4.5/5 ★ – sirreldar's review of What Remains of Edith Finch.

As a long time enjoyer of all games from Annapurna, Edith Finch has been on my to-play list for a very long time. I was really looking forward to playing it, and when I finally did, I was not left disappointed. The game begins when you visit your childhood home as the last living member of your extended family. During your visit, you explore the house and uncover the untimely fates of your late relatives. I would classify Edith Finch as a “walking simulator” game. While you are free to explore your old home at your own pace, the main points of the story are fairly linear, there are no mechanics to explore or experiment with, and no real decisions to make or outcomes to affect. Virtually all aspects of the game are railroaded. While this may sound like a criticism (and is a criticism I have had of other games), in this case it is quite the opposite! As with most walking simulators, the game is confined to having one aspect to really shine: storytelling… and Edith Finch really, REALLY, shines. The story itself is narrated with phenomenal voice acting, making it an absolute pleasure to take in. Sometimes narration is functional, explaining things about the scene or about a character. Other times it is emotional, where a character describes how they are feeling or what they are thinking. And at times it is simply idle musing, where a character recalls an old memory, prompted by some mundane object. This makes the whole narrative feel engaging, interesting, and even exciting. Aside from literal narration, the story is told in some of the most unique and interesting ways I have ever experienced. Each main point is told as a bit of a mini-game, often allowing the player to experience the story through the eyes of another Finch. Each one was more unique than the last, and created some truly memorable moments. None were very complex and most stuck to the “walking sim” vibe, but even still, they stood out as unique and interesting experiences. The story itself seemed to have a common theme throughout the entire game: ambiguity. Almost nothing about the story is told as absolute truth. Everything felt subject to interpretation. Some parts of the story were told metaphorically. While in a way, this led to a sometimes unsatisfactory feeling of “wait, so what REALLY happened”, it opened the door for each player to interpret portions of the story in their own way. Some of the most fun I have had with this game, was not even while in the game, but comparing other players’ interpretations and points of view. I have no real complaints with the video game itself. The graphics were great, controls were simple and worked well, music was great, and voice acting was top tier. My only very minor nitpick was that it felt quite short… only about 4 or 5 hours to complete. Its shortness is highlighted by its linearity and low replay value. However it is clear they really did focus on quality over quantity. Despite its short length, it is stuffed to the brim with really unique and interesting experiences. I am glad they decided against adding more content, just for the sake of game length, and instead were dedicated to really developing and polishing the content that is there. Overall, I really enjoyed Edith Finch, and many parts of the game have stuck with me as I ponder their meaning or reminisce about a particularly memorable moment. I would very highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story and can appreciate intentional ambiguity. No one should expect dozens of hours of fast-paced gameplay, or any complex mechanics to learn and engage with. But anyone that picks up Edith Finch with the expectation of being told an interesting story in unique and interesting ways will not be disappointed.