- Publisher: The Chinese Room , thechineseroom
- Release Date: Apr 26, 2012
- Also On: iPhone/iPad
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
Mar 9, 2012Dear Esther is an auditory and visual experience that interweaves a consuming narrative and array of emotions. The game's actual value must not be solely based upon its gameplay length, but rather on the random elements and new secrets discovered through multiple playthroughs. Those that brave the journey into the narrative and world of Dear Esther will discover an experience that few games have been available to accomplish in years. Highly recommended.
-
Feb 14, 2012Dear Esther completely changes the language in which we communicate with a videogame; it is an interactive experience whose notion of interactivity demands much more from the players than they are used to.
-
Feb 20, 2012Dear Esther is a peculiar game. With its beautiful landscapes and script, some people could find it a great experience, others could hate the lack of interaction and the plain gameplay.
-
Feb 17, 2012One of the most haunting and well-executed titles of this or any other generation.
-
Feb 16, 2012Dear Esther. I will take flight.
-
Feb 15, 2012Dear Esther changes a simple hike into an emotional journey. Not just a (short) game, but truly an experience.
-
Feb 15, 2012Mysterious, poetical and full of atmosphere – Dear Esther is as magical as a short story from Ray Bradbury. The creative way of storytelling fascinated me from the very first moment.
-
Feb 14, 2012Dear Esther definitely isn't a product which everyone will appreciate - the walking-talking pace tends to polarise audiences quickly - but those who are tempted to try it out would be much advised to do so. You won't be disappointed.
-
Feb 13, 2012The beauty of Dear Esther is that it raises questions about content rather than mechanics.
-
PC Master (Greece)Mar 12, 2012The catharsis that sweeps us in the ending can not be explained, nor foreseen. The game's immersion is not only intense, it's unprecedented. Surely it's not a title for everyone, especially for people that are used to "living" their games through interaction with other characters or objects. But it's groundbreaking and succeeds in its goal for the user to live a story, as in a well-written book. [April 2012]
-
Feb 13, 2012A trip through a brilliantly conceived landscape that rewards attentive engagement with a moving story.
-
Pelit (Finland)Mar 13, 2012An experimental adventure that succeeds at being a genuinely touching gaming experience, even though it doesn't quite live up to all of its potential. The island you explore is absolutely beautiful and the story is interesting, if not exceedingly original. [March 2012]
-
Mar 5, 2012It's certainly not a title for those who prefer more traditional video games. Instead it's more an interactive exhibit, rewarding you for attentive observation and approaching its unique make-up with an open mind. Do so and you will find a haunting, thought-provoking piece of work.
-
Feb 25, 2012A game that puts story over gameplay, and in many ways successfully creates a unique experience. That being said, Dear Esther isn't for everyone. If you're the type of gamer who feels most comfortable with a laser assault rifle at your side, then you might not enjoy what makes Dear Esther unique. If you're the type who believes that games can be art or tell an interesting story, then Dear Esther may be more your style.
-
Feb 24, 2012Mesmerizing. Fascinating. Magical. Hipnotic. All these adjectives can be used to describe Dear Esther, a new playable indie experience that escapes from the boundaries of traditional gaming, putting us in the middle of an isolated island where we'll be the main character of our own victorianesque EA Poe's ghost, sadness and loneliness tale.
-
Feb 23, 2012Maybe not properly a videogame, Dear Esther speaks directly to gamers' souls. It's a very intensive experience and, after playing it, it's very likely you will remember this game for a long, long time.
-
Feb 23, 2012An interactive experience you need to live, if you're into mellow stories, but not really a "game" in and of itself.
-
Feb 21, 2012It's difficult to define Dear Esther as a proper game, but you'll surely want to play it more and more. A great example of a truly unique entertainment experience.
-
Feb 20, 2012If you're into the idea of experimental "games" pushing the boundaries of the medium, you might like Dear Esther, but if you're looking for a detailed story of Event A causing Event B which then naturally led to Event C, then this is not for you.
-
Feb 16, 2012Dear Esther, however, presents something truly different. It's an experiment to be sure -- and one that's not entirely successful -- but it hits far more often than it misses. It's a strong start to a new breed of adventure that asks players to think instead of clicking on items until something arbitrarily happens.
-
Feb 15, 2012Dear Esther offers many strengths; a non-conventional premise - at least compared to traditional games - a genuinely interesting tale, and a lavishly crafted world to tell it in. It's overall linearity is disappointing, especially in such a captivating place, but it otherwise delivers a refreshing experience that will stay with you long after it's over.
-
Feb 14, 2012Is it a game? I can't say I know the answer, but I do know that unless you're an IGF judge or a prissy dogmatist who sets out to pedantically define the boundaries of an extremely fluid medium, then you shouldn't really care. All that matters is that Dear Esther is worth your time - and that its two-hour long chill will remain in your bones for a long while after.
-
Feb 13, 2012The game is recommended for anyone who likes taking a close look at a piece of art that goes against the grain of the medium. You should consider checking out Dear Esther the same way you'd appraise a film. If you're interested in absorbing an intellectual story and gorgeous visuals without having to exert a drop of effort, take a chance on this curious experiment.
-
Feb 13, 2012Dear Esther spins an intriguing narrative, leaving you to decipher not only the outcome, but if this is even a game.
-
Feb 13, 2012Dear Esther is that rarest of things: a truly interesting game. It left me feeling pensive, mildly saddened, and confident that games have plenty of directions left to explore. If you're interested in what can be achieved when you abandon the conventions of games and explore the fringes of the form instead, it's a must-play.
-
Jan 25, 2012Thanks to this astonishing overhaul, it's now quite impossible to ignore. [Feb 2012, p.120]
-
Feb 29, 2012Play this just for yourself and try to see where things might go from here. The possibilities are endless and almost completely unexplored.
-
Mar 13, 2012It's a pity that thechineseroom opted not to include anything resembling gameplay – an interaction between the player and the creators that is the foundation of an up-and-coming art called "videogames". On the other hand, the story is very touching.
-
Feb 25, 2012An absorbing experience while it lasts, but it's short-lived and lacks any truly direct, interactive moments. However, its approach to story is thought-provoking and open to interpretation, traits that are generally lacking in the medium as a whole.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 368 out of 736
-
Mixed: 182 out of 736
-
Negative: 186 out of 736
-
Feb 14, 2012
-
Feb 19, 2012
-
Feb 14, 2012