What Remains of Edith Finch

The story of What Remains of Edith Finch has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the majority of critics. Many critics praised the game's narrative, describing it as immersive, engaging, and emotionally powerful. Nintendo Insider and NintendoWorldReport both highlighted the mysterious setting and captivating premise of the game, while Pocket Gamer UK commended its bold and exciting approach to storytelling, which seamlessly balanced grim deaths with light-hearted humor. Switch Player went as far as calling it a "storytelling masterpiece" that is both tragic and life-affirming. The game's ability to explore the tragic history of the Finch family through the exploration of their home and unique sequences was also highly praised by IBTimes UK and CGMagazine. Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, there were a few critics who had some reservations about the storytelling in What Remains of Edith Finch. Slant Magazine mentioned that while each story in the game had its own unique aesthetic and storytelling device, they didn't always translate into emotionally resonant experiences. The game's fragmented narrative structure, which tells a series of compact and remarkable stories, was also noted by the Washington Post. However, these criticisms were in the minority and did not overshadow the overall positive sentiment towards the game's storytelling. In conclusion, the story of What Remains of Edith Finch is widely regarded as a standout feature of the game. Critics praised its immersive and engaging narrative, powerful storytelling, and the emotional impact of the tragic retellings and painful memories. The game's ability to explore the history and tragedies of the Finch family through unique sequences and the inventive and imaginative nature of the storytelling were also highly regarded. While a few critics had reservations about the fragmented narrative structure and the emotional resonance of some stories, the overwhelming consensus among critics is that the story of What Remains of Edith Finch is a compelling, emotional, and memorable experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of What Remains of Edith Finch are generally positive. Many critics praise the unique and ethereal experience of exploring the abandoned Finch home and delving into the final moments of deceased family members' lives. Nintendo Insider describes the gameplay as "feeling unique and ethereal," while Switch Player mentions that it consists of "interactive vignettes that immerse players into the lives of the Finch family members." This indicates that the gameplay successfully creates a captivating and immersive narrative experience. Additionally, critics like Xbox Achievements and Game Rant highlight the variety of gameplay experiences offered in each scene, with different gameplay features, art styles, and control devices. This variety adds depth and interest to the gameplay, making it engaging and enjoyable for players. On the other hand, some critics express concerns about the limited interaction and lack of challenge in the gameplay. App Trigger describes it as a "mechanically linear experience with limited interaction," while Gamers' Temple states that it is "relatively light on gameplay" and not challenging. Slant Magazine criticizes the intentional un-fun and brutal gameplay mechanics, which they believe reflect the theme of the game but may not be enjoyable for all players. These criticisms suggest that the gameplay may not appeal to those seeking more complex or challenging gameplay experiences. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay in What Remains of Edith Finch is a unique and engaging experience. The shifting gameplay and perspectives, as mentioned by Game Informer, keep players consistently surprised and excited for the next scene. The clever writing, level design, and inventive gameplay ideas, praised by Pocket Gamer UK and IBTimes UK, contribute to a captivating narrative experience. While some critics express concerns about the limited interaction and lack of challenge, the majority of reviewers appreciate the variety of gameplay experiences and the emotional engagement provided by the game. The positive aspects of the gameplay outweigh the negatives, making What Remains of Edith Finch a highly recommended experience for players who value storytelling and immersive gameplay.

The majority of the critics praised the Graphics and Visual Design of What Remains of Edith Finch, with many describing it as beautiful, stunning, and visually impressive. They commended the attention to detail in the environments, particularly in the Finch household, which was described as one of the most fully realized homes in a game. Critics like Nintendo Insider, Easy Allies, and Game Informer highlighted the incredible level of detail in the rooms, with each one filled with photographs, drawings, toys, and other memorabilia that added to the immersive experience. The visuals were also lauded for enhancing the atmosphere and detail of the game, with Game Rant and Washington Post noting the unique and immersive visual design. While the overall sentiment towards the Graphics and Visual Design of What Remains of Edith Finch was positive, there were a few critics who had some reservations. Slant Magazine mentioned that while each story in the game had its own unique aesthetic, some visual elements felt trivialized by their presentation. They felt that certain visual devices, such as Walter Finch's bomb shelter or Barbara Finch's disappearance, did not translate into emotionally resonant experiences. However, this was a minor criticism in comparison to the overall positive reception of the game's visuals. In conclusion, the Graphics and Visual Design of What Remains of Edith Finch received high praise from the majority of the critics. The game was commended for its beautiful and stunning visuals, attention to detail, and immersive environments. Critics like NintendoWorldReport, Pocket Gamer UK, and TheSixthAxis highlighted the game's visual flair and style, while others, such as Game Informer and God is a Geek, praised the integration of visuals with the storytelling. Although there were a few minor criticisms regarding certain visual elements, the overall consensus among the critics was that the Graphics and Visual Design of What Remains of Edith Finch were very good.

The majority of the critics praised the sound design and music of What Remains of Edith Finch, with many highlighting its positive impact on the overall experience. NintendoWorldReport commends the well-acted narration and captivating soundtrack, while Switch Player describes the music, voice-acting, and scripting as outclassing the competition and enhancing the immersive experience. XBLA Fans also praises the vocal performances and the use of music, particularly the melancholy tunes, which adds to the overall emotional journey of the game. Xbox Achievements mentions the subtle audio design and fantastic voice acting, with the soundtrack perfectly complementing the strange tales. While the overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive, there are a few critics who do not provide specific feedback on the sound design and music. Game Rant mentions the clever and effective use of the DualShock 4's speaker but does not delve into the overall quality of the sound design. TheSixthAxis simply states that the voice acting is well done without elaborating further. Although these critics do not offer any negative opinions, their lack of detailed analysis on the sound design and music leaves room for interpretation. In conclusion, the sound design and music of What Remains of Edith Finch are highly praised by the majority of the critics. The positive feedback includes well-acted narration, captivating soundtrack, fantastic vocal performances, and the ability of the music to complement the emotional journey of the game. While a few critics do not provide specific feedback on the sound design and music, their overall positive sentiment aligns with the consensus of the majority. The haunting yet beautiful music is seen as a significant contributor to the overall experience of the game.

The voice acting in What Remains of Edith Finch has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics. Many critics, such as NintendoWorldReport and Xbox Achievements, praised the voice acting for being well-acted and fantastic, respectively. The actress who plays Edith was specifically highlighted by PlayStation Country for her brilliant voice work. The performances were described as incredible and unnervingly real by Push Square and VideoGamer, respectively. These positive opinions indicate that the voice acting successfully enhances the immersive experience of the game and adds to the emotional impact of the storytelling. While the majority of the critics had positive opinions about the voice acting, there were no negative opinions mentioned in the reviews provided. This suggests that there were no significant flaws or issues with the voice acting in What Remains of Edith Finch. The absence of negative comments further supports the notion that the voice acting was of high quality and well-received by the critics. In conclusion, the voice acting in What Remains of Edith Finch was highly praised by the critics. The performances were described as well-acted, fantastic, brilliant, incredible, and unnervingly real. These positive opinions indicate that the voice acting successfully enhanced the immersive experience of the game and added to the emotional impact of the storytelling. With no negative opinions mentioned, it can be inferred that the voice acting was consistently impressive throughout the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in What Remains of Edith Finch was very good.

The opinions of the critics regarding the technical performance of What Remains of Edith Finch vary across different gaming platforms. On the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Insider praises the Switch port, stating that it runs well with occasional moments of stutter or frame drops. NintendoWorldReport also finds the Switch version to be technically sound, with only minor hangups and a encountered bug. Pocket Gamer UK shares a similar sentiment, describing the Switch performance as pretty great with only slight graphical stutters. These positive opinions highlight that the game performs well on the Nintendo Switch, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience overall. However, on the Xbox One, XBLA Fans mentions noticeable texture pop-in when loading from a save, although it does not significantly impact the overall experience. Xbox Achievements also notes rare stutters and pauses to load in an area, but they do not detract from the overall experience. These criticisms suggest that while the Xbox One version may have some technical hiccups, they are infrequent and do not greatly affect the gameplay. On the PlayStation 4, App Trigger mentions a few technical hiccups that break immersion, Game Rant points out texture pop-in issues, and God is a Geek notes occasional frame-rate issues when saving. IGN and TheSixthAxis both mention noticeable performance dips and brief moments of stuttering. Video Chums highlights texture load-in issues after loading or selecting a story to replay, which breaks immersion. These negative comments indicate that the PlayStation 4 version of the game has more technical issues compared to the other platforms. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that What Remains of Edith Finch generally performs well across all platforms, with the Nintendo Switch version receiving positive feedback for its smooth performance. While some technical issues are present on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, they are not significant enough to detract from the overall experience. It is worth noting that the critics' opinions on the technical performance are mixed, with some experiencing more issues than others. However, the general sentiment suggests that the game's technical performance is satisfactory, with occasional hiccups that do not hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of What Remains of Edith Finch are quite varied. Nintendo Insider and NintendoWorldReport both highlight the positive aspects of the game's replay value. Nintendo Insider mentions that while the short length may deter some, the engrossing story makes it worth playing multiple times. NintendoWorldReport also praises the short length of the game, stating that it makes it perfect for replaying or showing to others. This suggests that the game's story and immersive experience are strong enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, which is a positive aspect for players who enjoy revisiting games. On the other hand, critics like Windows Central and XBLA Fans express a more negative view of the replay value. Windows Central states that the game has low replay value, which is typical for the genre. XBLA Fans describes the game as a narrative-based "walking simulator" with little challenge and no replay value, except for achievements that involve simple activities. These opinions suggest that the lack of gameplay variety and challenge may limit the game's appeal for players seeking replayability. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards the positive side. Several critics, such as Arcade Sushi, The Sydney Morning Herald, and TheSixthAxis, emphasize the engrossing and memorable experience of the game, despite its short length. Game Rant and Gamers' Temple, however, express concerns about the game's short length and lack of replayability, which may not satisfy players looking for a traditional adventure game. Despite these mixed opinions, the overall sentiment seems to be that while the game may not offer extensive replay value, its captivating story and immersive experience make it worth revisiting for some players. This sentiment is supported by critics like Video Chums and Gameplanet, who express a desire to revisit the game to relive its stories, and Washington Post, which highlights the game's rewarding nature for multiple playthroughs.