Echoes of the End Review When Magic Meets Memory

What Is Echoes of the End?

Developed by Icelandic studio Myrkur Games and published by Prime Matter, Echoes of the End (formerly Project Echoes) is a third-person, single-player action-adventure game powered by Unreal Engine 5. It introduces a rich fantasy world shaped by magic and memory, and centers on Ryn, a former assassin trying to break free from her violent past.

This isn’t your typical combat-focused title. Echoes of the End leans heavily on atmosphere, world-building, and emotional storytelling. But does it hold together? Let’s take a closer look.

Story – A Personal Journey in a Grand World

You play as Ryn, a woman with the rare ability to manipulate matter, in a post-war world still haunted by old regimes and twisted loyalties. The narrative explores loss, identity, and trauma, but also hints at a deeper conspiracy involving her powers and her past.

What stands out:

Deeply personal narrative with strong character development
Rich world lore, delivered through dialogue and exploration
Branching dialogue choices and meaningful decisions
No filler side quests – every scene has weight and purpose

Unlike many open-world games, Echoes of the End is tightly written and deliberately paced.

Gameplay – Subtle, Story-Driven Mechanics

Gameplay is minimalistic but polished. There are three main pillars:

Narrative exploration – Fully voice-acted scenes, with branching dialogue trees
Puzzle-solving – Using Ryn’s power to reshape objects or pathways
Occasional combat – Cinematic, ability-driven encounters rather than constant fighting

This is not a combat-heavy game—it’s about tension, choice, and storytelling. If you enjoyed Hellblade, A Plague Tale, or Life is Strange, this will feel familiar and refreshing.

Visuals – Unreal Engine 5 in All Its Glory

The game’s visuals are absolutely stunning. From snowy cliffs to eerie ruins and golden fields, every location is rendered with fine attention to detail. Characters have realistic facial animations and subtle expressions, adding to the immersion.

Lighting, shadows, weather, and textures all create a dynamic world that feels alive—one of the best uses of Unreal Engine 5 so far in a story game.

Audio & Voice Acting – Emotional and Authentic

Voice acting is top-tier, especially Ryn’s voice, which captures vulnerability and strength in equal measure. The music is orchestral, minimalist, and emotional—often playing softly during key scenes without overwhelming the dialogue.

The game supports multiple languages and subtitle options, with English as the default.

Performance & Platforms

Available on:

PC
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S

Performance:

Smooth 60 FPS on consoles
DLSS support on PC
Occasional minor bugs (mostly animation transitions)
Quick load times and responsive controls

Final Verdict

Rating: 8.5/10 – Emotionally Powerful, Technically Stunning

Echoes of the End doesn’t try to be everything—it just tries to tell one story well. And it succeeds. With beautiful visuals, a moving narrative, and light mechanics that serve the plot, it’s a must-play for fans of story-first games.

If you’re looking for something that will move you rather than just thrill you, this is one to experience.

System Requirements

Minimum:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows 10/11
    Processor: Core i3-12100 / Ryzen 3 1200
    Memory: 8 GB RAM
    Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 / Radeon RX 580 

Recommended:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows 10/11
    Processor: Core i7-7700K / Ryzen 5 5600X/ Core I7-11700K
    Memory: 16 GB RAM
    Graphics: Nvidia RTX 3070 / Radeon RX 5700XT / Arc B580