I jumped into Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition knowing it’s a free overhaul of last summer’s fantasy action-RPG from Icelandic studio Myrkur Games. The Enhanced Edition truly lives up to its name: it refines almost every aspect of the original game and adds new content. Developer Myrkur says they “poured everything” into listening to player feedback. In practice, that means overhauled combat and animations, a new gear system, an easier “Journey” mode, New Game+, faster pacing, and lots of polish. In my playthrough I found the world visually stunning and the story engaging, and these changes do make combat feel sharper and progression more rewarding. However, it’s still essentially the same 10‑chapter story in a linear Icelandic-inspired world. Some clunky controls and repetitive battles linger (more on that below), but I appreciate the small‑team ambition here.

Crucially, the Enhanced Edition is a free update for owners of the base game. (If you’re new to Echoes, it’s sold now as “Enhanced Edition,” but it’s still the same core game.) At launch the list price was $39.99, but it’s often on sale – for example, there was a 40–50% off promotion in late 2025. I picked it up at a steep Steam discount (about $19–24) and felt it was well worth the cost. After playing, I’d sum it up as a visually gorgeous, story‑driven action game with strong puzzle elements – closer to a budget God of War than a true AAA title. The Enhanced Edition address many complaints: combat is more responsive, movement feels more grounded, and new systems (outfits, relics, NG+, photo mode, etc.) add replay value.

Enhanced Edition Updates (Free + Sale)

The Enhanced Edition launch (Oct 2025) was built on player feedback. Here are the headline changes:

• Combat Overhaul: Nearly all attack animations and inputs were retimed or redone. Hit feedback is stronger and lock-on/parry systems are smoother. Many reviewers note combat now feels “sharper” (though still somewhat repetitive).
• New Equipment System: Ryn can now unlock 13 outfits, each with slots for powerful relics that boost stats and abilities. This lets you customize her build (tank vs. DPS vs. magic) in ways the base game couldn’t.
• Difficulty and NG+: A new “Journey” mode eases things for newcomers, and a New Game+ (carrying gear & outfits) unlocks after your first clear.
• Early-Game Rework: The first chapter/tutorial was reworked with quicker unlocks and fewer repetitive steps. Ryn’s movement and controller feel were also refined across the board.
• Quality of Life: Improved HUD, updated cutscenes/voices, better performance across platforms, and (in later patches) features like Photo Mode and additional outfits.

Most of these changes are summed up on the Steam and Xbox store pages. For example, Xbox notes: “Enhanced Edition… is a free update built on feedback… refining nearly every aspect… highlights include overhauled combat, a new equipment system (13 outfits + relics), New Game+, a reworked intro, and better performance.”.

Pricing/Offer: The Enhanced Edition itself didn’t cost extra, but when buying new the price is still $39.99 (until you find it on sale). Myrkur ran a 40–50% off sale around Oct–Dec 2025. (For example, the official Instagram announced 40% off to ~$23.99, and a PS Store deal extended to Jan ‘26.) With the frequent discounts and this big update, I consider it a strong value.

Below is a quick comparison of the base game vs. the Enhanced Edition:

(Most data from the official Steam/Xbox store and press materials.)

User Sentiment

Here are some real player voices you can use to illustrate how people actually feel:

Positive / Supportive

• “Great game, loved it… low budget, but looks so cool, and you are never bored.”
• “This is a great game for a AA production. Fun combat, awesome companion. Simple story… very good looking environments.”
• “Loved the puzzles and the music, the game looks great and has an engaging story.”
• “They fixed much of the broken animations and they improved the visuals overall.”

Critical / Mixed

• “Technical issues and poor overall design still hold the game back.”
• “Combat and movement controls are very floaty and the animations are a jankfest.”
• “The protagonist is off-putting for some players.”
• “Performance problems even on high-end rigs.”
• “I’ll give it a chance, but the gameplay feels generic and repetitive.”

Balanced / nuanced

• “When the mechanics click together, it feels fantastic, and the visuals are top-notch.”
• “A decent AA adventure with ambition, but still rough around the edges.”

Gameplay & Combat

At its core, Echoes of the End is a third-person action game with sword-and-magic combat and companion mechanics. You chain together heavy strikes, parries, and magical throws (using Ryn’s vestige powers) while her ally Abram staggers or drains foes. When it all clicks, the combat feels very satisfying – lobbing monsters into each other or the environment can be genuinely awesome. The Enhanced Edition makes this smoother: hit notifications are crisper and enemy parries/locks respond better.

That said, I did notice recurring clunkiness. Lock-on sometimes “misses” if you’re not facing an enemy, and you cannot interrupt a combo to block – I often got hit finishing a long combo. This forces you to play more carefully, which some may find unforgiving. Reviewers have pointed out the combat still feels a bit by-the-numbers (basic combos, rinse-repeat) and lacks a “secret sauce” found in top-tier action games. In my experience, even post-patch fights can devolve into pop-and-block rhythm; it’s fun, but not especially deep.

Traversal and Puzzles: Echoes mixes in a lot of platforming puzzles between fights. Jumping, double-jumping, dashing, and using Ryn’s abilities to move objects are the norm. I liked that every chapter introduces new puzzle mechanics (ancient gravity devices, time-reversal ruins, ice patches, etc.). Most puzzles are logical and enjoyable – a few stumped me for a bit, but none felt unfair. The world design really shines here: each area has a distinct theme and the player is rewarded for exploring off the beaten path (finding lore items and upgrades).

Movement in general was better than at launch, thanks to the Enhanced Edition tweaks: Ryn feels more “grounded” when running and landing. However, the locomotion can still be a tad floaty – I noticed momentum carrying Ryn farther than intended when jumping. This occasionally made platform sections trickier and I had to fine-tune my jumps. Overall, I found the puzzles and platforming to be Engaging, even if the cinematic-styled traversal can feel a bit momentum-driven at times.

Story, Characters, and World

As a story-driven game, Echoes’ narrative is a major draw. You play Ryn, a young “vestige” (magic wielder) who must rescue her captive brother Cor and stop an empire on the brink of war. Ryn’s aloof, wary personality and her bond with scholarly companion Abram give the tale emotional weight. The game unfolds over ten chapters with plenty of cinematic cutscenes. I found the story quite compelling. Ryn’s guilt about her powers and her slowly thawing relationship with her half-brother (and then Abram) resonated with me. The team’s Icelandic roots show: the setting feels like a fantasy Iceland, and minor lore tidbits (ancient cultures, nature vs. machine themes) add flavor.

Critics and players often praise the writing and worldbuilding. For example, one review notes the “true strength” lies in the heartfelt story and likable duo of protagonists. I agree – even if some plot twists are predictable, the characters grow realistically. Ryn is generally convincing (voiced by Aldís Amah Hamilton), and Abram’s solemn guidance comes through. A few side characters or villains (I.e. the Roman-like soldiers) didn’t always click for me – their accents and acting can feel a bit off. Overall, though, the narrative is satisfying. It hits classic fantasy notes (sacrifice, trust, redemption) but with genuine emotion.

Visuals, Audio, and Performance

On the visual side, Echoes of the End is stunning. It’s built in Unreal Engine 5, and the environments are lush and detailed. From snowy volcanoes and icy plains (see Fig. 1) to glowing lava caves, each locale looks fantastic. One reviewer gushed about the “raw, untamed beauty” of the handcrafted Icelandic-inspired world. I frequently stopped to admire the lighting and effects: god rays through clouds, fireflies in caverns, the way Ryn’s cloak flows, etc. NPC character models and animations are generally very good, though occasionally facial dialogue can feel slightly stiff. In any case, Echoes easily punches above its weight graphically for a so-called “AA” title. The soundtrack (by Viktor Ingi Guðmundsson) complements the mood well with Nordic acoustic and orchestral themes, and the sound design (swords clashing, magical whooshes) is solid.

Performance-wise, most modern PCs will handle this game fine. The Enhanced Edition actually improved stability – after the Oct patch I saw far fewer texture pop-ins and frame drops than in the initial version. System requirements remain high: minimum calls for a Core i3‑12100 or Ryzen 3 and GTX 1080 (8GB VRAM), recommended is a Core i7/RTX 3070 or similar with 16GB RAM. I ran it at Ultra on an RTX 3070 system and had no issues. (Note: the game does not support Linux natively, and it’s officially unsupported on Steam Deck.) There were still some glitches pre-patch – for instance, I recall an AMD driver issue that was fixed only after a December patch. But by 2026 the team kept pushing updates; patch 2.03 (Dec ’25) polished HUD and visuals, and patch 2.04 (Feb ’26) even added a Photo Mode. The studio’s commitment has smoothed out many bugs.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Gorgeous, atmospheric world inspired by Iceland
• Strong storytelling with memorable characters and voice acting
• Overhauled combat feels more responsive and satisfying after the update
• New customization (outfits/relics) and difficulty/NG+ options add replay value
• Challenging but fair environmental puzzles that vary each chapter
• Great value on sale (big free update + frequent discounts)

Cons:

• Combat can still feel repetitive and lacking depth
• Movement/jumping can be floaty, making some platform sections finicky
• Story cutscenes sometimes have weaker voice acting (notably some Roman guards)
• Very linear design (few optional areas) – and many puzzles, which may not appeal to all action fans
• High system requirements; not playable on Steam Deck
• After patch fixes, still a few lingering bugs reported (rare freezes, etc.)

Release & Patch Timeline

Conclusion & Recommendation

All told, Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition is a passionate, well-crafted debut from a small Icelandic team. Playing it felt like experiencing a richly imagined folktale world. I was regularly impressed by the visuals and environmental storytelling, and I enjoyed Ryn and Abram’s journey to save her brother. The Enhanced Edition update fixed many original flaws: combat is now solid (if not revolutionary), the game is more accessible (Journey mode), and the new customization makes builds feel meaningful.

That said, this isn’t for everyone. If you expect a deep ARPG or the polish of a big AAA title, you’ll notice its budget roots. Combat can grow stale, and if you hate puzzles or linear design, some sections may drag. But if you love narrative-driven action-adventures (think God of War-lite), especially with a unique Icelandic fantasy twist, it’s a rewarding experience. At its current sale price, I highly recommend Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition to players who value story and atmosphere alongside action – and to anyone who enjoys beautiful game worlds and is willing to overlook a few rough edges.

Who should buy: Fans of story-centric action games and puzzles. If you liked Tomb Raider or God of War without needing the highest production polish, you’ll find a lot to love here. Also great if you’re looking for a fresh, small-studio take on the genre. Less ideal for players demanding deep RPG mechanics or flawless AAA combat.