Endling: Extinction is Forever
A mother fox fights to save her cubs in a polluted world.
Endling: Extinction is Forever is an indie survival-adventure game developed by Barcelona-based studio Herobeat Studios and published by German HandyGames. It follows the last mother fox and her cubs in a post-apocalyptic world, and was first released on July 19, 2022, for multiple platforms. The game is notable for its environmental themes and multiple award nominations, including a win for 'Game Beyond Entertainment' at the 19th British Academy Games Awards.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Herobeat Studios
- Publisher
- HandyGames
- Producer
- Júlia Vila Chiapella · Eduardo Giménez
- Designer
- Samuel Molina · Rob Coll · Jorge León
- Artist
- Pablo Hernández
- Writer
- Pablo Rodríguez-Tembleco
- Composer
- Manel Gil-Inglada
- Genre
- Adventure, survival
- Released
- Windows, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One / July 19, 2022 / PS5, Xbox Series X/S / November 3, 2022 / Android, iOS / February 7, 2023
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S · Android · iOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Endling is a third-person survival game in a 3D side-scrolling world. The player controls the last mother fox, who must protect and feed her cubs throughout the game. The cubs can learn different skills that increase their chances of survival. The story begins with the mother fox escaping a human-caused forest fire, then giving birth to her cubs after an injury. A human scavenger captures one cub, prompting the mother to track him while keeping her other cubs safe. She encounters hunters, a furrier, a mother badger, and a girl named Molly who gives food. Molly is revealed to be the scavenger's daughter; she dies of illness, and her father is later killed by the furrier. A flood separates the family, and the mother fox eventually dies from a gunshot wound while digging through a fence into a protected forest area. The cubs are then cared for by the mother badger. The final scene varies based on player actions, such as how many cubs survive and whether the mother helps the badger.
Reader's Guide
Endling: Extinction is Forever gained recognition for its emotional narrative and environmental message. It was nominated for the 'Games for Impact' award at The Game Awards 2022, losing to As Dusk Falls. At the 22nd Annual NAVGTR Awards, it won 'Outstanding Game, Special Class' and was nominated for three other categories. It was also nominated for the 'Social Impact Award' at the 23rd Game Developers Choice Awards, which went to Citizen Sleeper. The game won 'Game Beyond Entertainment' at the 19th British Academy Games Awards, and at the 2023 Games for Change Awards it won both 'Game of the Year' and 'Most Significant Impact', with an additional nomination for 'Best Narrative Game'. The game was offered free to PlayStation Plus subscribers in July 2023, expanding its reach. Its legacy lies in its focus on survival, family, and the consequences of environmental destruction, as depicted through the mother fox's journey.
Did You Know?
- The game was offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers at no cost for July 2023.
- The final scene varies depending on how many cubs survive and whether the mother fox helps the badger.
- The mother fox is killed by a shot from the furrier while crossing a fence into a protected forest area.
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