What Remains of Edith Finch Important Notes guide screenshot

Important Notes

Important Notes for "What Remains of Edith Finch"



This section highlights crucial information to enhance your experience and avoid common pitfalls. While the game is a linear narrative with no combat or fail states, there are subtle missables, irreversible actions (for achievements), and environmental details that players often regret missing.

Warnings & Pitfalls


  • Motion Sickness Risk: The game features frequent camera motion (swinging, flying, underwater sequences). If you are prone to motion sickness, adjust the field of view (FOV) in settings and enable motion blur reduction. Take breaks during the more intense sequences (e.g., Molly’s transformation, Barbara’s roller coaster).

  • No Manual Saves: The game uses only autosave checkpoints at the start of each family member’s story. You cannot save mid-story. If you quit during a story segment, you will restart from the beginning of that segment upon reloading. Progress within a story (e.g., after interacting with objects) is not saved until the story concludes.

  • No Replay of Individual Stories: Once you complete a family member’s story, you cannot replay it without starting a new game or using chapter select (available after finishing the main story). If you miss an achievement-related action, you may need to replay the entire game.


    • Irreversible Choices & Missable Content


  • Achievements/Trophies: Several achievements require specific interactions that are easy to miss. These include:

    • - Molly’s Story: Eat all three available items (fish, berries, bird) in the correct sequence. Missing one forces a restart of the story.
    - Barbara’s Story: Interact with all five audience members in the theater before the finale. Miss one and you must replay the entire Barbara chapter.
    - Walter’s Story: In the train sequence, look at the photo of Edith on the table before leaving the bunker. This is required for a related achievement.
    - Edith’s Story: In the library, pull the book titled “Edith Finch” on the bookshelf to reveal a secret room. This is only available at one point in the game.
  • Environmental Storytelling: The game is packed with notes, photos, and objects that expand the Finch family history. Rushing through will cause you to miss these. Read every note, examine every photograph, and open every drawer. Some notes are easily overlooked (e.g., the note under the rug in the living room, the letter in Dawn’s closet).

  • Secret Area: In the library, after reading your own diary entry, interact with the bookshelf near the fireplace. A specific book titled “Edith Finch” must be pulled to open a hidden room containing a final story revelation. This is a one-time opportunity; if you leave the library, you cannot return to trigger it.


    • Difficulty Spikes & Grinding Traps


  • No Difficulty Spikes: The game has no combat, puzzles, or timed sequences. There is no traditional difficulty setting. The only potential frustration is motion sickness (see above) or missing an achievement due to oversight.

  • No Grinding: This is a purely narrative experience. There is no leveling, loot, or resource management. The entire game can be completed in 2–3 hours. Do not expect any grinding—just immerse yourself in the story.


    • Online Etiquette & Anti-Cheat Notes


  • Single-Player Only: “What Remains of Edith Finch” is a strictly single-player game with no online multiplayer, leaderboards, or achievements that require internet connectivity. No anti-cheat software is used.

  • No Online Etiquette Required: You play offline; no interactions with other players. Feel free to play at your own pace.


    • Save Management Advice


  • Autosave Frequency: The game autosaves when you enter a new family member’s story (e.g., after Edie’s introduction, at the start of Molly’s segment) and after completing a story. There is no quicksave or manual save.

  • What to Do Before Quitting: If you need to quit mid-story, note that you will lose any progress made within that story. For example, if you are in the middle of Lewis’s story and exit, upon reloading you will start at the beginning of Lewis’s story, not at the point where you left off. To avoid frustration, finish the entire story segment before quitting.

  • Chapter Select: After completing the main story (credits roll), you unlock chapter select from the main menu. This allows you to replay any family member’s story. However, achievements earned during a chapter select playthrough still count. Use this to mop up missed achievements.

  • New Game+: There is no New Game+ mode. Starting a new game overwrites all previous story progress (though chapter select remains unlocked after a first completion on that save slot). If you want a fresh playthrough without losing chapter select, create a new profile on your platform.


    • Things Players Commonly Regret Not Knowing Earlier


  • You Must Explore Thoroughly: The narrative depth comes from environmental storytelling. Many players rush through and later wish they had taken time to read everything. Don’t just follow the glowing or interactive objects—inspect every corner.

  • Interact with Everything Twice: Some objects trigger different reactions on a second interaction (e.g., a photo may have a description the first time, a character may comment again). This is rare but can add depth.

  • Listen to All Audio Logs: Certain cassette tapes or audio logs are hidden (e.g., in the basement, in Edie’s room). Some contain clues to family history. Make sure to press the “listen” button and wait for the full recording.

  • Use the Camera Wisely: Edith’s camera allows you to take photos. Points of interest will have a small camera icon or indicator when you look through the viewfinder. Taking pictures is not required for achievements, but it’s a fun way to document your journey. However, the camera can obscure your view—switch back to normal view when moving.

  • The Ending is a Single, Emotional Sequence: The final story (Edith’s own narrative) is short but powerful. Avoid spoilers and don’t read guides for this part. It is best experienced fresh.

  • Achievements Are Mostly Missable: Almost every story chapter has at least one missable achievement. Consult a spoiler-free achievement guide if you aim for 100% completion. The good news is that the game is short, so replaying for achievements is not time-consuming.

  • No Fail States – But You Can Still Miss Content: The game never ends or punishes you for doing something “wrong”. However, failing to interact with a specific object means you will never see that content on this playthrough. You can still finish the story, but you’ll feel incomplete.


    • Performance & Platform Notes


  • PC: The game runs on modest hardware. Lower graphics settings for smoother performance on older systems. The frame rate is capped at 60 FPS on PC (uncapped via config file editing, but may cause physics glitches).

  • Console (PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Switch): All versions run at 30–60 FPS depending on platform. On Switch, expect lower resolution and occasional frame drops in complex scenes (e.g., the swing sequence). Save often by letting the game autosave when you see the spinning icon in the corner.

  • Load Times: On slower hard drives (PS4 base, Xbox One S, Switch), load times between chapters can be 30–60 seconds. Be patient; the game is loading the next story segment.


By keeping these important notes in mind, you’ll fully enjoy the Finch family’s tragic and magical story without regret. Good luck, and take your time.