Dear Esther

 PC
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 736 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 368 out of 736
  2. Mixed: 182 out of 736
  3. Negative: 186 out of 736

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  1. Umur
    Aug 28, 2023
    6
    There is not much to it, the story is not that good for a walking simulator.
  2. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    6
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
  3. dmitriy_savenok
    Dec 17, 2022
    7
    Визуальный стиль, внешняя проработка окружения и множество остальных деталей дарят ту самую атмосферу вечерней прогулки с видом на невероятные красоты. Есть так же кое какие вкрапление сюжета, дающие уже самому игроку право на интерпретацию, но можно сказать, что его просто нет.
    Ради красот и просто расслабляющего опыта проект можно попробовать.
    Только жаль, что очень коротко. 7/10    Визуальный стиль, внешняя проработка окружения и множество остальных деталей дарят ту самую атмосферу вечерней прогулки с видом на невероятные красоты. Есть так же кое какие вкрапление сюжета, дающие уже самому игроку право на интерпретацию, но можно сказать, что его просто нет.
    Ради красот и просто расслабляющего опыта проект можно попробовать.
    Только жаль, что очень коротко.
    7/10
  4. MaxieZeus
    Sep 12, 2022
    7
    Decent game with a good story but the gameplay part can definitely be improved.
  5. Wrathzo
    Mar 27, 2022
    6
    Dear Esther is a first-person exploration and adventure video game developed by The Chinese Room. Featuring minimalistic gameplay, the player's only objective in the game is to explore an unnamed island in the Hebrides, Scotland, listening to a troubled man read a series of letters to his deceased wife. Details of her mysterious death are revealed as the player moves throughout the island.
  6. michaelb1928
    Jun 8, 2020
    5
    I dont mind a good walking simulator but this one is fairly poor. Where other games in this genre like gone home, firewatch etc have good storys i think the biggest difference is the atmosphere and interactivity. Sure not much interactivity but still enough to keep you engaged in their worlds. Dear esther is simply boring with a story thats pretentious and just not interesting. The visualsI dont mind a good walking simulator but this one is fairly poor. Where other games in this genre like gone home, firewatch etc have good storys i think the biggest difference is the atmosphere and interactivity. Sure not much interactivity but still enough to keep you engaged in their worlds. Dear esther is simply boring with a story thats pretentious and just not interesting. The visuals are nice and still hold up surprisingly but I feel like looking back at it from a 2020 standpoint with a lot better examples now of this type of genre of game done well, Dear esther really falls flat.… Expand
  7. hoanns
    Jun 6, 2020
    5
    its a walking sim, so pretty boring. but looks great and you can sit back an relax and listen to the narrator
  8. CriticalHit20
    Oct 23, 2019
    7
    It is like online hiking, but that is not that much fun. When I look at short games to play because i am busy and have limited time, these walking story games come up a lot. Most are not very original in gameplay and average or slightly above in storytelling. This is no different.
  9. aralath
    Aug 8, 2018
    7
    More like reading a book or watching a movie than playing a game. Visuals and story are good
  10. RagingPoet
    Mar 19, 2018
    7
    Dear Esther is one of the first so-called 'walking simulators': pretty much a movie where player can only control camera position and angle. And it has the least amount of gameplay out of all games of this type. The story is ok though, but a bit too ambiguous and too reliant on metaphors for my taste.
  11. likevin96
    Dec 21, 2017
    5
    Completion: Went through game once - Landmark Edition

    Pros: - Beautiful soundtrack. Voice acting for the narrator is also very solid. - Story is interesting to think about in relation to video games as a storytelling medium - Cave section is visually surprising Cons: - Graphics look outdated these days. I'm sure it was beautiful at the time, but visiting it in 2017 it looks    Completion: Went through game once - Landmark Edition

    Pros:
    - Beautiful soundtrack. Voice acting for the narrator is also very solid.
    - Story is interesting to think about in relation to video games as a storytelling medium
    - Cave section is visually surprising

    Cons:
    - Graphics look outdated these days. I'm sure it was beautiful at the time, but visiting it in 2017 it looks like a bit of a relic.
    - Walking is not fun. It is too slow, especially when going uphill. Furthermore - while I understand the omission of features such as running/jumping from an artistic perspective, it simply DOES NOT PLAY WELL
    - The story is too obtuse - especially on a first playthrough. There is nothing driving me to go through this island besides from the desire to finish this game
    - Too short. Way too short.
    - Performance was not the greatest - especially for a relatively old game

    Last Word:
    A walking simulator with a pretentious and ultimately flat story. Soundtrack helps some of the moments and creates atmosphere, but it is not enough to make Dear Esther an enjoyable experience.

    True Score:
    4.8    … Expand
  12. auditbadger
    Jul 30, 2017
    7
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  13. BasilZero
    Feb 18, 2017
    7
    Game: Dear Esther
    Genre: Adventure
    Publisher/Developer: The Chinese Room System: Steam (PC) Total Score: 67/100 Value Score: 6.7/10 • Story: 7/10 • Characters: 5/10 • GamePlay: 6/10 • Graphics: 9/10 • Sound: 10/10 • Music: 8/10 • Length: 2/10 • Replay Value: 3/10 • Player Value: 7/10 Pros +Amazing atmosphere and environment design +Great OST that goes well with the    Game: Dear Esther
    Genre: Adventure
    Publisher/Developer: The Chinese Room
    System: Steam (PC)
    Total Score: 67/100
    Value Score: 6.7/10

    • Story: 7/10
    • Characters: 5/10
    • GamePlay: 6/10
    • Graphics: 9/10
    • Sound: 10/10
    • Music: 8/10
    • Length: 2/10
    • Replay Value: 3/10
    • Player Value: 7/10

    Pros
    +Amazing atmosphere and environment design
    +Great OST that goes well with the atmosphere of the game
    +Great narration and Voice acting

    Cons
    -Very Short
    -Barely any replay value
    -When changing options for graphics, the preview does not work
    -No credits are shown at ending
    -Very simple gameplay
    -No characters shown    … Expand
  14. Vzhik
    Mar 31, 2016
    6
    Мир, картинка, повествование - отлично.. Но Текст.. Это что-то.
    Незавершенные действия в прошлом (делал, думал), воображаемое будущее, аналогии (мир как яблоко) и аллегории для меня это просто вода, а не текст.
    Только одно запомнилось - сделал бумажные кораблики. И показывают эти кораблики. Тут и смыл и идея, и что-то реальное. Был хороший текст, отличная б история получилась бы, а так    Мир, картинка, повествование - отлично.. Но Текст.. Это что-то.
    Незавершенные действия в прошлом (делал, думал), воображаемое будущее, аналогии (мир как яблоко) и аллегории для меня это просто вода, а не текст.
    Только одно запомнилось - сделал бумажные кораблики. И показывают эти кораблики. Тут и смыл и идея, и что-то реальное.
    Был хороший текст, отличная б история получилась бы, а так увы.    … Expand
  15. sft
    Mar 13, 2016
    7
    Windswept, wistful wanderings

    Enough has been said already in the debate as to whether or not DEAR ESTHER is a game, and for the sake of this review I shall refer to it simply as an experience. What it is, in effect, is a short story set against a 3D visual backdrop. And it is short – a play-through should last 60–90 minutes. (Whether it represents value for money or not will depend on    Windswept, wistful wanderings

    Enough has been said already in the debate as to whether or not DEAR ESTHER is a game, and for the sake of this review I shall refer to it simply as an experience. What it is, in effect, is a short story set against a 3D visual backdrop. And it is short – a play-through should last 60–90 minutes. (Whether it represents value for money or not will depend on your response to the experience and whether or not you feel inclined to play it more than once.) So what’s good about it? Well, it’s a remarkable showcase for the humble Source Engine. The Chinese Room have squeezed Valve’s software hard to produce a starkly beautiful environment. The Hebridean island which serves as backdrop to the story is the strongest character in the experience, and it’s the haunting atmosphere created by this landscape that drives the emotional content of the experience. So what’s not so good about it? Well frankly the writing is poor. The monologue, although delivered with skill by the voice actor, is self-consciously florid. At times the prose is so excruciatingly purple as to lesson the emotional impact. In the hands of a more restrained writer Dear Esther could have been even more engaging. It’s still moving, and memorable, but this partial success is achieved almost entirely through the visual content. Despite this, however, I recommend Dear Esther, if only because it’s a fine example of how diverse the medium can be.    … Expand
  16. Aeryx
    Feb 14, 2016
    7
    It certainly lives up to its reputation of being a walking simulator that is short but memorable. This game reminds me of those times when I just walked and kept on thinking about things and the could-have-beens in life. It's certainly not for everyone, especially if all you want is action, but for those who enjoy quiet time and plain enjoying the sights, you might find this one interesting.
  17. Dune_Jumper
    Dec 10, 2015
    5
    -snip-
    ...............................................................................................................................................
  18. Kopter
    Oct 27, 2015
    7
    Una novela y aventura gráfica, todo en uno. Yo lo tengo gracias a un sorteo, he de decir que el precio es excesivo para lo que es el juego, pero si lo puedes conseguir, es una aunténtica maravilla.
  19. gloriouspotato
    Feb 1, 2015
    7
    Whether Dear Esther is a game or not is irrelevant, however the experience I derived from it is difficult to evaluate. I didn't regret the purchase, but I'm reluctant to call the 'game' enjoyable. If anything, it felt more like a spiritual journey in a sense; a journey that sometimes overextended itself in the more bland and empty sections of the game. This is primarily due to the lack ofWhether Dear Esther is a game or not is irrelevant, however the experience I derived from it is difficult to evaluate. I didn't regret the purchase, but I'm reluctant to call the 'game' enjoyable. If anything, it felt more like a spiritual journey in a sense; a journey that sometimes overextended itself in the more bland and empty sections of the game. This is primarily due to the lack of gameplay mechanics, so Dear Esther must rely heavily on the following three things - story, visuals and sound.

    Of those three, the visuals and sound are of great quality, imbuing a satisfying sense of tranquility, which sometimes shifted to a more haunting tone. The caves section in particular demonstrated excellent use of colour and was probably the only chapter in which I was fully engaged due to the constant change in the rock formations and scenery. Unfortunately, pretty rocks and water can only get you so far. It's ultimately up to the game's narrative that determines whether Dear Esther offers something more meaningful, and while it did, the delivery had more than a few flaws.

    Dear Esther's story relies heavily on the player's ability to interpret symbols and metaphors. It's like high school English class all over again, like analyzing a text but in digital form. There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but the dialogue is in my opinion far too convoluted and too full of purple prose for this interpretation to be done in an accessible manner. The fact that dialogue is randomly generated in this game also means that the player's interpretation is incomplete, they're not getting the full picture regardless of whether they explore the map or not. I think it's also unrealistic for a player to fully analyze and understand a paragraph of text that is read out with no more than 20 seconds of screen time and then never to be seen or heard of again, especially with the kind of writing that's presented in this game.

    Most players will end up floundering in confusion, and I suspect that for most of those who've played Dear Esther, the main reason they understood the story is because they read a wikipedia entry on the plot after they finished the game. That's what I did too, and when I consulted other wikis and read other people's interpretations, it was only then that things started to really make sense. Upon playing the game again, it was only then that I understood the various obscure references that formed the story. There's power in simplicity, and I feel that the Chinese Room made their writing too complex for the sake of sounding poetic. In the end, it becomes something that detracts from a potentially unique and unforgettable experience.

    Overall rating: 6.9/10    … Expand
  20. Wazzles
    Jan 27, 2015
    7
    To call Dear Esther a game is pretty misleading. There is essentially no gameplay- no puzzles, interaction, fighting, etc. All you do is walk. It is also over in about 2 hours if you look at everything. So it fails as a game. A better classification for this would simply be to call it an art piece. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, and the music and sound effects compliment theTo call Dear Esther a game is pretty misleading. There is essentially no gameplay- no puzzles, interaction, fighting, etc. All you do is walk. It is also over in about 2 hours if you look at everything. So it fails as a game. A better classification for this would simply be to call it an art piece. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, and the music and sound effects compliment the melancholy nature of the visuals. If viewed purely as an art piece, as I think it should, Dear Esther is totally worth it. But if you want game play, look elsewhere.… Expand
  21. DDilettante
    Jan 17, 2015
    6
    It's hard to judge this as a game, as technically it isn't. It is, as IGN puts it; "a piece of interactive visual storytelling". This is due to it's lack of goals, weapons, puzzles, or basically anything you would see in a traditional game.

    Expect a "game", and you'll come out confused. But let's judge it based on what it actually aims to do... This tells the story of a shipwrecked    It's hard to judge this as a game, as technically it isn't. It is, as IGN puts it; "a piece of interactive visual storytelling". This is due to it's lack of goals, weapons, puzzles, or basically anything you would see in a traditional game.

    Expect a "game", and you'll come out confused. But let's judge it based on what it actually aims to do...

    This tells the story of a shipwrecked castaway on an island. As you walk around, from scenic view to scenic view, the protagonist will speak in delicate yet disjointed prose. What first starts out as analogies drawn from the current landscape you're in, he will slowly reveal who this Esther is, while becoming more and more passionate in his outbursts.

    You'll walk along beaches, through luminous underground caves, and along jutting cliffs, which are all beautiful. I had to stop several times, just to take screenshots. I was basically a tourist.

    Even though there is no interactivity, after completing the game in two hours, I was quite emotionally moved. Without giving away any spoilers, the revelations in the dialogue which lead upto the powerful conclusion left me contemplating it for many days after.

    As an experience: 8/10
    As a game: 4/10    … Expand
  22. Trunks252
    Dec 10, 2014
    7
    Dear Esther is an interesting experience, although I'm hesitant to say it was good.The writing is obnoxious and sometimes cryptic, and it just comes off as pretentious. The story behind it is actually fairly good, however. The best part of this game for me was the gorgeous environments. The caves in particular were stunning. That being said, they basically have to be to balance out theDear Esther is an interesting experience, although I'm hesitant to say it was good.The writing is obnoxious and sometimes cryptic, and it just comes off as pretentious. The story behind it is actually fairly good, however. The best part of this game for me was the gorgeous environments. The caves in particular were stunning. That being said, they basically have to be to balance out the actual amount of time it takes to beat, which is about an hour. Overall this game was interesting, and it was worth the $2 I spent on it. $10 is just insane for this game. I would recommend this to anyone who likes art for its own sake, because that's really all I can consider this game to be. Just make sure you get it on sale.… Expand
  23. YeastyPorpoise
    Oct 24, 2014
    7
    Provided that you are willing to be flexible about the definition of a game, this is an experience which I recommend to anyone who enjoys anything thought provoking. There are certain aspects of the story which are clearly laid out, but the vast majority of the narrative can be vague, relying heavily on the interpretation of the individual. Initially I hadn't realised that the snippets ofProvided that you are willing to be flexible about the definition of a game, this is an experience which I recommend to anyone who enjoys anything thought provoking. There are certain aspects of the story which are clearly laid out, but the vast majority of the narrative can be vague, relying heavily on the interpretation of the individual. Initially I hadn't realised that the snippets of narrative are actually randomised, so the game can be played through multiple times with different results. If you have a lot of experience in role-playing games, you might be used to checking the corner of every room and going down every path - on the off-chance that there's something special there. I recommend that you don't do that in Dear Esther. I went down every little path, explored the corners of every room and I am none the wiser. Apart from a few scribbles on walls here and there, don't expect to find some Easter Egg or a special note.… Expand
  24. rodericrinehart
    Aug 31, 2014
    5
    This may or may not even be a video game. If The Stanley Parable had a retarded brother, this would be his incestuous and disfigured offspring. SCORE: 5/10

    You walk around in a mostly linear path while a story is narrated to you. The story itself is rather disjointed and incomplete, just like the game. The visuals are great, kind of like a tech demo. The story is weak. The gameplay is    This may or may not even be a video game. If The Stanley Parable had a retarded brother, this would be his incestuous and disfigured offspring. SCORE: 5/10

    You walk around in a mostly linear path while a story is narrated to you. The story itself is rather disjointed and incomplete, just like the game. The visuals are great, kind of like a tech demo. The story is weak. The gameplay is nonexistent.

    It is worth about one dollar. Anything more than that is a complete waste.    … Expand
  25. carlosgtardon
    Jun 10, 2014
    7
    Otra historia interactiva que no es un videojuego, pero es una experiencia narrativa significativa e interesante. Si te interesa la narratología es una pieza necesaria, en caso contrario puede defraudarte.
  26. TSarcher
    Jun 2, 2014
    7
    Dear Esther? it is an interesting one and very unique, however it's not a game, but, in all fairness, it's not supposed to be and this is surprisingly not a bad thing.

    - Intuitive interactive storytelling. This is the first storytelling attempt in gaming and it does this quite well using a large ad expansive map to explore that is loosely associated to the actual story which is    Dear Esther? it is an interesting one and very unique, however it's not a game, but, in all fairness, it's not supposed to be and this is surprisingly not a bad thing.

    - Intuitive interactive storytelling.
    This is the first storytelling attempt in gaming and it does this quite well using a large ad expansive map to explore that is loosely associated to the actual story which is narrated as you discover new areas and progress through the dark and gloomy island. One thing I noticed with this 'game' was that you genuinely do feel alone and weirdly cold too thanks to the clever atmosphere. Despite this, I sometimes kept questioning what was actually going on as it never really uncovers who Esther is, even though she is the main character (sort of). Similarly, there is no clue to who you control throughout the game and it is never clear if it is supposed to be the narrator or simply just yourself and this makes it feel confusing.

    - Surprisingly impressive graphics (for an unproven development team)
    The grey, gloomy skies combined with the large sprawling meadows and sharp chalky cliffs make the game feel calm but slightly threatening which I think really suits the games story type.

    - Not much replayablity
    The fact that the story is dead and buried before a dramatic cut scene or shocking reveal kind of contradicts the point of a story and leaves the player/reader/listener to feel underwhelmed and slightly disappointed.

    Graphics: 7.5/10
    The graphics themselves are great but they don't really suit the story line and causes confusion.

    Creativity: 10/10
    A completely new outlook to interactive storytelling, it is the first of its kind and has secured a foothold for possible future games.

    New User Friendly: 10/10
    Very simple controls and very simple navigation. However this is being rather kind as this also one of the main reasons for the game being unremarkable.

    Replayability: 4/10
    Its like a book, you already know the storyline and plot ad you have to do some waiting before you can play it again in order to forget the story.

    Overall score: 7/10    … Expand
  27. TheLagbringer
    Apr 19, 2014
    7
    Well, I finished the game and had a rough idea of what was happenning. I felt like I missed something and was curious so I read some guides, watched videos, etc. I must say I missed a lot what this game offers. At the same time it's impossible to see most of it on the first playthrough. It's quite nice when it comes to storytelling and exploration, but myself I haven't found a taste norWell, I finished the game and had a rough idea of what was happenning. I felt like I missed something and was curious so I read some guides, watched videos, etc. I must say I missed a lot what this game offers. At the same time it's impossible to see most of it on the first playthrough. It's quite nice when it comes to storytelling and exploration, but myself I haven't found a taste nor will to play it again. Maybe I will another day.
    If you are patient and looking for a nice chill adventure with beautiful music and scenery and mystery story, go and play it - the first playthrough is definitely worth it and will leave you somewhat sentimental.    … Expand
  28. CaKeS
    Dec 28, 2013
    6
    I seriously wish I could give Dear Esther a better score, but the only thing it has going for it is it's over-the-top beautiful graphics. This game is basically a demonstration of the developer's 3D modelling skill, and being a 3D modelling student I loved every second of this game. I didn't care that it didn't have a story, and I didn't care that it really wasn't even a game, more of aI seriously wish I could give Dear Esther a better score, but the only thing it has going for it is it's over-the-top beautiful graphics. This game is basically a demonstration of the developer's 3D modelling skill, and being a 3D modelling student I loved every second of this game. I didn't care that it didn't have a story, and I didn't care that it really wasn't even a game, more of a slideshow. But to be fair to others, I feel obliged to say that if you want an actual game, then I guess you're looking in the wrong place. I feel bad saying that but literally the only thing this game has going for it is good graphics. The story is boring, the voice acting is even below par, and there's literally no interaction with your surroundings throughout the entire 40 minutes the walk lasts. Yes, the game is basically a Sunday stroll. But I got this for a dollar, and the graphics are unbelievably amazing, the composition of each scene is so well thought out, and there is SO much attention to detail it's breathtaking. Too bad thechineseroom didn't do anything more creative with this. It's definitely a masterpiece, but in the art definition of the term, not when referring to the overall game. Only get this "game" if it's on sale, and you just want to see some awesome graphics and beautiful scenes, and NOTHING more.… Expand
  29. RinEvangel
    Nov 1, 2013
    5
    I want to give this game A 0/10 but i didnt want people to be confused into thinking that it crappy game. its actually much worst or quite the opposite. This "thing" (i cant call it a game it goes against my morals and standards) doesnt have sufficient enough GAMEPLAY to be called a game. All you do is walk around and listen to the character/narrators dialogue; oh and you get a flashlightI want to give this game A 0/10 but i didnt want people to be confused into thinking that it crappy game. its actually much worst or quite the opposite. This "thing" (i cant call it a game it goes against my morals and standards) doesnt have sufficient enough GAMEPLAY to be called a game. All you do is walk around and listen to the character/narrators dialogue; oh and you get a flashlight to. Now dont get me wrong its still a very pleasant experience if you can be accepting that kind of thing. but all in all it gets a 0/10 as a game and 9/10 as a "Artistic experience" (yes it was difficult for me to type that)… Expand
  30. Kuszh
    Oct 24, 2013
    5
    This game is beautifully done, and I spent a lot of time exploring. Unfortunately, it didn't make me want to play it again, and so I feel it's true value was lost. Perhaps because I spent a lot of time looking through every nook and cranny, trying to interpret the strange diagrams, I became extremely discouraged when the ending was what it was.
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Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best PC Game of 2012
29
#29 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
44
#44 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 37
  3. Negative: 3 out of 37
  1. Thunderbolt
    Jan 10, 2013
    30
    With no story or true narrative to latch onto, there's no reason for players to care about what's going on. And there's only one thing ever going on in Dear Esther: nothing. Broken up into individual pieces-the graphics, writing, and music clearly show talent and might have led to interesting stories or games-but together they form a dull, lifeless experience that's quickly forgotten.
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 25, 2012
    50
    To call this piece "a game" and rate it as an ordinary game is not fair. You can find many flaws in the game's mechanics but if you just follow the story your experience will be unforgettable. [Apr 2012]
  3. CD-Action
    Mar 13, 2012
    55
    Thechineseroom studio managed to create something surprising and original, but Dear Esther is something you experience rather than play. [April 2012, p.79]
See all critic reviews »