How soon is too soon for a game to receive an enhanced edition? It’s a tricky question. Historically, games like the original Baldur’s Gate saw their enhanced versions many years after their initial release. For instance, the first Baldur’s Gate came out in 1998, with its enhanced edition arriving in 2012. Similarly, Neverwinter Nights received its spruced-up version 16 years after its debut. However, we’re in 2025, and things are moving much faster. Echoes of the End, an action-adventure game that just launched on August 12 this year, is now getting an enhanced edition. This is quite surprising, especially for a game with only 425 lifetime reviews.
If Echoes of the End isn’t on your radar, it’s a cinematic, third-person action-adventure title inspired by the landscapes of Iceland. Boasting impressive graphics that can stand alongside games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and featuring combat that blends magic with traditional melee, you might wonder why it hasn’t gained more traction. The lukewarm reviews likely hold the answer.
Our own review of Echoes of the End highlighted its engaging puzzle sequences and core combat mechanics. However, it also pointed out the game’s steep difficulty and emphasis on precision as significant drawbacks. Described as ‘uncompromising,’ the review noted that its ‘challenge and precision is painfully difficult to overcome, and undercuts the power of its protagonist in the process,’ leading to a modest 5/10 score.
Player reception on Steam wasn’t much better, with only 68% positive lifetime reviews, landing it firmly in ‘mixed’ territory. While recent feedback has shown a slight improvement, many players still consider it a relatively average fantasy adventure in the vein of God of War, lacking truly innovative elements to distinguish it from similar titles.
This brings us back to the initial question: how long should a developer wait before releasing an enhanced edition, especially for a game that hasn’t achieved the iconic status of a Baldur’s Gate or Neverwinter Nights? For Myrkur Games, the answer is a mere two months.
According to the official press release, Echoes of the End launched in August to a mixed reception. While critics and players praised its compelling characters, rich storytelling, and stunning environments inspired by real Icelandic locations, there was notable criticism regarding a slow opening chapter, technical issues, and a combat system that fell short of player expectations.
However, instead of ignoring the feedback, the development team proactively engaged with the community. They worked tirelessly to create an Enhanced Edition that directly addresses every point raised by players. This extensive effort has led to dozens of significant changes and improvements across various aspects, including combat, balance, animations, pacing, difficulty, and the introduction of an entirely new equipment system.
Many of these key changes directly tackle the major concerns highlighted in early reviews. For example, main character Ryn’s animations have been refined for a more responsive feel, and the combat system has been completely overhauled to deliver ‘more satisfying hits,’ which will undoubtedly be welcomed by players.
Furthermore, the update introduces a brand-new equipment system, offering 13 new outfits and over 20 relics. These additions allow players to customize their builds and truly tailor their playstyle. The game also features fewer puzzles, aiming to improve the overall pacing and resolve issues identified in the particularly drawn-out first chapter.
Crucially, all these improvements are available completely free of charge to existing owners of the game. This means players won’t have to purchase the new edition separately, unlike some previous enhanced releases for other titles.
The significant Enhanced Edition update for Echoes of the End is now live.
If you’re searching for other immersive single-player adventures, there are many fantastic titles to explore. For those who appreciate a compelling narrative, a variety of excellent story-driven games are available.
What’s your favorite enhanced game update? Perhaps one day we’ll see a truly definitive enhanced edition of the original Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.