Played on: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X
Continuing on with my rather extensive count of Annapurna Interactive-published games in 2024, What Remains of Edith Finch is the indie publisher's first-ever offering, and one of its most famous. I'd bought the PS4 version back when it was new (thus also giving me the belated PS5 version for free some years later), and received the PC version as a free gift several years ago. A recent sale also sold the upgraded Xbox Series X edition for just a few dollars, so I decided to buy that one and check it out as well.
What Remains of Edith Finch is a multi-award-winning mystery game done in the style of a 'walking simulator', a la Tacoma. The game is presented as a series of poetry-style vignettes, built within the exploration of the abandoned Finch house, as explored by its last remaining descendant, Edith Finch. Since many of the Finch family members died under mysterious and shady circumstances over at least a couple of centuries, Edith has taken it upon herself to investigate the potential veracity of a family curse, looking into a series of journals that detail her ancestors' last moments before death.
What Remains of Edith Finch, much like Donut County, is another game that should remain unspoiled as much as possible, so I'll do my best to avoid talking about specific details in relation to the game's many twists. I'm not surprised that this game won narrative awards at The Game Awards and the BAFTA's as well, because the storytelling here is truly incredible. The way that it blends with a series of unpredictable and sometimes outlandish gameplay mechanics is all the better, even as the experience remains relatively straightforward.
Each Finch family member is given their own story, told in a variety of prose and gameplay framings, brought together by equally shocking ends. Yet at the same time, the Finch family's tragic stories are also complemented by impeccable swells of happiness and freedom. In most instances, the Finch's are at their best and brightest when their lives are suddenly cut short, allowing players to interpret their circumstances and the ultimate worth of their lives as they experience each family member's final moments playing out.
Inevitably, some story beats are better than others, though What Remains of Edith Finch never feels like it descends into tedium, even as its overarching mystery is happy to unfold at a rather slow pace. Just exploring the decrepit Finch house feels like a joy in its own right, with excellent environmental storytelling throughout that makes this house feel rich with family history, as the Finch estate more or less exists as a character in its own right.
The outstanding flexibility across art styles, gameplay and storytelling consistently makes this experience an unpredictable delight, with its only drawback being that the whole game can be completed in as quickly as 90 minutes, including earning every achievement/trophy on offer. You can obviously stretch out that time if you aren't rushing through, but repeat playthroughs in particular won't yield much resistance, nor any real difference in how the story plays out.
There is also a notable disparity between the many versions of What Remains of Edith Finch that are now available, and that was evident throughout my playthroughs on various platforms. I started with the PS4 build that I initially bought many years ago, and by 2024's standards, that version is pretty rough. Its performance is sluggish, capping at an unsteady 30fps, and it doesn't have a Platinum Trophy, a gripe for trophy hunters like myself that's thankfully rectified in the upgraded PS5 build.
The PS5 version of What Remains of Edith Finch, meanwhile, is my personal favourite. The game DOES include a Platinum Trophy to earn in the PS5 version, but more importantly, What Remains of Edith Finch runs at a much steadier 60fps performance clip on Sony's current console, complete with 4K resolution options, on top of including some small, but clever uses of the DualSense controller's adaptive triggers. This PS5 build is a significant upgrade over its PS4 ancestor, and arguably the best way to experience this game, in my opinion.
Outside of PlayStation, the Xbox Series X version of What Remains of Edith Finch is just as polished and well presented as the PS5 version. This upgraded Xbox build doesn't include DualSense-exclusive adaptive trigger support, sadly, but it does still play out at a gorgeous 4K resolution, while sporting effortless 60fps performance capability. I would even argue that the upgraded console builds on PS5 and Xbox Series X manage to outclass What Remains of Edith Finch's PC version at this point, which doesn't appear to have been touched up much since the game's initial release on PC and PS4 in 2017. The PC version of What Remains of Edith Finch is generally fine, but even playing with a mouse doesn't offer the same degree of smoothness as the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions appear to present. Moreover, the PC version of What Remains of Edith Finch didn't feel all that noteworthy on the Steam Deck either, even if it's perfectly playable there, albeit at a predictably reduced performance and resolution.
Like I said, the PS5 version of What Remains of Edith Finch is the one I would recommend the most, but you are still getting the same great experience on any platform. The PS5 version's DualSense features and flawless 4K/60fps capability edge it out as the most fun and complete package, in my opinion, though you're getting that same package minus the DualSense flourishes on Xbox Series X as well, for what that's worth. Thus, I'd consider the Xbox Series X build of What Remains of Edith Finch a very close second place for me.
In any case, I can agree that What Remains of Edith Finch is definitely one of the best 'walking simulators' I've played through to date. It's packed with creativity, layered with rich emotional commentary, and its otherwise methodical pacing feels rewarding when the experience is so inviting and satisfying. This is a game that's full of fantastic surprises, and its design innovation led to me rethinking what this niche genre of mystery/adventure games can present to the player. I do wish it was longer, but that of course is a testament to how impressed I was throughout the experience.
I'm still torn on whether I should truly feel bad for the Finch's, as they all achieved fulfillment and happiness in their own ways while their frequently short lives lasted, but their family history truly was tremendous to explore nonetheless. If life truly is about the journey, then I'd say the Finch family led very good lives indeed.
IF I HAD TO SCORE IT: 9/10
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