Echoes of the End Review: A Diamond in the Rough That Needs More Polish

Let’s be honest, I went into Echoes of the End with fairly low expectations. Another day, another indie action-adventure game trying to punch above its weight. And for the first few hours, my cynicism felt justified. But something kept me playing—a glimmer of potential beneath the jank that eventually won me over, even if it didn’t completely win me round.

Myrkur Games’ debut is a frustrating, beautiful, and ultimately uneven experience. It’s the kind of game you want to root for, even as you’re cataloging its many, many flaws.

The Story: It Gets Good, I Promise

You play as Ryn, and life has dealt her a pretty terrible hand. She’s a “Vestige,” which basically means she’s packed with so much unstable power that a simple touch can be deadly. The game nails her isolation early on; there’s a palpable sadness to her as she pushes away her brother, Cor, the one person who seems to care.

When Cor gets snatched by the villains—a generic warmonger and a far more interesting rival Vestige named Zara—Ryn’s rescue mission begins. She’s quickly joined by Abram, a scholar with a mysterious connection to her past who’s definitely hiding something.

Now, here’s the thing: the opening chapters are a slog. The “chosen one with a curse” trope feels tired, and Ryn’s angst borders on repetitive. I was ready to write the story off. But then, around the halfway point, it finds its rhythm. The relationship between Ryn and Abram transforms from a plot device into the game’s genuine emotional core. It becomes less about saving the world and more about two broken people helping each other heal. The voice actors do a phenomenal job selling this evolution, making those later story beats actually land.

The Bottom Line: Stick with it. The narrative payoff is there, but it demands patience through a very slow start.

Gameplay: When It Shines and When It Stumbles

This is where opinions will split. Echoes of the End can’t seem to decide if it wants to be a combat-focused action game or a thoughtful puzzle-platformer. It tries both, with mixed results.

The Highlights: Puzzles and Exploration
When the game lets you breathe and just think, it’s at its best. The later levels introduce some truly clever environmental puzzles that had me scratching my head in the best way. The mechanics are smart, and the game is at its most satisfying when it layers these ideas together. I just wish there was more of it! Some fantastic concepts are introduced only to be immediately abandoned. The platforming, while simple, feels good and lets you appreciate the incredible scenery.

The Lowlights: Combat and Jank
Oh, the combat. It’s… functional. That’s the kindest thing I can say. You have a light attack, a heavy attack, and some magic powers to throw enemies around. It lacks any sense of impact or flow. The enemy variety is practically non-existent for the first half of the game, and the AI’s primary tactic is to run directly at you.

This is all made infinitely worse by the jank. The lock-on feature is basically broken, leading to chaotic, frustrating camera fights. I died more times to the camera swooping behind a wall than to any actual enemy. The skill tree is uninspired, offering boring stat boosts instead of fun new abilities.

And that leads to the biggest issue: technical performance. Playing on a solid PC, I experienced constant frame rate stutters, texture pop-in, and even invisible enemy projectiles. For a game this gorgeous, it’s shocking how poorly it runs. It feels like a relic from two console generations ago, constantly undermining its own beauty.

Looks Aren’t Everything, But Wow…

Let’s be clear: Echoes of the End is a stunning game. The art team at Myrkur Games deserves a standing ovation. From the ash-choked air of a volcanic forge to the crystalline beauty of a ice-bound lake under the aurora borealis, this is a world you’ll want to screenshot. It’s a shame the technical issues make it so hard to smoothly appreciate.

Final Thoughts: Who Is This For?

So, should you play it?

I can’t give it a full-throated recommendation. The combat is a chore, the opening hours are a grind, and the technical problems are hard to ignore.

However, if you’re a patient player who values a heartfelt story and clever environmental puzzles above all else, there’s a diamond in here. It’s just buried under a lot of rough. This is a flawed but passionate debut that shows real promise for Myrkur Games‘ future. I just hope their next project gets the polish it deserves.

The Good:

• A heartfelt, character-driven story that pays off in the second half.

• Absolutely gorgeous art direction and world design.

• Some genuinely clever and satisfying puzzles later on.

• Top-tier voice acting that carries the emotional weight.

The Not-So-Good:

• Repetitive, janky combat with a broken lock-on and poor enemy AI.

• Significant technical issues including stutters, pop-in, and bugs.

• A painfully slow start that may deter many players.

• Uninspired boss fights and a lack of meaningful combat upgrades.