimization
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance on various systems, including the Steam Deck and high-end PCs, while others reported significant frame drops and stuttering, particularly in open areas or at higher resolutions. Overall, while many enjoyed the graphics and voice acting, the game's optimization appears inconsistent, leading to performance issues for some users.
- “I bought it for my girlfriend to play on the Steam Deck, and it runs smoothly on it.”
- “In terms of performance, I experienced no issues with lag, glitches, or crashing.”
- “The game seems well optimized; I've never found framerate loss, glitches, or sound bugs throughout my 2-hour gaming session.”
- “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
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting persistent glitches and bugs, particularly in specific character storylines like Walter's and Lewis's. While some users experienced smooth performance without major issues, others faced significant interruptions that hindered gameplay, leading to frustration. Overall, while the game is praised for its storytelling and graphics, the recurring technical problems detract from the experience for many players.
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck; with the right settings, you can get about 2 hours of playtime, and that's half the game.”
- “Beautiful and runs great on Linux.”
- “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%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and artistry, with many reviewers highlighting the intricate details that bring each character to life through narration and atmospheric storytelling. The game is noted for its ability to convey profound emotional arcs in a short time, often surpassing the character development found in larger AAA titles. However, some users expressed frustration over a lack of character development in certain aspects, indicating a mixed reception in this area.
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
14%
71%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, with reviewers appreciating its focus on meaningful gameplay rather than exploitative practices like loot boxes and excessive microtransactions. While there are some microtransactions present, the overall experience is seen as a refreshing departure from the industry's common cash grab tactics, highlighting the potential for creativity and depth in game design.
- “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.”
- “This is what the medium can do, and I am so glad in a world of loot boxes and DLC and in-app purchases and annual clones, that there is still scope for teams like this to thrive and create something so beautiful and deep.”