Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 303 sampled Steam reviews (286 positive / 17 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing43% mention it
- Visuals & art8% mention it
- World & exploration6% mention it
- Music & audio5% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing53% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
94%
274 reviews
5-15h
96%
27 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 88 | 30 |
| Creator reviews (4 tracked) | – | 92 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 90 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 87 | 109 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 158 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.4, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 54,237 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 450 total reviews in window · weighted 91.1 up / 4 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (137)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 95
“While it didn’t bring literal tears to my eyes, there are moments that certainly feel like a kick to the soul thanks to impeccable writing and direction.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“We were worried that the new project from Giant Sparrow will be something like another Gone Home, but as it turned out, between these games is a gulf like between the old rusty tractor and a Mercedes. This is a small work of art, framed in a modern digital form. Two hours spent in it were some of the most vivid, rich, and emotionally deep in our gaming life. What Remains of Edith Finch is really so great.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“What Remains of Edith Finch proves once again how unique a storytelling in videogames can be. It's a short but incredible experience which brings out a lot of emotions. It pushes the genre forward and kind of makes the term 'walking simulator' nonsensical and meaningless. Don't deny yourself the walkthrough, you won't regret it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“At its best, the game is a perfect marriage between the telling of a story and one's first-hand engagement with it.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The stories being told are delightful in their own right, fully enveloped in searing atmosphere and wonderfully spine-tingling.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“What Remains of Edith Finch is a 'Walking Simulator' that doesn't just tell an unforgettable story, it's genuinely unforgettable. As tragic as its tale is, it always manages to entertain. As one section ends and as you fight back tears, you'll always carry on, because the next story is as engrossing as the last. If you want a strong feature-length story that doesn't waste a minute, Edith Finch is the one you need.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A wonderful game that shares its weird, bittersweet story with the player in a most creative and lively way any walking simulator ever did. A storytelling marvel. ”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Given its wide scope, it's understandable that it's also a game that succeeds more in concept than execution. Like the subjects of the multi-generational novels whose tradition it embraces, Edith Finch's individual successes and failures are less important than its overall effect. It's a story made of stories, and the results of its breadth seem more important than the fine details.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“What remains of Edith Finch is a masterpiece, even for people who don’t like video games; the great narrative, coupled with a great concept and a perfect sound and graphical aspect, makes the game a great package, only faulting in the difficulty and longevity department.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“What Remains of Edith Finch could have had a cheaper price tag and that would have reduced the negativity from critics due to its 2 hours length. But, if you agree to that $20, Giant Sparrow brings you a new way to experience walking simulators, with a straightforward, great plot that entangles you and is true poetry, taking advantage of that unique level of interaction that only videogames offer. It has a magic halo above it, and that makes it the best indie this year so far.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“By connecting gameplay & storytelling in such meaningful ways, Giant Sparrow's second title still remains a classic.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Giant Sparrow delivers beyond our expectations once again. A touching story about a tragically unlucky family hits all the right notes, making What Remains of Edith Finch a worthy successor to the studio's sublime The Unfinished Swan. A walking simulator with a smart delivery mechanism paints the picture of a family tree full of misfortune and sadness, but leaves room for some happiness and sunshine. Between the most realised home we've ever seen in a game, the incredible voice work, and the moving, intriguing story, this is the genre's new golden standard.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
GameMAG
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Jump Dash Roll
Nintendo Life
PLAY Zine
Paste Magazine
SpaceNerd.it
VGChartz
Push Square…and 125 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- What Remains of Edith Finch - Update Notes #1Jun 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- What Remains of Edith Finch - Update Notes #1Jun 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window