Myrkur Games’ Echoes of the End, published by Deep Silver, is the kind of project that feels almost rare these days: a mid-sized, story-driven fantasy adventure that sits comfortably between the blockbuster scale of AAA releases and the stripped-down minimalism of indies. It’s a focused, linear action-adventure with an emphasis on cinematic storytelling, puzzle-solving, and tightly choreographed combat – and while not everything lands perfectly, it delivers a distinctive and memorable journey.
At its heart is Ryn, a young warrior who finds herself pulled into a conflict that’s both deeply personal and politically charged. Her quest to save her brother quickly grows into something larger, touching on themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the burdens of power. The emotional weight of her journey works in large part because of the grounded performances – the use of motion capture and strong facial animation makes her and her companion Abram feel alive in ways that elevate the story. The plot occasionally leans on familiar tropes, but the Iceland-inspired setting helps distinguish it, with stark volcanic landscapes and icy highlands serving as both dramatic backdrops and integral parts of the atmosphere.
Gameplay is a mix of swordplay, magic, traversal, and puzzle-solving, and it’s here that Echoes of the End shows both its ambition and its limitations. Ryn’s blend of melee combat and spellcasting feels fluid, especially once her abilities start to expand, allowing for some creative approaches to encounters. Working with your partner Abram in both combat and exploration adds variety, whether it’s using combined powers to solve environmental puzzles or tag-teaming enemies for more stylish takedowns. That said, the combat system isn’t as deep as it first promises – enemy patterns can start to feel repetitive, and some boss battles are more about spectacle than mechanics. Still, the pacing benefits from weaving combat sections together with quieter traversal and puzzle moments, the latter of which are often the game’s highlight. Manipulating gravity, shifting terrain, and bending illusions creates clever, memorable sequences that make the player feel as much like a thinker as a fighter.
The controls are generally smooth, with responsive inputs for both sword and spellplay, though there are moments where platforming/traversal doesn’t feel as precise as it should. A few traversal sections can actually be frustrating because of finicky jumps or slightly inconsistent collision detection, but these are minor bumps in an otherwise steady flow.
Visually, Echoes of the End is a striking experience. Built in Unreal Engine, its lighting and environments make the most of its Icelandic influences – lava fields glow against snow-capped peaks, and small settlements feel convincingly worn and lived-in. While it’s not pushing graphical boundaries in the same way as Sony’s or Microsoft’s first party exclusives, it’s impressive for a studio of this size and budget. The soundtrack complements this with a moody, often somber tone that reinforces the melancholy undercurrent of Ryn’s journey.
Echoes of the End won’t be for everyone – its linearity and relatively short runtime may leave some players wishing for more, and those hoping for endlessly replayable combat systems may find it too straightforward. But in a market where many mid-sized narrative adventures have disappeared, this one feels refreshing. It’s a carefully crafted, story-first adventure that delivers atmosphere, heart, and some genuinely clever gameplay ideas, even if not every element is pushed to its full potential. For those who still miss the “double-A” space of gaming, this feels like a strong argument for why it should thrive again.
Score: 7.8/10
Press Play Media 