Best Game of April 2017: Honorable Mention – What Remains of Edith Finch
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Staff Writer Tom Hopkins: Video games have always been able to tell deep and emotional stories but What Remains of Edith Finch’s tale is, without a doubt, one of the most unique. That isn’t only in terms of the plot itself – a story of a young woman returning to her family home to come discover how a dozen members of her family died in unfortunate ways, and come to terms with her loss – but in terms of the way each short account is told. The anthology of misfortune is told in a variety of ways, from a character’s daydream that slowly takes over the screen to old school horror comic book that comes to life. Each story is mesmerizing, keeping you engrossed each time Edith stumbles across a new one. Some of the tales, all under ten minutes in duration, are the most unique and memorable pieces of narrative of the past few years.
However, although some character’s deaths are presented in a playful, engaging way, the overall tone of What Remains of Edith Finch is never lost. It isn’t of sadness or grief, even if it never forgets it is about death, but rather the game is about acceptance, love, and family. Each story makes you wish you knew the Finch family as the what we see rounds out the context we get from exploring the great sprawling house. Edith’s almost constant commentary is beautiful but also perfectly compliments this tone as she describes her memories of the family members she lost. Her explanation of events ties the anthology together seamlessly and adds weight to the overarching plot. Giant Sparrow’s follow up to The Unfinished Swan is a beautifully unique collection of stories about love, loss, and family tied together wonderfully by an equally touching tale.
