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In the world of video games, few titles feel as deeply rooted in place as Echoes of the End. This is the debut action-adventure game from Reykjavík-based studio Myrkur Games. Released in August 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game marks the culmination of nearly a decade of work from a passionate team of Icelandic and international developers. Blending swordplay, ancient magic, and cinematic storytelling, Echoes of the End delivers a gripping journey through a fantasy realm inspired by Iceland’s beauty.

Video: Echoes of the End Announcement Trailer

 

But this isn’t just another fantasy game with big ambitions. The team at Myrkur, co-founded in 2016 by Friðrik Aðalsteinn Friðriksson, Halldór Snær Kristjánsson, and Daníel Arnar Sigurðsson, took an unorthodox approach to worldbuilding: they scanned and photographed real Icelandic landscapes—from volcanic valleys to frozen ruins—to shape the diverse environments of the game’s fractured world, Aema. The result? A visually arresting and emotionally resonant world that feels at once ancient, mysterious, and deeply Nordic.

Screenshot from Echoes of the End featuring Aldís Amah Hamilton as Ryn, the powerful main character in the Icelandic fantasy game by Myrkur Games. Her performance brings emotional depth to this story-driven action-adventure inspired by Iceland’s dramatic landscapes.
Icelandic actress Aldís Amah Hamilton brings intensity and depth to the role of Ryn, the fierce protagonist of Echoes of the End.

Main characters Played by Beloved Icelandic actors

At the heart of Echoes of the End is Ryn. She is a powerful young warrior played by BAFTA-nominated Icelandic actress Aldís Amah Hamilton. She was previously featured in Stuck in Iceland Travel Magazine. Joining her is beloved Icelandic actor Karl Ágúst Úlfsson as Abram. He is a haunted scholar whose relationship with Ryn grows in complexity and importance throughout the game. Their performances, captured through full performance motion capture, lend the story a unique emotional depth that elevates the experience far beyond the typical genre fare.

Behind the game’s stunning visuals and emotionally layered narrative is a team of about 40 developers working in downtown Reykjavík, drawing on Iceland’s thriving creative scene and their own deep love for cinematic storytelling. I sat down with Magnús Guðrúnarson, Senior Writer at Myrkur Games, to talk about building worlds, scanning glaciers, working with Icelandic acting royalty—and how Iceland itself became a character in Echoes of the End.

Magnús Guðrúnarson, a young man with glasses and dark hair, smiles and gestures while sitting behind a fantasy-themed game master screen featuring a red dragon. He appears to be running a tabletop role-playing game, seated indoors near a window.
Magnús Guðrúnarson, Senior Writer at Myrkur Games, during a tabletop RPG session.

What inspired the creation of Echoes of the End?

I think the biggest inspiration for all of us was also the simplest: we just wanted to make a video game, and everything else followed from that. What can we make? How big can we go? What do we have to do to get there? In that way, I guess we were inspired by the games we grew up playing. Mass Effect, The Witcher, God of War, and many more. We’re all lifelong gamers, and the idea that we could make something like that honestly felt like a wild dream at first.

How did the idea to scan real Icelandic landscapes shape the development process?

It ties back to those questions I mentioned earlier. We realized we could actually make something pretty ambitious, and the best way to do that was to rely on the world around us. Iceland is uniquely beautiful, and so many of its landscapes already look like something out of a fantasy world.

We started small, with a single camera and road trips to photograph rocks and trees, and eventually built up a full photogrammetry setup with multiple cameras and even a drone. That process became part of level design, too. We’d choose different Icelandic elements to define different parts of the game. Lava fields, glaciers, black sand beaches, basalt columns… they all found their way into the world of Aema.

Video: how the Myrkur Games scanned Icelandic landscapes to create the unique world of Echoes of the End

What were some of the most iconic Icelandic locations you used in the game?

There are quite a few! Kirkjufell, Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara, and more. We even had Dyrhólaey in an early demo, though it didn’t make it into the final game. Maybe something to keep in reserve for the future.

Screenshot from Echoes of the End, the Icelandic fantasy game by Myrkur Games. This visually stunning scene showcases Iceland-inspired landscapes—featuring volcanic shores, rugged cliffs, and glacial vistas brought to life with cinematic detail.
A hauntingly beautiful landscape from Echoes of the End by Iceland’s Myrkur Games—featuring towering cliffs, dark volcanic terrain, and glacial valleys inspired directly by Iceland’s otherworldly scenery.

It was incredible, there’s no other word for it. They’ve both been with us for a long time: Aldís since 2018, Karl Ágúst since 2019. Karl is obviously an icon to us; his translation of The Hobbit was one of the first fantasy books I ever read, and being born in the 90s, you can imagine it’s still a little surreal to me to think I’m working with the voice of Pumba!

Editor’s note: Karl Ágúst is such a talented actor. One of his legendary performances includes being the Icelandic voice of Pumba in the timeless Disney classic The Lion King. It is simply legendary. Karl Ágúst was part of the team behind Iceland’s longest-running comedy show, Spaugstofan, which aired weekly(!) on Icelandic television from 1988 to 2014. 

As for Aldís, it’s been amazing to have her working so closely with us over the last seven years, even as her career was taking off! She’s an incredible actress and a talented writer. You better believe the character of Ryn is stronger because she’s been shaping her with us for so long. She’s been as invested in the project as the rest of the dev team, and we’ve been lucky to have her as such a close collaborator for so long.

Promotional image from Echoes of the End, the critically acclaimed debut game from Iceland’s Myrkur Games. Pictured are the main characters—Ryn, portrayed by Icelandic actress Aldís Amah Hamilton, and Abram, played by beloved actor Karl Ágúst Úlfsson—set against a breathtaking fantasy world inspired by Iceland’s dramatic landscapes.
Aldís Amah Hamilton as Ryn and Karl Ágúst Úlfsson as Abram in Echoes of the End. They deliver powerful performances that bring emotional depth and complexity to Myrkur Games’ Icelandic fantasy adventure.

What does it mean to you personally to tell a story rooted in Icelandic aesthetics and culture?

Honestly, I keep discovering new answers to that question. It’s not a game about Iceland. Neither is there a connection to Nordic mythology or history. However, the quiet little ways in which the world we grow up with shapes the art we create keep surprising me.

For one, Echoes is a fairly introverted game. It deals with the internal world of a character who grew up in a fairly isolated community. It’s deeply preoccupied with the history of the land and its people. Moreover, the power of nature is seen as something incredible, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.

I don’t know about you, but as an Icelander, I feel like I can relate to every part of that.

Screenshot of Abram, played by renowned Icelandic actor Karl Ágúst Úlfsson. Featured in the fantasy action-adventure game by Myrkur Games, Abram’s story adds emotional weight and complexity to the richly detailed, Iceland-inspired world.
Abram, portrayed by Icelandic actor Karl Ágúst Úlfsson. His performance brings depth and humanity to the role of a haunted scholar in this cinematic fantasy adventure by Myrkur Games.

What’s next for Myrkur Games—do you envision continuing the Echoes universe?

Here I’ll have to be a little evasive! We’re definitely interested in continuing Ryn’s story, but for now, we’ll just have to see what the future holds.

What are your favorite activities and places in Iceland?

Just existing in the quiet of the countryside somewhere. We have a little cabin in Lundarreykjadalur that’s miles away from anywhere, and spending time out there in the fresh air under the starry night sky is probably the peak of life.

But on a more generally accessible note… Nobody should miss out on Þórsmörk. It’s probably one of the most beautiful places this country has to offer.

Motion capture session for Echoes of the End, the fantasy action-adventure game from Icelandic studio Myrkur Games. Two performers stage a mock fight to create realistic in-game combat animations, enhancing the game’s cinematic and immersive experience.
Two performers stage a mock fight during motion capture production for Echoes of the End, the cinematic action-adventure game by Iceland’s Myrkur Games. Realistic combat choreography adds authenticity to the game’s immersive fantasy world.

Lastly, for visitors to Iceland who loved the game, what real-life locations should they seek out to walk in Ryn’s footsteps?

There’s a lot of variety to choose from! But I think you can’t go wrong with the classics. Reynisfjara is stunning, and Sólheimajökull is probably one of the most true-to-life sights we captured. But I think just taking a walk through one of the geothermal areas in places like Krýsuvík would also bring to mind a more unique part of Ryn’s journey, and complete the one part of the experience we can’t capture in a video game: the smell!