Eternal Strands Review – A Magical Expedition Worth Taking
Eternal Strands drops you into a world where magic is both a gift and a threat. You play as Brynn, the Point of an expedition leading a group of Weavers—magic users skilled in manipulating elemental forces—through the long-lost lands hidden behind the Veil.
The adventure begins as Brynn joins a band of travelers venturing toward the Veil, an impenetrable magical barrier hiding the ruins of a once-thriving civilization. Through some inevitable chaos, you end up inside, settling in the capital city as your home base. From there, Eternal Strands presents a mix of action-adventure gameplay and narrative-driven storytelling, leaning into political intrigue, friendships, and moral dilemmas. The game delivers extensive visual novel-style cutscenes that add depth to the world and its characters. While optional, they enhance immersion, supported by solid voice acting and natural-sounding dialogue.
Eternal Strands isn’t a massive open-world experience, but its exploration feels meaningful. Initially, you’ll face restrictions due to magical barriers and stamina limitations, but the game’s vertical design opens up new paths as you progress. The environments may not be visually groundbreaking, but they offer a whimsical charm that complements the game’s mystical tone. Climbing and traversal mechanics feel smooth, reinforcing the idea that every piece of terrain is worth investigating.
Magic takes center stage, with three primary elemental forces shaping combat: Heat (Fire), Cold (Ice), and Miasma (Pure, dangerous magic). Brynn’s abilities stem from her Mantle, a magical tool allowing her to harness Strands of energy collected from powerful enemies. There are nine Strands in total, and only one is active per region at a time, cycling through a randomized pattern after being defeated. Brynn starts with two abilities and can level each across three tiers, making magic the game’s real highlight.
Eternal Strands’ physics-based magic system is both intuitive and satisfying. Flinging fireballs, freezing foes in place, and using the environment creatively add strategic depth, especially when facing the game’s towering adversaries. However, while combat against colossal enemies is thrilling, smaller encounters often feel like filler, rarely presenting a challenge worth your time.
Eternal Strands is a solid action-adventure title that blends strategic magic combat with a semi-open world and narrative depth. The engaging story, well-acted dialogue, and vertical exploration make for a compelling experience, even if the visuals aren’t revolutionary. The combat shines when facing large-scale threats, but smaller enemies often feel like speed bumps rather than genuine dangers. If you love action-adventure games with satisfying magic mechanics and a lore-rich world, Eternal Strands is worth the journey.
Final Score: 8/10
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