I did not expect Edge of Eternity to stick with me the way it did. At first glance, it looks like another ambitious indie JRPG trying to punch above its weight. Big landscapes.
Tactical combat. Emotional story beats. I went in curious but skeptical.
After more than 40 hours wandering through Heryon, experimenting with builds, and pushing through its rougher moments, I can confidently say this game deserves far more appreciation than it gets.
Edge of Eternity is messy. It is uneven. And yet, it kept pulling me back in night after night. That alone says something.
This Game Hooked Me Before I Even Realized It Was Doing So
Edge of Eternity is an indie RPG developed by Midgar Studio, a small French team clearly inspired by classic Japanese RPGs. It launched fully in 2021 after a long early access period, and that long development history shows in both good and bad ways.
You play as Daryon and Selene, siblings trying to survive as a mysterious alien corruption slowly consumes their world.
The premise is familiar, but the execution felt more personal than I expected. I actually cared about the fate of this world, even when the storytelling stumbled.
From the beginning, I could feel the ambition. Open environments. Tactical battles. Systems layered on top of systems. This is not a game that plays it safe.
The Moment the Combat Finally Clicked for Me
Combat was the first thing that surprised me. I went in expecting standard turn-based fights. What I got instead was a system that demanded attention almost every single battle.
1. The Hex Grid Forced Me to Think, Not Just React
Battles take place on hexagonal grids where positioning matters constantly. Enemies move while you move. Environmental hazards can ruin your party if you are careless. Elevation, flanking, and spacing actually matter.
There were fights where I lost simply because I positioned one character poorly. That rarely happens in turn-based RPGs anymore.
Yes, some encounters dragged in the middle of the game. Yes, difficulty spikes felt inconsistent.
But when the system worked, it really worked. I never felt like I was just selecting attack over and over.
2. Weapon Crafting Let Me Break the Game My Way
The crystal-based weapon crafting system ended up being one of my favorite parts of the game.
Instead of constantly replacing weapons, you improve them using crystals that change stats and abilities.
I spent an embarrassing amount of time tweaking builds, testing different setups, and squeezing extra damage or utility out of my gear.
The game explains this system poorly at first. I was confused early on and had to experiment blindly. But once it clicked, it felt incredibly flexible.
3. Character Progression Felt Personal, Even With Its Flaws
Skill trees let you shape characters into specific roles, and I appreciated how much freedom I had. Magic-focused builds. Physical damage dealers. Support heavy setups. Nothing felt locked in early.
Respeccing is too expensive, and that absolutely discouraged experimentation later on. I felt punished for wanting to try new ideas. Still, leveling never felt meaningless, and every new ability added something tangible to combat.
4. Nekaroo Companions Genuinely Made Me Smile
The Nekaroo system could have been a gimmick. Instead, it added charm and utility. Riding across massive landscapes felt great, and using Nekaroo’s abilities in combat added another tactical layer.
I wish there were more creature types later in the game, but what is there feels thoughtfully implemented. It gave Edge of Eternity a personality that many bigger RPGs lack entirely.
The World Pulled Me In Despite the Rough Edges
Edge of Eternity is not a technically perfect game. I noticed the flaws immediately. Somehow, they bothered me less the longer I played.
1. I Constantly Stopped Just to Look at the Scenery
The environments are stunning. Walking through Heryon was consistently rewarding. Forests, plains, corrupted zones, and alien landscapes all felt distinct and memorable.
Character models and animations are noticeably weaker, especially during cutscenes. Faces feel stiff. Movements lack fluidity. But when the world itself looks this good, those issues faded into the background for me.
2. The Music Carried the Emotional Weight
The soundtrack deserves special praise. With Yasunori Mitsuda involved, expectations were high, and the music delivered. Certain tracks still stick in my head. Emotional moments hit harder because the score knew exactly when to swell and when to pull back.
Voice acting is inconsistent, and the lack of full voice coverage is disappointing. Still, when the music kicked in during major story beats, it did more emotional work than dialogue ever could.
3. The Camera Drove Me Crazy More Than Once
The camera frustrated me more than once. Awkward angles in combat. Obscured terrain. Clunky manual control in tight spaces. Menus also felt slower than they should, with too many clicks for simple actions.
But here is the thing. None of these issues ever made me quit. They annoyed me, yes. They never broke the experience.
After 40 Plus Hours, This Is What Stuck With Me
Edge of Eternity constantly impressed and frustrated me in equal measure. Some moments made me stop and smile, others tested my patience hard.
| What Made It Worth My Time | What Tested My Patience |
|---|---|
| Beautiful environments that made exploration genuinely exciting | Character animations that often felt stiff or unfinished |
| Tactical hex-based combat that actually forced me to think | Technical bugs and performance hiccups |
| A soundtrack that elevated emotional moments massively | Repetitive encounters in the middle stretch of the game |
| Weapon crystal system with deep build freedom | Poor explanations for crafting and systems early on |
| Skill trees that let me shape characters my own way | Expensive respec costs that discouraged experimentation |
| Nekaroo companions that added charm and utility | Slow and uneven early game pacing |
| A story that kept me invested despite rough delivery | Inconsistent voice acting quality |
| Fair indie pricing for the amount of content | An ending that felt rushed and slightly unfinished |
My Final Thoughts After Living in Heryon
Edge of Eternity is not a hidden masterpiece. It is something more interesting than that. It is a game with heart. A game that clearly wanted to be bigger than its budget.
A game that trusted players to engage with its systems instead of spoon-feeding them. Yes, it frustrated me at times.
Yes, it needed more polish. But it also gave me some genuinely memorable moments, especially through its combat and music.
If you approach Edge of Eternity expecting perfection, you will be disappointed. If you approach it as a passionate indie JRPG made by developers who clearly cared, you might walk away surprised, as I did. For me, it was absolutely worth the time.