Endling: Extinction is Forever

There are plenty of games out there that draw attention to the flaws of humans, but not quite many that are the raw gut punch of Endling – Extinction is Forever. In this side-scrolling game designed for the Switch, you’ll play the last adult fox on Earth, charged with keeping your 3 fox kits safe. If you die, your kits die—and the entire species becomes extinct. Welcome to Earth, but it may be a bit more perilous than you remember. Food is scarce, habitat is destroyed, and hunters are keen to end your life.

Watch Kits Grow

Leveling in Endling is a satisfying experience. As you level your character, your kits will level too. Each level will add new abilities to their stats and help you and them in the fight for survival. Every new skill they learn makes them a little less vulnerable, increasing their (and your) chance for survival.

Each pup has a unique personality and will respond to the world in different ways. One pup may be more fearful than the others, while another may be bolder and perhaps get himself into trouble.

Permadeath likely

The developers have noted that permadeath will likely be an aspect of the game. This forces you to pause and consider your every move as seriously as a real fox mother might, with the stakes for making a mistake potentially very high. If you die with your character in this game, you’ll have to start over with a new character. There’s no lives, no second chances, no magical ability to keep going.

Eat or be eaten

Foxes both hunt other animals and can become prey themselves. It is no different in Endling. In order to keep yourself and your cubs safe, you’ll need to avoid being eaten while hunting enough food to survive. The game goes over several concerns for wildlife that humans have caused, and also may force you to make some tough, emotional, decisions to save the majority of your pups.

You can use your sense of smell, which shows up as color trails on the game, sneak to avoid predators, and use your other senses to help you survive.

This game has a strongly environmental theme, similar to games like Eco that have been designed to teach about concerning environmental issues. While the game appears to be balanced, there’s a risk that the game will push towards being too ‘preachy’ as many similar environmental games have done in the past.

Pros:

• Beautiful artwork
• Many adventures to go on

Cons:

• Somewhat preachy