Cheats & Secrets
Overview
"What Remains of Edith Finch" is a purely narrative-driven adventure game with no combat, inventory, or fail states. As such, it contains no traditional cheat codes, unlock codes, secret commands, or developer console. The game was designed without any shortcuts or debug tools accessible to players. However, Giant Sparrow intentionally included several hidden features, Easter eggs, and a post-completion unlockable that enriches the experience.
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Secret Unlockables
Developer Commentary Mode
- Unlock condition: Complete the main story once (any ending, though the game has only one linear conclusion).
- How to access: From the main menu, select New Game – a prompt will ask if you want to enable Developer Commentary. Accept to play through the entire game again with optional audio commentary from the development team, accessed by interacting with glowing orbs scattered throughout each scene.
- Notes: Commentary is available on all platforms (PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch). It does not affect achievements/trophies and can be toggled at any time from the pause menu.
- Location: In the attic, inside the small desk next to the window (the desk with multiple drawers). Open the top left drawer, then look for a false bottom – interact with it to reveal a folded note titled "The Curse of the Finch Family" written by Edie Finch.
- Significance: This note is easily missed and adds a layer of lore about the family's belief in a supernatural curse. It is not required for any achievement but deepens the narrative.
The "Finch Curse" Hidden Note
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Hidden Collectibles & Missable Lore
While the game has no traditional inventory, several interactable objects reveal additional story details if you take the time to find them.
| Location | Object | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom (Finch house) | Rubber Duck | In the bathtub on the second floor. Pick it up to hear a squeak. No narrative impact, but a charming detail. |
| Garden (Finch house) | Frog | Near the small pond, you can hear a frog croak. Look closely among the rocks to find a tiny model frog. Interacting plays a short animation. |
| Attic (Finch house) | All bookshelves | You can read the spines of every book in the library. Some titles reference other Giant Sparrow games or inside jokes (e.g., "The Little Prince" is a real book, but others are invented). |
| Molly's room | Diorama | The shadow box on her desk contains tiny figurines; rotating the camera reveals they depict the family members' deaths in miniature. |
| Calvin's room | Kite | On the floor near the window, you can pick up a broken kite. It triggers a brief memory of Calvin. |
| Gregory's bathroom | Bubbles | During Gregory's story, you can pop all the bubbles in the bathtub, but some respawn. No hidden effect. |
| Walter's bunker | Calendar | A wall calendar in Walter's bunker has marked dates that align with the game's narrative timeline. Inspecting it gives context to his isolation. |
Easter Eggs & Subtle Details
1. The Ghost of Edie? – In the opening sequence when you first enter the house, if you look quickly into the attic window from the outside, a silhouette (likely Edie) can be seen for a split second before disappearing. This is a deliberate visual cue, not a glitch.
2. Molly's Transformation – During Molly's story, if you linger in the cat form and look at your reflection in the family room mirror, the reflection shows Edith instead of Molly – a subtle foreshadowing.
3. Barbara's Comic – The comic book sequence has a frame where you can see a hidden message written in the margins: "Help me" – referencing the curse.
4. The Moon – In the walk from the bus stop to the house in the prologue, the moon appears large and low on the horizon. If you gaze at it for several seconds, it slowly moves to a different position – a design trick to simulate a time-lapse.
5. Chess Game – On the kitchen table, there is an unfinished chess game. The board position is a known difficult puzzle (the "Fool's Mate" setup) – a nod to the idea of inevitable defeat.
6. Sam's Camera – In Sam's story, you can take photos of anything, but if you photograph the same object repeatedly, the game will subtly change the lighting or composition in the final photo strip – not an intentional secret but a nice detail.
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Exploit-Safe Secrets
No exploitable glitches, speedrun skips, or out-of-bounds tricks are officially documented or recommended. The game's linear nature and invisible walls prevent meaningful sequence breaks. The only known "exploit" is a harmless visual bug:
- Bathtub clip: During the bathtub sequence (Barbara's story), if you repeatedly press against the edge of the tub, the camera may clip through the wall, revealing a blue void. The game will quickly reset your view. This does not affect gameplay or story progression.
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Conclusion
"What Remains of Edith Finch" relies on its rich, linear narrative rather than hidden shortcuts. The developer commentary is the most significant unlockable, while the hidden note and Easter eggs reward thorough exploration. No cheats or codes exist, but the game's secrets are all designed to enhance the emotional and thematic experience.