What Remains of Edith Finch

(rubric scaffolds bolded, with each section infused with course content/terminology)

Developed by Giant Sparrow and published by Annapurna Interactive, “What Remains of Edith Finch” is a first-person narrative adventure game that was released in 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows. The game centers around the story of Edith Finch, the only surviving member of the Finch family, who are known for their unusual deaths due to a supposed curse. Playing as Edith, you explore the family’s house and uncover the short stories behind each family member’s life and death. The game delves into emotional themes such as death, family, and the passage of time, and has garnered numerous accolades including Best Narrative at The Game Awards 2017 and the BAFTA Game Award for Best Game Beyond Entertainment. I played this game on a friend’s computer in my dorm, but there are also a plethora of youtube walkthrough videos like <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9B15cptgq0> 

The game’s target audience is primarily adults due to its mature and emotional themes. However, it gained traction in teenage communities online. 

The important formal elements of the game include its unilateral player style (with one player watching the storyline unfold in a more passive role), an objective of discovery / narrative, and few procedures as there are not many options for the narrative in the game. This also means there is not a clear outcome, or winner of the game. Alongside this its unique storytelling style, beautiful visuals, interconnected short stories, and captivating sound design make it stand out. 

The game’s type of fun is primarily narrative (game as drama) with elements of sensation and discovery. This is because players are drawn into the story and the world of the Finch family, and the game’s emotional content is thought-provoking and touching. Therefore, the storyline/fantasy is the primary type of fun. It does this successfully as the game’s most significant success is its storytelling. The game’s unique narrative style and the way it presents the story of each family member is impressive. The game’s use of different gameplay mechanics to reflect each family member’s story is also noteworthy.

Epic failures are hard to clearly point out in this game. However, some players might find the gameplay mechanics of certain sections of the game repetitive. For example, I thought a few times as I played,

“If I’m just watching a story, why not be more relaxed and just watch a movie” (pull quote),

but I think that is a function of personal preference. Another failure would be the lack of trigger warnings in the game regarding death and some of the other dark/mysterious themes. 

If there was anything to change, it would be to add more interaction to the game. The game’s linear narrative structure means that there is little interaction with the world beyond exploring the Finch family’s house.

In terms of enjoying the game as a designer, it was not difficult to observe while experiencing, as the experience is just watching the game unfold with a relative few clicks. Therefore, I did not feel that there were many skills needed, past learned biases.

One way to potentially improve “What Remains of Edith Finch” would be to add more interactive elements to the gameplay. While the game is primarily a narrative-driven experience, some players may feel that there isn’t enough agency or player choice in how the story unfolds. Hence, why I pondered why not just watch a movie. By adding more opportunities for player interaction, such as environmental puzzles or branching dialogue choices, the game could become more engaging for players who are looking for a more active role in the experience. To address this, I would include a variety of mini-games and unique control schemes to reflect the different experiences of each family member. Therefore, a player would feel more agency and independence during gameplay to address the cookie cutter storyline. I know this would engage me much more, let me feel like I am making a decision. 

These screenshots from gameplay show the moody and dark color scheme of the game.