Evan's Remains Reviews
Evan’s Remains is a simple, solid, and entrancing title. It is one of the better games that I have reviewed here and is one that I will heartily recommend to nearly anyone else. Now I want to look into whatever else this developer has made and will make.
Evan's Remains is an example of a very atmospheric story that makes great use of pixel graphics, music, and puzzles for maximum immersion. And although the project is completed in three hours – it is clearly worth it, although the ending may not please everyone because of its final plot twist.
Review in Russian | Read full review
An easy going puzzle platformer, with a dramatic and emotional story. Evan's Remains is enjoyable from start to finish, with plenty of options to skip content you're struggling with.
While it comes in a small package the fun core gameplay and unexpected storytelling is worth anyone trying out, especially if you're into puzzle platformers. While Evan's Remains never gets truly difficult it still leaves the player wanting more past the credits.
Evan's Remains is certainly an interesting combination of genres and while at times the puzzles feel like they are just there to break the story apart, it all comes together with excellent artwork and a memorable narrative.
If you are looking for a bite-sized mystery-thriller story puzzle game that makes you go “holy crap” and takes you on an emotional roller coaster, then I would extremely recommend this game.
Mike: Let’s not waste time here. Evan’s Remains is something special. The difficulty for us, I guess, it is explaining why, without giving anything away. I’m sure you’ll agree that this game sits in that pool of the story-driven experiences, the likes of Gone Home and Undertale, where the player benefits more by knowing less. But, Alicia, let me first ask you this: what made the game first resonate with you?
Evan's Remains is a wonderful narrative adventure full of feelings that will touch our hearts. The puzzles are a very important part of the game and have a fair difficulty with the player. Its structure can become repetitive but the desire to see how the story continues will make us continue with great enthusiasm.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
There is little to fault in Evan's Remains, which can be a three-hour long adventure, depending how fast puzzles are solved, and how long is spent enjoying watching the protagonists hair and clothes move about when she runs and jumps. Multiple saves would be a plus point, although they aren't really needed, since puzzles can be bypassed if they prove too difficult. Learning the truth about everyone on and off the island makes a replay enticing, in order to see the hints about their identities, and the emotional, tugging truth about Evan.
I am not sure if Evan’s Remains entirely earns its thematic heft when so much of it is inscrutable, but that it is willing to end its plot in a moment of intense duress is daring enough to elevate its weaker moments. It's untidy, its themes barely cohesive. But if Evan's Remains was not so unusual, if it had simply doubled-down on puzzles and pretty screens, I do not think it would have left half the impression it did.
The main factor to Evan's Remains' gameplay lies within monolith puzzles. The platforming was something I was really looking forward to watching the trailer, as you're meant to sort out pressure sensitive pads in a certain order to advance along. If you're stumped, you do have the option to skip the puzzles, but I would advise against it--there's a few secrets to find along the way that are actually pretty cleverly done. I will say that they're not terribly difficult in nature, but some will keep you guessing for an extra minute or two, with a nice sense of accomplishment when you finally solve.
The puzzles will make you think carefully as you try to order them in your mind and then try it out in the actual game…or, like me, you can simply keep hopping around and testing things until you triumph. There is also an option to actually skip specific puzzles if you bring up the menu while trying to get through them. Impressively, the puzzles are also worked into the story in various ways. Evan’s Remains is polished in just about every department. It may not focus on gameplay as much as some would like, but personally this didn’t bother me at all. It’s a sad and interesting experience, and one that I definitely recommend.