Among narrative-driven video games, What Remains of Edith Finch stands out as a deeply emotional and artistic experience. Rather than relying on traditional gameplay mechanics, this title invites players to explore the intimate and tragic history of a single family through the perspective of the last living member, Edith. The game doesn’t just tell a story it immerses the player in it, weaving themes of memory, mortality, and legacy into a poignant interactive journey. For those curious about story-focused games, the video game Edith Finch offers one of the most memorable and unique experiences in the medium.
An Overview of What Remains of Edith Finch
Released in 2017 by Giant Sparrow and published by Annapurna Interactive, What Remains of Edith Finch is a first-person exploration game that blends walking simulator elements with short, interactive vignettes. Players take on the role of Edith Finch as she returns to her abandoned childhood home to uncover the stories of her family members, many of whom died under mysterious or tragic circumstances. The house, filled with sealed bedrooms and personal artifacts, becomes a sprawling memory palace filled with secrets waiting to be discovered.
Gameplay Structure and Mechanics
At its core, the gameplay of Edith Finch is minimalist. There are no combat mechanics, resource management systems, or puzzles to solve in the traditional sense. Instead, players move through the Finch house, triggering flashbacks by interacting with objects. Each flashback presents a self-contained story of a family member’s final moments, each with a distinct visual style and gameplay mechanic.
- Some stories are presented through a comic book format.
- Others feel like dream sequences or surreal fantasies.
- One involves playing as different animals in a sequence of transformations.
This creative approach keeps the player engaged and emotionally connected, even as the overarching theme remains somber.
The Story of the Finch Family
At the heart of the video game Edith Finch is the idea of a family curse. Each member of the Finch family has died under unusual or tragic circumstances, and Edith returns home to piece together these stories in the form of a journal for her unborn child. As she explores the house, each room serves as a tribute to a departed relative, frozen in time since their death.
Edith’s narrative is one of curiosity, sorrow, and an attempt to make sense of her family’s mysterious past. From her little brother who believed he could fly, to an uncle who vanished at sea, each tale adds a layer to the overarching mystery of the Finch legacy.
Notable Family Member Stories
- Molly’s Story: A child’s imagination leads her through a surreal journey where she transforms into various animals before a haunting conclusion.
- Lewis’s Story: A tragic tale of mental illness told through a dual-screen mechanic where the player controls both a factory job and a vivid fantasy.
- Barbara’s Story: A campy horror comic-style retelling of a childhood star’s eerie demise.
Each narrative is told with care, blending gameplay, audio, and visuals to evoke emotion and provoke thought. The beauty of the game lies in how it makes each story feel personal and poetic.
The Visual and Audio Design
One of the most praised aspects of What Remains of Edith Finch is its art direction. The Finch house is detailed, layered, and full of visual storytelling. Each room represents the personality and interests of the family member it belonged to. The surreal story segments also vary stylistically from hyper-realistic to completely fantastical.
The audio design complements the visuals perfectly. With a haunting and beautiful original soundtrack by Jeff Russo, the music helps convey the emotional weight of each scene. Voice acting, particularly that of Edith herself, adds authenticity and subtlety to the experience.
Atmosphere and Tone
Despite dealing with death and loss, the game doesn’t feel hopeless. Instead, it carries a reflective and often bittersweet tone. There’s a sense of wonder and beauty even in the most tragic moments. It’s a meditation on life, memory, and the stories we leave behind.
Themes Explored in Edith Finch
The video game Edith Finch explores several philosophical and emotional themes, making it a rich experience beyond simple entertainment.
- Mortality: Every story ends with death, but each is approached from a different perspective some hopeful, others dark, and a few even humorous.
- Legacy: The entire game is a reflection on what we leave behind and how we are remembered.
- Family History: The intergenerational narrative shows how stories, trauma, and beliefs are passed down through a family line.
- Imagination vs. Reality: Many of the stories blur the line between what actually happened and how it was perceived or imagined.
These themes resonate with many players and contribute to why the game remains so talked about years after its release.
Critical Reception and Awards
What Remains of Edith Finch received widespread acclaim from critics and players alike. It was praised for its narrative innovation, emotional impact, and artistic design. The game won multiple awards, including:
- Best Narrativeat The Game Awards 2017
- Best Gameat the 2018 British Academy Games Awards (BAFTA)
- Excellence in Narrativeat the SXSW Gaming Awards
These accolades reflect how the game transcended typical gaming boundaries to become a landmark in interactive storytelling.
Why It Still Matters Today
In a gaming landscape often dominated by action-heavy titles, What Remains of Edith Finch remains a testament to the power of storytelling in video games. Its success has inspired a wave of narrative-driven indie games and brought greater attention to the artistic possibilities of the medium. For anyone interested in how video games can evoke deep emotional responses and tell complex human stories, Edith Finch is essential.
Moreover, its short length (typically two to three hours) makes it accessible to those who may not be frequent gamers. Yet, despite its brevity, the impact lingers long after the credits roll.
The video game Edith Finch is more than just an interactive experience it’s a journey through memory, grief, and family. It challenges conventional storytelling and redefines what games can be. By blending innovative mechanics with emotional narratives and striking visuals, it offers something truly unique. Whether you’re a long-time gamer or someone new to the medium, What Remains of Edith Finch is a poignant reminder that stories especially the ones we inherit shape who we are.