It’s very rare that I get pleasantly surprised by a new release, but when Echoes of the End popped up in my feed, I don’t know what made me click “buy” straight away. There was something about the way the game presented itself. I skipped my usual deep dive and went in sight unseen, and I’m glad I did.
A Brief History
Echoes of the End was released on 12 August 2025 to middling reviews and flew pretty much under everyone’s radar. Myrkur Games took the criticism of clunky combat and poor onboarding seriously, went back to the drawing board, and fixed several issues. They then relaunched the game as Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition in October.
Story & World
You play as Ryn, a warrior known as a Vestige. Vestiges are rare individuals born with ancient magic and are considered dangerous to society. When her brother, Kor, is kidnapped by an invading army, Ryn teams up with the scholar Abram to track down a rival Vestige and prevent a war.
The original fantasy world of Aema is inspired by Icelandic landscapes, ranging from glaciers and ancient ruins to volcanic backdrops.
Gameplay & Combat
Echoes of the End is a third-person action-adventure that mixes swordplay and magic. Combat is very Souls-like, with attacks mapped to the bumpers, a mix of light and heavy strikes, and the ability to dodge, block, and parry. Magic is activated by holding a trigger in combination with other buttons.
Abram assists in combat. While not a fighter himself, he can stun enemies with an electric attack or grab them for a finisher. Boss battles ramp up the difficulty but never feel like a massive skill spike; they provide just enough friction to keep you locked in.
There are no consumables for health or magic. Ryn can literally steal life force from enemies, and magic regenerates during combat. Cairns act as one-use checkpoints and rest stations, and they’re generously placed.
Exploration & Influences
Traversal features plenty of puzzles, from wall climbing and platform creation to navigating hidden paths only visible with your partner’s help.
Echoes of the End pays homage to several similar games. At first glance, it feels like The Witcher or God of War, but some powers make you feel like a Jedi straight out of Jedi Survivor. My Twitch chat lovingly dubbed it: God of Witcher: Jedi Assassin.
Presentation
Echoes of the End looks beautiful, fully showcasing the potential of Unreal Engine 5. The vistas are stunning; there were moments I just stopped to watch the sky glow. Characters are equally detailed and fully emotive.
The story follows a classic hero’s journey, exploring the land’s history and the politics of its fantasy world. Some story beats are a little telegraphed. I spotted one twist about five minutes before the reveal, but that didn’t ruin the experience.
The cast appears to consist largely of English-speaking Icelandic actors, which lends authenticity to the performances. The music complements the world well, enhancing both the quieter emotional moments and the larger cinematic set pieces.
Criticisms
There are still a few minor issues. In the middle of combat, some of the more complex magic attacks can be difficult to line up and might have benefited from a brief slowdown mechanic.
To throw objects or enemies, you must lock on with the trigger and flick the stick. Occasionally, the magic lock-on takes a little too long, resulting in you flicking the camera instead of throwing the enemy. Abram also isn’t always positioned perfectly for longer jumps.
That said, these are minor niggles, nothing game-breaking.
Enhanced Edition Additions
The Enhanced Edition adds cosmetics and additional glyphs that enhance gameplay. Glyphs can increase sword damage or improve magic efficiency, allowing you to spec your character more than in the base game.
Levelling up grants skill points that can be invested into four areas: combat skills, magic, health and healing, and combination attacks with Abram.
Final Thoughts
There’s a wide variety of gameplay mechanics, so Echoes of the End never feels boring. One moment you’re flipping between ceiling and floor using gravity mechanics; the next, you’re placing teleport anchors to solve switch puzzles.
Echoes of the End really impressed me. I loved the dynamic between Ryn and Abram and genuinely hated the antagonists, always a good sign. I truly believe this was a sleeper hit of 2025 and further proof that a rocky launch doesn’t have to kill a game. With the right developers and genuine love for a project, something wonderful can emerge.
Developer: Myrkur Games
Publishers: Deep Silver, Prime Matter, Plaion
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, GeForce Now, Microsoft Windows
Played on: Xbox
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