Eternal Strands review

• Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
• Released on 28 January 2025
• Developed by Yellow Brick Games

At first, Eternal Strands doesn’t make the strongest impression. The characters can be a little annoying, the story doesn’t immediately grab you, and the combat starts off feeling pretty uninspired. But as the hours pass, it begins to reveal its strengths, especially once you unlock more abilities and start to get into the rhythm of its world.

Developed by Yellow Brick Games, a studio formed by ex-BioWare devs (including Dragon Age’s Mike Laidlaw), the game follows Brynn, a “Weaver” tasked with exploring the Enclave, a wild, long-abandoned land that was once home to her people. From a central base camp, you venture out into various regions, uncover secrets, and gradually build up your power and your team’s influence.

The gameplay loop is straightforward but effective: explore, gather resources, complete tasks, unlock new areas, repeat. You’ll also unlock fast travel points to make exploration a little easier. But danger is always lurking: hostile wildlife, tricky weather conditions, and spreading fires are all part of the world’s dynamic systems. For example, frosty areas will slow you down if you’re not prepared, and fire spreads rapidly if left unchecked.

Combat, though, takes some warming up to. Melee feels a bit stiff, ranged attacks lack punch, and early encounters aren’t all that thrilling. But once you start using your magical “Weaving” skills, things get far more interesting. Lift an enemy into the air and toss them off a ledge with telekinesis, or freeze a fast-moving foe in place. Your magic interacts with the environment, too; sometimes to your advantage, other times to your detriment.

The game shines brightest during its large-scale encounters. Climbing massive drakes and armored giants to strike their weak points feels like something pulled straight from Shadow of the Colossus. These fights are multi-layered and require you to combine your movement skills, magical abilities, and environmental awareness to survive.

There’s also a light survival element to contend with. Your gear is crucial, not just for dealing damage or absorbing hits, but for surviving temperature swings. Rather than constantly finding new gear, you’ll upgrade what you have using resources. Some materials boost heat resistance, others cold, and balancing your loadouts based on conditions becomes essential. It’s not especially complex, but it adds another layer to prep before venturing out.

Progression is tied into resource collection and crafting. The more you explore, the more you’ll be able to enhance your equipment, grow your team, and expand your base. Eventually, you’ll feel a real sense of strength and control over your surroundings. And while the narrative isn’t particularly memorable, the team you build and the world you uncover make the journey worthwhile.

Eternal Strands has its faults. Inventory limitations in the early game are a pain. Combat, while improved with magic, still rests on a clunky foundation. And despite some great ideas, there’s a missing spark that stops it from feeling truly exceptional. But it’s a promising debut from Yellow Brick Games, and one that could grow into something great with the right follow-up.