DaRmaZat Billed as a cinematic third-person action-adventure, Echoes of the End mixes swordplay, magic, and puzzle-solving in a fantasy world inspired by Iceland. But as the ambitious debut from Reykjavík-based AA studio Myrkur Games, how well does this game hold up in practice?
A World of Icy Vistas, Ancient Grudges, and a Frosty Lead
Set in the land of Aema — a place dripping with volcanic landscapes and windswept peaks — the game follows Ryn, a Syrouvian warrior-mage known as a Vestige. She’s cut from the same cloth as a Kratos-type protagonist: terse, sarcastic, and far from warm-hearted. Her past trauma, rooted in witnessing her father Valestin Tsair’s death, hangs over the story.
Ryn and her brother Cor start out on a routine ranger run to inspect the protective Wards that shield their homeland of Noi Syrouve, only to be ambushed by Reigendal forces led by Aurick and backed by his own Vestige, Zara. Aurick orders Zara to eliminate Ryn and abducts Cor, pulling our protagonist into a larger conspiracy to seize control of the Wards — ancient defenses whose fate could tip Aema back into open conflict. The plot beats aren’t revolutionary, but the interplay is fleshed out by Abram Finlay, a dry-witted scholar whose arrival adds levity (and lore) as the chase for Cor entwines with the politics around Reigendal’s push for power.
Magic Tricks on a Path You Can’t Stray from
Echoes of the End’s structure is tightly linear, complete with invisible walls and instant-death zones if you wander off the path. Ryn wields a range of abilities — from Shift (telekinetically moving objects) to Blast (area damage) — vital in both combat and traversal, while Cor supports with his own fire-based attacks. Later, Abram adds his Stasis ability, offering another tool for battles and puzzles alike. The dynamic shouts God of War all over the place: Cor and Abram can be commanded to assist, while Ryn’s health and mana are restored by draining Cairns. Her combat arsenal leans heavily on parries for white attacks and dodges for red ones, with limited enemy variety and a few shielded stance mechanics introduced later on.
Bigger fights devolve into predictable patterns: strike, dodge, repeat, sometimes swapped for a touch of magic to stun. Enemies regularly miss inexplicably, hitboxes can feel off, and AI struggles with basic terrain. All post-fight ability points feed into a modest, unremarkable skill tree, while loot chests for upgrades feel lifted wholesale from Kratos’ playbook, and the frequent narrow-gap crawling sequences grow repetitive fast.
The puzzles themselves rarely stump you; in fact, Cor or Abram often blurt out the solution before you’ve had a chance to think, and a tiered hint system further reduces the challenge. They remain pleasant to tackle, though Ryn’s occasional clumsy jumps and odd slide-offs can frustrate.
Beauty Marred by Performance Hiccups and Audio Dead Zones
While Aema can look gorgeous — from glacial mountains to fiery fields — Unreal Engine 5 here, again, suffers from severe frame drops, even outside combat. The main characters and their opponents often appear to hover slightly above the ground, and scripted tutorial prompts sometimes trigger after you’ve already done the action. Camera angles occasionally swing awkwardly, animations can feel unfinished, and water rendering or traversal glitches underline a lack of polish as well.
Echoes of the End’s environmental audio is also inconsistent: footsteps on gravel or splashes in puddles can be oddly silent — funny enough, often at the exact moment the water forgets to ripple too. The soundtrack, when present, is stirring and orchestral, perfectly matching the Icelandic vibe, but long stretches of silence sap atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
Echoes of the End offers a striking visual take on an Iceland-inspired fantasy realm, but the narrative is a familiar dark-fantasy template and the combat never fully clicks. Its puzzle design is accessible and enjoyable, if undercut by over-eager companions and generous hints.
Unfortunately, technical performance, audio inconsistencies, and floaty character movement stop the experience from landing as strongly as it should. With ample refinement — especially to performance, combat responsiveness, and sound design— this could become a decent game, though it’s still far from standing alongside the titles it so clearly draws inspiration from.
Additional Information
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency via Tasta.
Developer: Myrkur Games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Website: Echoes of the End
Relevant links: Echoes of the End on STEAM
