This game was mentioned last semester by one of our lecturers but I’ve not played it. It was used as an example of an interesting indie game that takes a novel approach to linear storytelling.
I ended up watching this walkthrough with my 8 year old nephew on a Sunday morning as it was something that came up on his YouTube feed.
It was interesting to see how he responded and absorbed the complex themes of the work – about ideas of fate, death and joy in the face of extreme tragedy. In particular, how the game seemed to work at a level that meant that he didn’t need to think about the more serious ideas – he is used to characters in games dying and in this story, it was just a story.
His parents didn’t seem to mind him watching the walkthrough and I suspect that he sees much more realistic death in games than what was shown in this game – and remains unphased.
The game is carefully made and beautiful in it’s aesthetic. It has a fairytale feel and I think that’s how we are supposed to feel at the end – like we’ve been reading a fairytale.
It’s linear structure creates many opportunities for engagement through puzzle solving and stories within stories. We get to find out about the lives and thoughts of these people.
It is a good reference for the game that I am planning to make for this part of the course.
Reference
special edd (2024). The Saddest Game – What Remains of Edith Finch [FULL MOVIE]. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5JSy23OH5Y [Accessed 24 Jun. 2024].
