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. Gaming_Bear
    Jun 26, 2023
    8
    Finally got around to playing this game. it plays like you are in a short novel. The narration, visuals and music bring you into a sad tale that paint a tale of a man lost on an island.
  3. 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»
  4. agradecemais
    Feb 7, 2023
    8
    Dear Esther é mais um daqueles Walking Simulators que focam na história e exploração, sem mecânicas, puzzles ou inimigos, o jogo foca apenas em andar de uma forma muito próxima da vida real.
    É difícil saber se o que está experienciando é real ou algum tipo de sonho e o jogo não faz questão de deixar isso claro.
    Começamos sabendo que o personagem se dirige a sua querida esposa Esther e    Dear Esther é mais um daqueles Walking Simulators que focam na história e exploração, sem mecânicas, puzzles ou inimigos, o jogo foca apenas em andar de uma forma muito próxima da vida real.
    É difícil saber se o que está experienciando é real ou algum tipo de sonho e o jogo não faz questão de deixar isso claro.
    Começamos sabendo que o personagem se dirige a sua querida esposa Esther e através de seus monólogos ele vai explicando um pouco da história da ilha que está explorando assim como o trágico destino de Esther.
    O brilho do jogo é a experiência e sentimentos que experienciamos enquanto tentamos juntas as peças da história que não é apresentada de forma clara, e para entender melhor, o jogo força ser jogado novamente para que pedaços da história que acontecem randomicamente a cada gameplay vão se revelando e explicando o que está acontecendo.
    O grande personagem dessa história é a ilha e o monólogo do personagem que faz você se sentir a todo momento sozinho (apesar da presença de fantasmas que observam de longe), introspectivo e bucólico.
    E para isso a trilha sonora que em minha opinião é o ponto alto faz um ótimo trabalho.
    Essa versão com os cortes dos diretores em um formato de podcast torna a experiência divertida e ajuda a entender o que está por trás, afinal entrar dentro da cabeças e do processo criativo dos criadores te faz estar mais próximo de sua arte.
    Como todo Walking Simulator esse jogo não é para todos os públicos mas sua experiência é valida, interessante e profunda!    … Expand
  5. 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
  6. MaxieZeus
    Sep 12, 2022
    7
    Decent game with a good story but the gameplay part can definitely be improved.
  7. 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.
  8. BeatYourHeadIn
    Sep 19, 2021
    3
    I like it when games dare to be different. I liked Penumbra, and I liked Amnesia even more; those games struck a nice balance with atmosphere and gameplay while being different from almost everything I had played before. Dear Esther, however, offers no such balance since it abandoned any semblance of gameplay altogether. It's been said here by other reviewers and I'll say it again, just toI like it when games dare to be different. I liked Penumbra, and I liked Amnesia even more; those games struck a nice balance with atmosphere and gameplay while being different from almost everything I had played before. Dear Esther, however, offers no such balance since it abandoned any semblance of gameplay altogether. It's been said here by other reviewers and I'll say it again, just to reinforce the notion: there is no interactivity to speak of and no real gameplay whatsoever.

    There are no meaningful choices to make, no consequences, no inventory to manage, no characters to interact with, no enemies to defeat or evade, no objectives to complete; you can't even control when your flashlight turns on and off (this feature is automanaged for you as you enter and leave unlit areas). It is a game that dared to be so different that it actually stopped being a game.

    I know what you're thinking: "BeatYourHeadIn, what do you expect from a title that hails from the 'games as art' genre? Certainly you weren't hoping a shotgun was a necessary plot element?" Good point readers, and fair enough, I have certainly been conditioned enough by multiple decades of shooters that I feel an... emptiness... when I can't simply apply liberal amounts of buckshot shampoo to *ahem* clean the obstructions from my first person journies. What I do expect from a game is a little bit of gameplay; just a teensy weensy bit. No? Nothing??? Sheesh, we should probably rename the "games as art" genre to "art as games" since that simple rearrangement says volumes more about what it's actually like to experience Dear Esther. Dear Esther is not really a game after all, rather more of a landscape simulator that is best enjoyed by plugging your video output into a digital picture frame hung on your living room wall. Moving on, I don't want to obsess over what Dear Esther IS NOT this whole review, so I will talk about what it IS.

    As others here have pointed out, it is simply a different way of telling a story... a visual metaphor, if you will. In my opinion, it is an unsuccessful way of telling a story, and I wont be paying for any other "games" that may appear in this "genre". As a game, story, movie, Bob Ross painting, whatever, it was dull and un-entertaining. Un-fun, that's a good word; Dear Esther is un-fun.

    There are just enough good points to squeak a single positive sentence into this review of Dear Esther: the soundtrack is quite good, and the visuals are nice to look at (especially in the caves chapter); I will award a couple points for those qualities, even though I want to give it a flat zero.

    I'll award one more point to the fact that the developers had the balls think outside of the box... in fact, they stepped right out of the box, picked it up, folded it, put it in the recycle bin, went to the nearest Blockbuster Video and rented What Dreams May Come. So that's it, a generous 3 out of 10.    … Expand
  9. Chicane
    Feb 23, 2021
    10
    moody, atmospheric & beautiful adventure. I've enjoed every step on that mystery island. recommended for 20+ yo
  10. ewenr
    Jun 30, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Never have I played a game that has been so much up its own a*se. Sure, it's beautiful to look at.. but all that is washed away in a torrential deluge of poetic nonsense. If you are unsure whether to pick up this game, just google for "Dear Esther script" and you will get a feeling for what you are letting yourself in for.

    Here's just one gripping example picked at random...
    "Dear Esther. I have now driven the stretch of the M5 between Exeter and Bristol over twenty-one times, but although I have all the reports and all the witnesses and have cross-referenced them within a millimetre using my ordnance survey maps, I simply cannot find the location. You’d think there would be marks, to serve as some evidence. It's somewhere between the turn off for Sandford and the Welcome Break services. But although I can always see it in my rear view mirror, I have as yet been unable to pull ashore."    … Expand
  11. aleqhz
    Jun 25, 2020
    4
    It is very poetic. The music is okay. It's some kind of "story-driven" visual art I guess? But the story itself isn't that interesting. This hardly qualifies as a game.
  12. Relkad
    Jun 25, 2020
    8
    If you're gonna make a walking simulator and be sure people will call that "a good game", make sure it feels like Dear Esther as much as possible.
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. bancandrei
    May 15, 2020
    8
    One of the first and still one of the best walking simulators. It helps that it is short and has some nice locations. The story is quite simple and effective
  16. 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.
  17. aralath
    Aug 8, 2018
    7
    More like reading a book or watching a movie than playing a game. Visuals and story are good
  18. 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.
  19. Lobby
    Dec 27, 2017
    4
    I don't think this should be referenced as game. I was able to finish it only forcing myself, because I got bored and the game is just hour long or so, therefore I cannot go over 4. On the other hand technically there is nothing wrong with it. It look nice, aesthetically and it have technical quality of graphic on good level. The landscape is very good and believable and I think even bigI don't think this should be referenced as game. I was able to finish it only forcing myself, because I got bored and the game is just hour long or so, therefore I cannot go over 4. On the other hand technically there is nothing wrong with it. It look nice, aesthetically and it have technical quality of graphic on good level. The landscape is very good and believable and I think even big sandbox games could take few notes here. The story is good it presented too slow and so deep as presented.

    Obviously from the other reviews there is lot of people that like this kind of simulation (i won't use the word game). So if incline to stuff like this then you do get it. If you never tried something like it, try it as it is super cheep. Other wise it would be rather waste of the time.    … Expand
  20. 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
  21. PaleMimic
    Aug 20, 2017
    8
    It's somewhat a rarity that I say this, when it comes down to walking simulator type games, but Dear Esther was quite a joy to play. With a fairly good story that has a sad but slightly uplifting ending, but I'd rather not spoil it. The island you explore throughout the game, although I use that term loosely, is somewhat beautiful and enchanting. There are mysterious caves to explore andIt's somewhat a rarity that I say this, when it comes down to walking simulator type games, but Dear Esther was quite a joy to play. With a fairly good story that has a sad but slightly uplifting ending, but I'd rather not spoil it. The island you explore throughout the game, although I use that term loosely, is somewhat beautiful and enchanting. There are mysterious caves to explore and quite breathtaking coastlines adorned with shipwrecks. As you explore the island you also quickly realize you are not quite alone. Strange figures stand watching you from a distance giving you a slight sense of unease. The game itself isn't all that long, taking just over half an hour to complete, that is of course if you don't go off exploring. There are several landmarks dotted around the island which serve little purpose other than to take screenshots of. But really it's best to stick to the main trail.
    Overall the game follows a fairly interesting narrative and combines it with a quite beautiful setting. It is of course a walking simulator and so there is very little to do other than explore the island, but if walking sims are your cup of tea then go ahead and give Dear Esther a go. But I only recommend it for those who enjoy narratives and exploration. Good day!    … Expand
  22. 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.
  23. Renovatia
    Jun 17, 2017
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A "game" which doesn't offer gameplay. Instead it's a guided tour on an island whilst you're narrating letters written to Esther, your (probably) wife who (probably) died in a car crash. This tour - again, no game here - is to move you emotionally. But there's nothing to be emotionally about, other than being emotional about the tour - the setting - itself. in the end - BIG REVEAL - is that no answers are given. It's another "interpret it yourself" ending. I can invent stories like that every minute, and so can you. Having an open ended draw-your-own-conclusions approach is simply avoiding the responsibility to come up with a decent logical ending.

    In fact, as the game moves forward, the letters become even more ambiguous. Usually when you progress through a game you're rewarded, but this game offers only the opposite. In the end you'll jumping off a tower (you were walking towards it in the game). You're either stuck with an empty feeling, i.e. no gaming, not resolution of the storyline, or you're in some kind of a trance and write a review about how amazing this game was because it left you with feelings of some sorts.

    I rated it 2/10 only for reason and that is the cheap ambiguity, lack of resolution and the aforementioned draw-your-own-conclusions approach. I wrote such games when I was 10 to 11 years old and won prizes or became second. I wrote mystical stories but avoided a real ending because that was the hard part. But people loved it and I won another round.

    The two stars are for the graphics.    … Expand
  24. 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
  25. gygessgygess
    Oct 2, 2016
    10
    Yes, in this game you will only have the controls of walking. However, it is much more about the experience. Controls should not dictate whether a game has an amazing story or not. Dear Esther's poetic story had me in tears by the end, because it gave me a better story than any other game has ever produced for me, ever. I played Everybody's Gone to The Rapture, Gone Home, and you can evenYes, in this game you will only have the controls of walking. However, it is much more about the experience. Controls should not dictate whether a game has an amazing story or not. Dear Esther's poetic story had me in tears by the end, because it gave me a better story than any other game has ever produced for me, ever. I played Everybody's Gone to The Rapture, Gone Home, and you can even include more popular AAA games like The Last of Us, the Half-Life series, whatever you want to name: no game has produced the emotions this game did. And it's not all very clear, a lot of that emotion isn't necessarily about the game, but it's also just thinking about your life, and the people around you.

    So yes, the input you have is where to walk. But the power you have is to look, see, hear, and experience what you do in this game. If you want something concise but powerful, only a few movies carry the emotional impact of Dear Esther.    … Expand
  26. SuperkenGaming
    Sep 20, 2016
    8
    Dear Esther
    A chilling Mystery
    Dear Esther is a walking simulator, or what I prefer to call a first person exploration game You play as. I’m not even sure... But its someone walking around a beautiful island that strangely feels so real… The sounds, the wind… The environment of Dear Esther is near perfect and so easily draws you in… As you explore the world you’ll Hear a narrator    Dear Esther
    A chilling Mystery
    Dear Esther is a walking simulator, or what I prefer to call a first person exploration game
    You play as. I’m not even sure...
    But its someone walking around a beautiful island that strangely feels so real…
    The sounds, the wind…
    The environment of Dear Esther is near perfect and so easily draws you in…
    As you explore the world you’ll Hear a narrator talking To Esther…
    There’s speculation of who Esther is, who this Narrator is and all of this is up for you to decide.. To draw your own conclusions of…
    And to prevent spoilers I will leave my speculation out of this review, as speculation I believe is where the most enjoyment of this experience is at…
    There are no puzzles here, hardly any hazards other than drowning or falling…
    you’re simply placed into a world to explore and feel…
    My only complaint of this experience is that the environment is not fully interactive…
    You’ll hear footsteps on the ground as you walk, but when you walk in water its feels like you are floating on top of it.. there is no sound which is all too noticeable and broke the immersion for me multiple times…
    I’m not sure how this was overlooked… but it definitely hurts the overall experience…
    Dear Esther is an enjoyable 1 and a half hours, you can even replay with directors commentary or fresh to see if you’ve noticed any subtle changes, which I definitely did as the game was designed to be slightly different each time you play…
    Will Dear Esther blow you away with its story, design, and visuals?
    Probably not. But if you’re a fan of mystery, or just want a calming environment to visit you owe it to yourself to pick this one up…
    I give Dear Esther an
    8.0/10    … Expand
  27. lightyears
    Aug 6, 2016
    8
    It is not a game. It is the middle between a novel and a 3D tech demo. But it delivers a beautiful audio visual experience. It is thanks to the beautiful environment that it is worth it. If the enivonment wouldnt have been as stunning as here, a simple walk through a virtual world wouldnt be worth it. It succeeds because of one of the most beautiful virtual environments ever created .It is not a game. It is the middle between a novel and a 3D tech demo. But it delivers a beautiful audio visual experience. It is thanks to the beautiful environment that it is worth it. If the enivonment wouldnt have been as stunning as here, a simple walk through a virtual world wouldnt be worth it. It succeeds because of one of the most beautiful virtual environments ever created . Altough the story is somewhat short. I think it is just 90 minutes or so. But the price tag is also pretty low with 10 euros. Therefore I consider time and price still in balance. I reward it with a 7.5.… Expand
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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.
  31. Dune_Jumper
    Dec 10, 2015
    5
    -snip-
    ...............................................................................................................................................
  32. janosbiro
    Oct 27, 2015
    10
    Dear Esther is a living metaphor. A man lost within his own world, represented as an abandoned island. As he walks, he studies the traces of his own past, in search for hope. All you do in this game is walking and listening to the narrator. But if you let yourself be taken by the narrative, the experience can be amazing. This game is really special to me, because it helped me think aboutDear Esther is a living metaphor. A man lost within his own world, represented as an abandoned island. As he walks, he studies the traces of his own past, in search for hope. All you do in this game is walking and listening to the narrator. But if you let yourself be taken by the narrative, the experience can be amazing. This game is really special to me, because it helped me think about my own situation of loss and confusion. Thank you for this wonderful game.… Expand
  33. 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.
  34. bicom
    Oct 9, 2015
    1
    It's not a game. If anything, it's just an interactive story, in which the story is boring and unintelligible for non native english speakers. I mean, if you want to narrate a story with such advanced english, why don't provide subtitles in various languages? Apparently, the developers thought that their country is the center of the world.

    The atmosphere of the game is cinematic and    It's not a game. If anything, it's just an interactive story, in which the story is boring and unintelligible for non native english speakers. I mean, if you want to narrate a story with such advanced english, why don't provide subtitles in various languages? Apparently, the developers thought that their country is the center of the world.

    The atmosphere of the game is cinematic and unreal, with violins and piano providing a tedious, pompous soundtrack. Not much else to say since there's basically nothing else. You can't even jump or take the objects you find in your path.    … Expand
  35. Storm1672
    Aug 13, 2015
    4
    This little minimalistic piece of art is good for what it is, but is WAY overrated. It's the equivalent (somewhat) of a blank painting being called art. It is too pretentious. I appreciated the details and the Lynch-esque "trying-to-figure-out-what-is-happenning", but the balance is not correct. Too little info. The very few places you will visit along with the shortage in... actualThis little minimalistic piece of art is good for what it is, but is WAY overrated. It's the equivalent (somewhat) of a blank painting being called art. It is too pretentious. I appreciated the details and the Lynch-esque "trying-to-figure-out-what-is-happenning", but the balance is not correct. Too little info. The very few places you will visit along with the shortage in... actual content does not let me appreciate this. Music is great as is the voice over from the narrator. This is not the same kind of simplicity as Journey and definitely does not have the same immersion level. The walking speed and non-interacting will definitely detract from the overall experience.

    I only played it so I can compare it to their latest game, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture.    … Expand
  36. RosstheBoss0
    May 7, 2015
    9
    This game gets a 9 for what it is, which is basically an atmospheric tour across an island trying to piece together a subtle and ambigious story.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this, and comes under the type of game that would leave you questioning what exactly happened throughout while you explore its absolutely beautiful landscape based on the Herbian Islands off Scotland, hence why it is    This game gets a 9 for what it is, which is basically an atmospheric tour across an island trying to piece together a subtle and ambigious story.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this, and comes under the type of game that would leave you questioning what exactly happened throughout while you explore its absolutely beautiful landscape based on the Herbian Islands off Scotland, hence why it is ambigous, it is well worth a look at around £4/5 or $6/7 and will leave you wondering what really happened by the end.    … Expand
  37. 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
  38. 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
  39. 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
  40. BSim500
    Jan 14, 2015
    3
    The "game" is literally 30-40mins long, but because your character has a "forced slow walk" (no run, jump or crouch at all) it pads that out to 60-90mins. Short narration based games aren't bad in themselves, but REALLY SHORT sub-1 hour story-driven games are actually too short to build any sense of empathy or rapport with the main character you're supposed to be "playing". It's over soThe "game" is literally 30-40mins long, but because your character has a "forced slow walk" (no run, jump or crouch at all) it pads that out to 60-90mins. Short narration based games aren't bad in themselves, but REALLY SHORT sub-1 hour story-driven games are actually too short to build any sense of empathy or rapport with the main character you're supposed to be "playing". It's over so quickly any intended tragedy based emotional response is watered down into mildly-disinterest.

    It's also buggy. You get stuck behind 6 inch rocks, and you instantly drown if your head dips below the water in some points even for 0.5 seconds. I actually managed to accidentally break the game within the first 10 seconds by jumping down on the rocks to explore them with the not unreasonable expectation of a grown adult being able to climb back over a 12" rock, and ended up well and truly stuck there forcing a restart. The second time I drowned 10ft away from the shore...

    A quick glance at other reviewers with gushing 10/10 scores reveals half have given 10/10 to every game they've reviewed (which for many is only this one), whilst the other half seem to be the "pretentious snob" crowd that "nouveau art forms" seem to attract with comments like "Ignore the low ratings as they are not the intended audience. This is a work for adults." and "I guess this game is not for everyone, just the intelligent" (which certainly speaks volumes as to who they perceive the "intended audience" to be (ie, the "fake talent with people issues" crowd apparently)...

    Overall : 3 (+1 for effort and +1 each for GFX/sound but nothing else for having literally no game-play or game length). Given there's literally almost no interactivity, I get the feeling the writers simply chose the wrong format for the story and it would have been better off as a 2-3hr short novel / movie / non serialized TV drama rather than a 30-60min fake game.    … Expand
  41. Lord_Truth
    Dec 25, 2014
    0
    This whole game could have been included in a larger trailer. It is no more than one long cut-scene, and the developers and players bluntly lie to you - it is NOT INTERACTIVE. It is NOT AN INDIE ADVENTURE GAME.

    It's an okayish mind-teaser, but it is even below low-quality visual novels and doesn't deserve being paid for. As a free mod or video, this would be nice.
  42. Maestro_Grinder
    Dec 25, 2014
    0
    tl;dr: Interesting and provoking thoughts, but NOT a game, NOT worth money.

    Dear Esther is an artistic work, I cannot deny that, but the creator lost all right for respect and credit when putting this up for sale. There are many modders out there who contribute much greater, albeit different, efforts for free. Whether intentional or not, putting it up here on steam was awfully    tl;dr: Interesting and provoking thoughts, but NOT a game, NOT worth money.

    Dear Esther is an artistic work, I cannot deny that, but the creator lost all right for respect and credit when putting this up for sale. There are many modders out there who contribute much greater, albeit different, efforts for free. Whether intentional or not, putting it up here on steam was awfully misleading and tricked many into buying it, believing it is an actual adventure game. At least everyone I know who bought the game, including myself, sprung that trap.

    It is an insult to all modders out there that this "game" is being sold. The developers of Dear Esther were thrown a lot of money that others deserve more.    … Expand
  43. 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
  44. Tobi_Whatever
    Nov 13, 2014
    4
    The game wants you to explore but there isn't anything to explore. You walk to slow. The game looks boring and unimpressive, maybe aside from the caves.
    The narration is the mayor element of the game. How can the game function if the narration is obnoxious.
    Pretentious is also a fitting word. Even calling it a game is too much. Marketeers would call it an experience, but there is    The game wants you to explore but there isn't anything to explore. You walk to slow. The game looks boring and unimpressive, maybe aside from the caves.
    The narration is the mayor element of the game. How can the game function if the narration is obnoxious.
    Pretentious is also a fitting word. Even calling it a game is too much.
    Marketeers would call it an experience, but there is nothing to experience.    … Expand
  45. 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
  46. Maplestrip
    Sep 30, 2014
    4
    Dear Esther is a beautiful game. Some points were so incredibly gorgeous - you have to see it for yourself to know what I mean.

    However, that is sadly the only thing this game has to offer. Dear Esther has somekind of story, but I find it almost impossible to focus on it as I am walking, and I am not going to stop every time the narrator says something. I've never been good with    Dear Esther is a beautiful game. Some points were so incredibly gorgeous - you have to see it for yourself to know what I mean.

    However, that is sadly the only thing this game has to offer. Dear Esther has somekind of story, but I find it almost impossible to focus on it as I am walking, and I am not going to stop every time the narrator says something. I've never been good with audiobooks, though, so take this with a grain of salt.

    Dear Esther is boring. You are just slowly walking on the island, thinking "shall I approach that house over there and waste my time or shall I continue walking in that direction?" At one point I even got stuck and didn't know where to go. The ending - seeing as I didn't understand the story - was weird and vague. Beautiful, I guess, but that's only worth so much.

    The game has a few cool easter eggs, apparently. A lot of love went into it, so it's too bad it didn't have anything to offer. Once I finished it, I had no intention to ever get back to it. I was happy when it was over as well. I didn't regret playing it, though; it's an interesting experience regardless, but there are better ways to spend your time.    … Expand
  47. 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
  48. LetItBleed
    Aug 8, 2014
    8
    Dear Esther is the kind of video game which is cursed, doomed to be criticized. The reason is gameplay for you only do three things: walk, listen and watch. Formula like this can encourage a fair number of people to confer a title of Walking Simulator - 2012 on this new adventure game from the British developer The Chinese Room, who previously worked on the atmospheric Half-Life 2 modDear Esther is the kind of video game which is cursed, doomed to be criticized. The reason is gameplay for you only do three things: walk, listen and watch. Formula like this can encourage a fair number of people to confer a title of Walking Simulator - 2012 on this new adventure game from the British developer The Chinese Room, who previously worked on the atmospheric Half-Life 2 mod Korsakovia. But on this point gamers should ask themselves a question: do they need another FPS on the rather flooded modern VG-market or are they open for innovative ideas and blending of various kinds of art?
    WASD and a mouse are required to experience this title. Considering this fact, if Dear Esther was the first video game ever made by man, the industry would have been slightly different... However, alternate history theories aside, DE is to be considered as an unusual experiment, which strays from traditional principles of electronic entertainment. Gameplay is stripped of some widespread features: interactive objects, logs and puzzles. It takes away the fun in a traditional sense of the word. Though it may be all of this have been sacrificed for the sake of storytelling and getting more engaging and emotion-focused experience.
    Dear Esther looks and sounds gorgeous. It is not about photo-realistic visuals but about game of light and dark, colors and shapes. The island you explore is alive: grass sways, water flows, caves breathe and glimmer. The result: one of the most impressive landscapes in gaming. The Chinese Room's game is in one league with Dead Space and Skyrim in this category. Sound design is faithfully backing it all up. Here everything - from chilly wind to distant ship horns - sounds so naturally yet somehow not ordinary, unusual. Combined with serene, at times dreadful music it makes a huge impact, immersing one into the atmosphere.
    The storyline is another strong point of the game. Presented in a form of an audio messages, it tells about the man who lives (lived?) on the island as a hermit. He wrote a letter to Esther, supposedly his wife, and messages you hear exploring the island are clippings from this writing. They appear when you reach certain spots of the location. This feature adds some replay value as one can discover new pieces of the story should he visit places he missed in the next play-through. The narrator is brilliant and reminds of the great Richard Burton, who lent his voice for Jeff Wayne's 1978 epic rock opera War of the Worlds. The story raises some major existential questions, leaves room for interpretation, and overall feels like it has been inspired by H.P. Lovecraft works.
    Giving the game credit where credit's due, it is more than just a bold experiment. Dear Esther is an indie title which shows that gaming has grown up and is not just about mashing buttons and shooting galleries anymore. It offers no challenge but challenges your mind. It doesn't pull of any tricks but broadens the boundaries of PC gaming instead, thereby bringing rage upon itself. If your slogan is "No gameplay, no game", there is nothing for you here and there'll never be.    … Expand
  49. 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.
  50. 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
  51. texman
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    Beautiful piece of work.
    Not a game, it's a interactive journey with a slight sad sad mood.
    If you love the sweet calling of nature, with it's beauty, this will please your heart.
    I'm looking forward to see more spiritual games, like this.
  52. artnat
    May 28, 2014
    3
    irst things first - THIS IS NOT A VIDEO GAME.
    This is something you may call an "experience". If you you can call an 'experience' holding "W" for an hour and moving around your mouse a bit while listening to some incoherent pretentious semi-random narration.
    The critics were delighted - 'a game not bound by rules of genres' they said. 'Beautiful narration' they said. If I did not have    irst things first - THIS IS NOT A VIDEO GAME.
    This is something you may call an "experience". If you you can call an 'experience' holding "W" for an hour and moving around your mouse a bit while listening to some incoherent pretentious semi-random narration.

    The critics were delighted - 'a game not bound by rules of genres' they said. 'Beautiful narration' they said. If I did not have to pay for it I would be delighted too, unfortunately none of the reviewers or the game website showed us truth about this product. The hour of holding "w" is not worth 7 euros I paid.

    There is no story in this experience- and the narration is not a true narration - it is a bunch of pretentious aphorisms.
    There is no interactivity in this experience - there is no true "exploration" - you do not explore the island, you go almost a straight path without any real clues.
    However, there are stunning visuals in this experience - to be able to get such beauty from the an old video-game engine is surprising. It is a shame that it was wasted on such pretentious piece of an experience.

    You may say that I am just not getting it - maybe you will be right. But fans of this experience called people not liking it too low-brow to get it. Perhaps

    I would love to really explore the island (Miasmata style, be able to interact with objects even if just to watch them more closely or just move them about. I would love more story than some random sentences recited in the background    … Expand
  53. chowkaideng
    May 21, 2014
    9
    Dear Esther is one of the most beautifully atmospheric experiences you may ever play. Due to its lack of game mechanics, you are free to walk through a desolated island, discovering an epistolary, non-linear story.

    Although it may sound absurd for a gamer, Dear Esther is not about objects to grab, paths to jump, characters to interact with or puzzles to explictly solve. From the    Dear Esther is one of the most beautifully atmospheric experiences you may ever play. Due to its lack of game mechanics, you are free to walk through a desolated island, discovering an epistolary, non-linear story.

    Although it may sound absurd for a gamer, Dear Esther is not about objects to grab, paths to jump, characters to interact with or puzzles to explictly solve.

    From the small details that build the landscapes to the nostalgic soundtrack and impressive sounds ambience of solitude, I garantee you hours of tranquil and peaceful wandering.

    More than a game, it's some kind of an interactive cinematic and very personal experience to dive into.    … Expand
  54. Dolex123
    May 18, 2014
    3
    The interactions in this game are very minor, couple that with the excruciatingly slow walking speed and you have a game that grows boring quickly. However if you can find it cheap enough you may enjoy this short experience.
  55. Sverror
    Apr 30, 2014
    9
    Dreamy dialogue, subtle score and a total lack of guns lift the first-person immersion to new heights. I only wish there was more, but what there is, engulfs. Caves so captivating as to make the inclusion of any contemporary characters within them beyond measure. Carries some of the intentional artistic detail level that was previously hinted at by adventure greats of old (Simon theDreamy dialogue, subtle score and a total lack of guns lift the first-person immersion to new heights. I only wish there was more, but what there is, engulfs. Caves so captivating as to make the inclusion of any contemporary characters within them beyond measure. Carries some of the intentional artistic detail level that was previously hinted at by adventure greats of old (Simon the Sorcerer, Gabriel Knight, I'm looking at you). I found myself tip-toeing on stones not to get my shoes wet, worrying about tripwiring the contents of dense thickets and carefully judging my character's balance. Like travelling to an end of the world with a poet by your side. How odd.… Expand
  56. 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
  57. Arphiax
    Apr 4, 2014
    4
    Like everyone has already mentioned, this is not a game. It is a movie that you have to hold down 'W' to watch so I will rate it as if it was a movie. The story is somewhat interesting I guess, but the pacing is really poor. The character walks around slowly and every once in a while says some fairly vague things until you have pieced together what the whole thing is about. If the storyLike everyone has already mentioned, this is not a game. It is a movie that you have to hold down 'W' to watch so I will rate it as if it was a movie. The story is somewhat interesting I guess, but the pacing is really poor. The character walks around slowly and every once in a while says some fairly vague things until you have pieced together what the whole thing is about. If the story had been presented in around 30 minutes I would have rated much higher, but it took me 100 minutes to complete. That is a good 70 minutes of wandering past rocks, glowing fungus, and things scribbled on walls waiting for the next dialogue to start.
    Giving this game 4/10 might be a bit generous, but considering that someone sent it to me for free I enjoyed it that much. If I had paid much of anything for it I might have been too pissed off the whole time to even like it. Save yourself a couple dollars and watch a play-through video on the internets. Gameplay wise it will be the exact same experience.    … Expand
  58. ericcoutinho
    Mar 8, 2014
    8
    This is an amazing and surprising game, forgetting the endless discussion about definitions on what a game is. It's not conventional, it have few gameplay elements, it's story-driven - an intriguing, mysterious and very beautiful story, by the way.

    It starts very boring and confusing. You have to spend some time, wandering around the island - with beautiful graphics - to catch fragments    This is an amazing and surprising game, forgetting the endless discussion about definitions on what a game is. It's not conventional, it have few gameplay elements, it's story-driven - an intriguing, mysterious and very beautiful story, by the way.

    It starts very boring and confusing. You have to spend some time, wandering around the island - with beautiful graphics - to catch fragments of this story, which are randomly narrated, and may reveal something to you through the journey. But this story will finish with some gaps, leading you to want to play again to catch more fragments and then, possibly understand the full story of Esther and the protagonist, although that story have a lot of metaphoric interpretations too. The journey is full of small well placed elements you can see and add to your interpretation.

    It lasts three hours to me, and after two more hours i'm still thinking about Dear Esther story, my head full of the images, the thoughts, and the music of this really wonderful game.    … Expand
  59. Yerczeys
    Feb 17, 2014
    9
    Make no mistake, this is not an adrenaline junkie twitchfest, and If that's what your attention span demands from a game then don't bother. But if you're driven by mood and story, then this is an interactive piece of art that shouldn't be passed up.
  60. Nicholaz
    Dec 29, 2013
    3
    A pretentious non-interactive corridor walk with nice graphics.

    I have to say I'm probably the intended audience for this game. I read strange books and enjoy them, I listen to strange music and enjoy it, you get the picture. But this is just plain boring. There is no exploration per se, because it's just a walk on rails with lots of invisible walls and bits of narrative thrown at    A pretentious non-interactive corridor walk with nice graphics.

    I have to say I'm probably the intended audience for this game. I read strange books and enjoy them, I listen to strange music and enjoy it, you get the picture.

    But this is just plain boring. There is no exploration per se, because it's just a walk on rails with lots of invisible walls and bits of narrative thrown at you along the ways. The narrator is of the type, who could make a sentence like "I had a cup of tea and then went for a pee" sound like it had deep Shakespearean meaning, but the story (or text bits) just didn't keep me interested at all.

    This might as well be a short movie, a walk over an island with puzzling narrative bits, because honestly, you just keep the W key pressed for forward walking and wait for new bits of text to appear.

    Disappointing, except for the good graphic and sound, which builds a nice background atmosphere.    … Expand
  61. 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
  62. Pier
    Dec 27, 2013
    3
    While it is certainly a beautiful and detailed world, Dear Esther is not a game. When you pay for a game, and expect a game, this is very disappointing. It is closer to a demo for a textuure artist and 3d modeler than a game. Not fun at all, lacks any real narrative and the experience is completely un-engaging. Don't waste your money on this.
  63. DonCanardo
    Dec 24, 2013
    3
    It might be a nice piece of art but it's not a game. It could have been a video I would had the same experience.... Nice graphics & story but absolutely no gameplay.
  64. T0G
    Dec 14, 2013
    9
    It's a bit like walking through someone's memories. Interesting because it is so different to the usual game experience. Not too sure if I would want to do it again, though..
  65. Vag
    Dec 8, 2013
    0
    See the hidden meaning in a piece of or a black square sign unsound mind. This is philosophy-schizophrenic interactive story for those who like a black square.
  66. Evilscaught
    Dec 5, 2013
    9
    BE WARNED: This is not a game! It is a 3D simulation story.

    The story is great, and uses excellent English vocabulary. The graphics are easing and romantic, especially the caves. Do indubitably buy and play this game if you feel like relaxing and walking in a 3D world as you listen to the narrator talk and tell the story.
  67. BrobaFett
    Nov 20, 2013
    4
    Not really a game. More of an interactive story where there is really nothing to interact with. The only positive side of this... thing... is the graphics which are very nicely detailed but there is just absolutely no real objective rather than walk to the end of this slightly confusing and completely unsatisfying path of zero events.
  68. TGMode
    Nov 16, 2013
    10
    A brilliant, beautiful game. Jessica Curry's soundtrack is amazing! I have played and replayed this game and it never gets old. I'm sure it's not for everyone but the way the story unfolds and leaves you to make your own conclusion about what happened.
    Great game!
  69. Arkan01d
    Nov 14, 2013
    4
    Dear Esther is not a game. A game has rewards, mechanics, puzzles, ect. Dear Esther is an audio book designed for a game engine. It has you walk in a designated path to learn a story. Your first walk through you will not get the whole story. You need to walk around another time. The path that you can take is severely limited. There is no real exploring. If you see something intriguing inDear Esther is not a game. A game has rewards, mechanics, puzzles, ect. Dear Esther is an audio book designed for a game engine. It has you walk in a designated path to learn a story. Your first walk through you will not get the whole story. You need to walk around another time. The path that you can take is severely limited. There is no real exploring. If you see something intriguing in the distance then that's it. You've just seen something intriguing in the distance.

    Dear Esther reminds me of shopping for groceries to cook dinner only to remember you need one more ingredient to start and must go shopping again. Then halfway through cooking you run out of something else and have to make a 3rd trip to the store to complete dinner. Dinner wasn't about the multiple journeys you had to take. It wasn't about how long it took to cook. It's just about sitting down and eating a delicious dinner. If, before you began cook, you knew getting dinner ready would take 3 trips to the store you'd probably just quit and order take out.    … Expand
  70. BlacksitePSU
    Nov 13, 2013
    3
    Dear Esther is more of a visual showcase or tech demo than a game. That being said, I cannot recommend this title to a fellow gamer. The story is forgettable and all you do is walk down a very linear path for 2-3 hours. A great example of how a game being different does not necessarily mean it will be good.
  71. 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
  72. DemKin
    Oct 30, 2013
    10
    Couldn't help myself and rated the game 10/10.

    With Dear Esther, The Chinese Room shared their vision of video games, according to which games are not just market products but also evocative of strong, pure feelings. The graphics are amazingly beautiful, the soundtrack is one of the best I've heard, the writing is wonderful... All these things serving this unique gameplay, this unique    Couldn't help myself and rated the game 10/10.

    With Dear Esther, The Chinese Room shared their vision of video games, according to which games are not just market products but also evocative of strong, pure feelings.
    The graphics are amazingly beautiful, the soundtrack is one of the best I've heard, the writing is wonderful... All these things serving this unique gameplay, this unique story, this unique experience.

    A lot of people, not very art sensitive, will hate it, won't call it a game and won't be able to get over the slowness of the character or the game's price but a few others will absolutely love this game, for what it is and what it has to offer a brief, but intense, deep, beautiful and inspiring journey.
    A piece of art.    … Expand
  73. 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.
  74. PlanByHero
    Oct 24, 2013
    4
    Mind numbingly dull; I forced myself to complete it despite how bored I was throughout because I was expecting some revelation to make the game worthy of all the praise thats been heaped upon it (and to get my moneys worth). As others have said Dear Esther isn't a game, its a SLIGHTLY interactive story (interactive in that you walk around and look at things, thats pretty much it). That'dMind numbingly dull; I forced myself to complete it despite how bored I was throughout because I was expecting some revelation to make the game worthy of all the praise thats been heaped upon it (and to get my moneys worth). As others have said Dear Esther isn't a game, its a SLIGHTLY interactive story (interactive in that you walk around and look at things, thats pretty much it). That'd be fine if the story was any good but its not; its a boring and very, VERY predictable. 2 points for trying something different (in spite of failing) and 2 points for the occasionally lovely environments.… Expand
  75. Shadowbane
    Oct 22, 2013
    10
    This is hardly a video game, and more a piece of art. The scenery is breathtaking, the music is spectacular, and the story is eerie. A lot of people won't see this for what it is simply b/c there is little to do except walk around. This is the type of game that you lock the doors and turn off all lights, and sounds and just experience it. Experience the history, the serenity, theThis is hardly a video game, and more a piece of art. The scenery is breathtaking, the music is spectacular, and the story is eerie. A lot of people won't see this for what it is simply b/c there is little to do except walk around. This is the type of game that you lock the doors and turn off all lights, and sounds and just experience it. Experience the history, the serenity, the loneliness, the sorrow or an island world and a mans story. I found the game to be like a good book with the pieces of the narrator slowly filling in the gaps to find out just what has happening, is going to happen, and what once was happening. Though it was short, I felt it was worth every penny of the sale price, and has replay value on the living and breathing world alone. I can't imagine if skyrim had had a world so alive, bright, dark, and dead such as this. What an amazing time for video games we live in. If you play consoles and Call of Duty, you won't be able to appreciate this sort of artwork most likely.… Expand
  76. Lion_Knight
    Oct 17, 2013
    6
    All I can say is this is a very interesting game. It requires a lot of existential thought. Though I can hardly call it a game. It is simply an interactive story. There is really no challenges in the game. Simply walk and look.
  77. Apparentn00b
    Oct 17, 2013
    1
    This "game" has to be the worst "attempt" at a gaming experience that i have seen, do not i repeat do not buy this "game" unless you have a fetish for holding down the w button for a solid hour. it is unreasonably boring drawn out artificially there is no objective no challenge and really no redeeming qualities, if you like these kind of games, get the stanley parable it is leagues betterThis "game" has to be the worst "attempt" at a gaming experience that i have seen, do not i repeat do not buy this "game" unless you have a fetish for holding down the w button for a solid hour. it is unreasonably boring drawn out artificially there is no objective no challenge and really no redeeming qualities, if you like these kind of games, get the stanley parable it is leagues better in every way.

    Quick breakdown of the "game":
    Linear
    No real objectives
    No challenge
    One hour long
    $10 price tag
    No gameplay mechanics
    Not really even a movie
    Most definitely NOT an adventure
    Most definitely not a puzzle, there is no challenge

    Not the "most original first person game this year" (thats a quote from the "developer" i cant even call these people developers because this is such a poor quality piece of garbage)

    the one good thing about this piece of software, is the graphics, it looks decent. really it could have been made in 2007 but its not terrible

    This thing deserves every low rating it has gotten and frankly deserves more.    … Expand
  78. alanas4201
    Oct 17, 2013
    1
    Most boring game i ever played. I never did anything in game just hold W there was nothing to do in there nothing interactive i liked Heavy rain and Beyond two souls, but i hated this game because its nothing, but environments and holding W button that's really sad
  79. metacriticFAN
    Oct 14, 2013
    8
    [Game] Dear Esther I really enjoyed your art movie game thing it was.… fun or something but really I did like it I swear.... Fun to play the whole-game-art-thingymagig with just one hand on the mouse for one hour and then it was over. What was that? I understand that if I play it again then there will random story reconstruction? I guess I better play it again. Released 2012.02 and[Game] Dear Esther I really enjoyed your art movie game thing it was.… fun or something but really I did like it I swear.... Fun to play the whole-game-art-thingymagig with just one hand on the mouse for one hour and then it was over. What was that? I understand that if I play it again then there will random story reconstruction? I guess I better play it again. Released 2012.02 and played 6 months later. Score 8. Firm.… Expand
  80. NorBdelta
    Sep 26, 2013
    10
    A glorious piece of art telling a story through a progressive narrative. Dear Ether is an extremely moving journey of self discovery and acceptance, a truly moving narrative of a mans journey to seek peace. A game that I personally found to tug at the deeper-most emotions I never thought I had. I cant really say any more without compromising the story the game unfolds before you but I canA glorious piece of art telling a story through a progressive narrative. Dear Ether is an extremely moving journey of self discovery and acceptance, a truly moving narrative of a mans journey to seek peace. A game that I personally found to tug at the deeper-most emotions I never thought I had. I cant really say any more without compromising the story the game unfolds before you but I can at least say the Dear Ether is in the top tier of essential games to play in anyones life. I admit the story starts off confusing and quite slowly but as the story is further expanded connections are built and understanding follows with the progress you make.… Expand
  81. Bluefootedpig
    Sep 23, 2013
    2
    No plot, it was a sort of explore, but to me graphics are only good if it feels like I caused them. This is like looking at a high quality art piece. It might speak to you, but for the vast majority of the time, you are just wondering, "what is my role in this".
  82. Erdrick27
    Sep 19, 2013
    1
    This so called game has absolutely no game play elements in it whatsoever. No interaction with the enthronement, not even a run key. The environmental eye candy is nice to look at but you're forced to trudge along at a snails pace while random clips of audio that may or may not have anything to do with what you're looking at play. If you want to recreate the experience for free go for aThis so called game has absolutely no game play elements in it whatsoever. No interaction with the enthronement, not even a run key. The environmental eye candy is nice to look at but you're forced to trudge along at a snails pace while random clips of audio that may or may not have anything to do with what you're looking at play. If you want to recreate the experience for free go for a walk in the woods and talk to yourself.… Expand
  83. Soujirop
    Sep 16, 2013
    10
    Dear Esther isn't like anything u have played before. It isn't about competing, beat enemies, or even interacting with anything. Dear Esther is maybe more like a 3D book than it is a videogame, and in this genre, it's probably the best work ever. It also beats in inmersion, atmosphere and story to most games out there. If you are looking for a completely new and bittersweet experience, andDear Esther isn't like anything u have played before. It isn't about competing, beat enemies, or even interacting with anything. Dear Esther is maybe more like a 3D book than it is a videogame, and in this genre, it's probably the best work ever. It also beats in inmersion, atmosphere and story to most games out there. If you are looking for a completely new and bittersweet experience, and you don't mind risking 10$ in a game that you could love or hate, then go for it and prepare to squeeze your brain to understand this tragical story (even the protagonist's identity remains a discussion among the players!).… Expand
  84. Sboriky
    Sep 11, 2013
    6
    First of all, Dear Esther is not a game. It is a narrated story developed through the Source Engine. There is nothing to do apart from walking till the last map, and listening to the words of the narrator.

    There is not any kind of interaction with the game world. The world is a beautiful painting that you can watch but not touch. The story is slow and quite boring, and want to be too    First of all, Dear Esther is not a game. It is a narrated story developed through the Source Engine. There is nothing to do apart from walking till the last map, and listening to the words of the narrator.

    There is not any kind of interaction with the game world. The world is a beautiful painting that you can watch but not touch. The story is slow and quite boring, and want to be too pretentious.

    Dear Esther has nothing to offer apart from a great artistic and graphic style. It's all about level design, nothing more.    … Expand
  85. Musa3486
    Sep 9, 2013
    0
    This may very well be the worst "game" I ever played.This is more of a demo and even as that feels empty.Its a hour long ambiguous plot of a story.Nothing, is concrete nor explained leaving ppl left to connect the dots.Some ppl would say thats one of the games beauty but from a paid game,it just felt incomplete.
  86. LilD
    Sep 2, 2013
    3
    Dear Esther,

    Your game sucks. You basically just walk through an (admittedly mostly beautiful) environment with no interactivity while you listen to little bits of a mediocre story. You'd expect the island to hold clues, but really just has some nonsense. I sort of knew the premise and was still very disappointed. $10 for this game/experience is very frustrating for a consumer. It    Dear Esther,

    Your game sucks.

    You basically just walk through an (admittedly mostly beautiful) environment with no interactivity while you listen to little bits of a mediocre story. You'd expect the island to hold clues, but really just has some nonsense. I sort of knew the premise and was still very disappointed. $10 for this game/experience is very frustrating for a consumer. It would also be different if there were multiple pathways or something, but it is completely linear destroying all possibilities of any replay value. I would advise to stay away unless it becomes on sale for only a few bucks.    … Expand
  87. parpabico
    Aug 31, 2013
    9
    Beautiful, poetic, fresh, refreshing, short (but then I suppose it had to be short, hopefully in the future more such stuff will follow as the format lends itself well to experiential extension). Overall, awesome experience, a definitively innovative approach to the use of virtual environments.
  88. Drowkin
    Aug 23, 2013
    7
    I am writing this review right after finishing Gone Home (once) and Dear Esther (three times) in a row.

    Where Gone Home is a grounded, no-possible-personal-interpretation story (check my review if you're interested), Dear Esther is the total opposite. Dear Esther is beautiful, eerie, haunting and thought provoking. It takes a more "Lynch-ian" approach of the interactive story genre.    I am writing this review right after finishing Gone Home (once) and Dear Esther (three times) in a row.

    Where Gone Home is a grounded, no-possible-personal-interpretation story (check my review if you're interested), Dear Esther is the total opposite.

    Dear Esther is beautiful, eerie, haunting and thought provoking. It takes a more "Lynch-ian" approach of the interactive story genre. It stuns you with it's visuals, and bashes your skull with a hammer when you reach the end and start to put the puzzle pieces together.

    However... This is clearly not a game for everyone. Dear Esther is the kind of experience that an average gamer would enjoy only when in the right mood.

    It is extremely hard to give a score to a "game" like that. I gave it a 7/10... I think it's pretty generous, and at the same time, I really want to give it a 10/10, because everything in this game is mesmerizing and the island itself will make you feel like you are truly witnessing something special and magical.

    If you are looking for something different, slower paced, open to interpretation, fresh, and far from the AAA crowd, this is definitely a game for you.

    As for me, I know that Dear Esther's unique story and visuals will stay engraved in my memory for a long time.    … Expand
  89. other_reality
    Aug 21, 2013
    9
    While Dear Esther may not be a game in the traditional sense, It sure is an amazing interactive experience. A well-told story, slowly expanding within you while you wander through the absolutely gorgeous landscape. I always enjoyed the atmosphere in video games, and I'm one of those gamers that get silly just watching the sun, or a river if they're nicely designed, even during the break ofWhile Dear Esther may not be a game in the traditional sense, It sure is an amazing interactive experience. A well-told story, slowly expanding within you while you wander through the absolutely gorgeous landscape. I always enjoyed the atmosphere in video games, and I'm one of those gamers that get silly just watching the sun, or a river if they're nicely designed, even during the break of a frantic shoot-out in a good looking FPS. It just takes me there for a while, i get my "fix" of virtual reality, even if that's not that close to it anyway.

    Dear Esther took me there, it gave me my "fix" of virtual wandering about, it gave me the sun and sea gazing, it made me walk slowly but carefully, and almost smell the grass, or the still water inside the caves. It didn't last long enough though, that's my only negative remark about it I'd certainly buy and relive and extended version, or even more, a new production based on this formula anytime. Surely, it's not what you call a game, but it's entertaining, atmospheric and has an artistic value that can -and should- be appreciated     … Expand
  90. MrShark1669
    Aug 10, 2013
    8
    I have to agree that this is not a game, and I was frustrated at first because I was expecting something more along the lines of a horror adventure game. When I started playing I was waiting for something to happen, but nothing ever did, the main character kept telling the story, it was until halfway through the second chapter that I realized that I was not playing a game. I wasI have to agree that this is not a game, and I was frustrated at first because I was expecting something more along the lines of a horror adventure game. When I started playing I was waiting for something to happen, but nothing ever did, the main character kept telling the story, it was until halfway through the second chapter that I realized that I was not playing a game. I was experiencing a retold tale, everything was symbolic in some way to the story your character was telling. At first I was gonna quit, but the graphics, were stunningly beautiful and the story was intriguing. I kept traveling through, taking plenty of screen shots, it was pretty incredible. Unfortunately there is not much replay value in this game, I was not surprised though on most of the reviews found here, I can see where people would be frustrated, as I was discovering I paid for something that should free or next to free.… Expand
  91. Morring
    Aug 9, 2013
    0
    Any number known to man would represent an overrated score for this walking simulator. Dragging your excruciatingly slow character across the island is terribly uninteresting, and the tale being told does not make up for that. If this was actually art, as some would like to believe, you would see at least some creative use of the possibilities of videogames at work, but no, let's just walkAny number known to man would represent an overrated score for this walking simulator. Dragging your excruciatingly slow character across the island is terribly uninteresting, and the tale being told does not make up for that. If this was actually art, as some would like to believe, you would see at least some creative use of the possibilities of videogames at work, but no, let's just walk around while hearing a story. I actually paid money to hear a poor audiobook while exploring a virtual place quite resembling the real world a few steps from home.

    Art can explore new ways to use a particular media, and the greatest works of art may change the way we see that media in a permanent way. This game doesn't even try to explore the possibilities of gaming. If this was a movie there would literally be no difference, except you wouldn't be pressing W. It is not fun, it is not creative, it is not an interesting story, but you can still buy it and tell everybody who says it isn't good that the game is just to deep for them.    … Expand
  92. iseeall
    Jul 29, 2013
    0
    It's not a game. You just run around and listen to random paragraphs of text which doesn't make much sense. Playing this so-called game for free is not worth the time spent, but paying for it is just nonsense.
  93. p1menta
    Jul 21, 2013
    10
    This is not a game. It is a wonderfully sad and beautiful experience. It's worth every minute and penny
    The enviroment is amazing in every way and it's almost impossible not to be engulfed by the depressing and romantic narrative.
    If I could I would vote 15/10.
  94. ritardedartkid
    Jul 20, 2013
    7
    This is an experience, not a game. There is no interaction, no clicking, no shooting, no anything. This doesn't make Dear Esther bad, it's just important to know beforehand that all you're required to do is walk around, enjoy the beautiful graphics music, listen to the narrator, and try to sort out what's going on. Anyone who enjoys thinking for themselves and having to draw their ownThis is an experience, not a game. There is no interaction, no clicking, no shooting, no anything. This doesn't make Dear Esther bad, it's just important to know beforehand that all you're required to do is walk around, enjoy the beautiful graphics music, listen to the narrator, and try to sort out what's going on. Anyone who enjoys thinking for themselves and having to draw their own conclusions will really enjoy this.… Expand
  95. SickBow
    Jul 15, 2013
    8
    Dear Esther certainly has a different way of telling story in a video game, which is probably the cause of the many mixed reviews, but for someone who is ready to experience something different and truly immersive, it's an indie game that is well worth the money. The main draw to the game is the beautifully crafted levels and mountain vistas that were all somehow achieved in Source; a gameDear Esther certainly has a different way of telling story in a video game, which is probably the cause of the many mixed reviews, but for someone who is ready to experience something different and truly immersive, it's an indie game that is well worth the money. The main draw to the game is the beautifully crafted levels and mountain vistas that were all somehow achieved in Source; a game engine that is quickly becoming dated and doesn't handle open environments very well. Despite the technical limitations, the art assets are nothing less than spectacular at a great performance rate and compliment the many mysteries and often eerie situations that the narrative invokes. Many times I found myself stopping to admire the environments and many details that make up the whole game experience. It would also be a shame not to commend the game for its soundtrack, as it has a very mesmerizing quality to it and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game beautifully.… Expand
  96. SrMoure
    Jul 4, 2013
    0
    There is no gameplay. Its NOT a game. extremeky boring, you just walk slowly trying to discover the correct way out there is an annoying story that doesn't matter too much since there is nothing today. Even if u don't pay for this so called game it would be a waste of time
  97. benpaco
    Jun 25, 2013
    2
    The walking is jittery, the graphics are pretty bulky and unimpressive, and the story just isn't good. The sound effects don't even work well. Its like someone took everything good that Proteus had and forgot to put it in this game.
  98. Speed4Runs
    Jun 19, 2013
    7
    Dear Esther is an amazing video/game which has to be explored and understood in order to like it.
    It features a pure realistic and fantastic world with unbelievable graphics and performances, all combined with a great plot. It is a very short game, but really exciting, which can give you a lot of feelings.
    -Technique- Dear Esther featuers the best graphics that have ever been in    Dear Esther is an amazing video/game which has to be explored and understood in order to like it.
    It features a pure realistic and fantastic world with unbelievable graphics and performances, all combined with a great plot. It is a very short game, but really exciting, which can give you a lot of feelings.

    -Technique-

    Dear Esther featuers the best graphics that have ever been in videogames of these last years; they're very clear and very advanced, as well as very clever (there are some "sprites" that are even featured in old games like the first Tomb Raider, but they're put so well in the environment that they look like 3D objects which even make animations when you walk near them, but actually are always in the same position, they just "turn" in your looking direction, which makes great graphics and very high framerate savings). All this must be mixed with, thanks to Source Engine and some great tweaks, a very good/excellent performance, which is really amazing. Light effects and textures are really impressive in this game.

    -Plot and sounds-

    What makes Dear Esther so great is also the plot, which is really intriguing and deep. It seems to contain a lot of metaphors, and what actually happens is relative to player's interpretation. Now, combine all this with some great soundtracks and really creepy sounds, which will make of Dear Esther an excellent video adventure, which will bring you into its finest, melancholic and deepest experience.

    -Longevity and gameplay-

    Unfortunately, the game lasts for a very short time, because you can complete it in no more than two hours (even exaggerating; actually, you can complete it in a hour). Basically, all you do is explore an island and follow some monologues.

    Technique: 8- [7.75]:
    ▪Graphics: 8;
    ▪Performance: 7½ [7.5];
    Gameplay: 7½;
    Plot: 7½;
    Longevity: 3;
    Sound: 8;

    Videogame avg. scores: 7- [6.75];
    OVERALL VIDEOGAME SCORE: 7.    … Expand
  99. AWG
    Jun 17, 2013
    4
    Boring. I really wanted to understand what was behind Dear Esther but I couldn't do that over the amount of boredom this "game" inoculated in me: you can do nothing, you can interact with nothing, you never have to take a decision, a choice. You keep walking and listening, walking and listening. walking a listening.
    It's not a game, it's an audio-book.
  100. Gamer147
    Jun 6, 2013
    9
    Oh wow. Dear Esther was really a delicious treat for anybody who likes philosophical games and the likes. The game features many many clues and possibilities, you, as the player, must construct your own version of what happened. I must admit I was going to give this game a 7, but, it just stuck with me, I couldn't stop thinking about it for about thirty minutes.
    I checked other people's    Oh wow. Dear Esther was really a delicious treat for anybody who likes philosophical games and the likes. The game features many many clues and possibilities, you, as the player, must construct your own version of what happened. I must admit I was going to give this game a 7, but, it just stuck with me, I couldn't stop thinking about it for about thirty minutes.
    I checked other people's thoughts and possible endings and my own version was suddenly there, it made the game SO much better and profound. I got this game along with a bunch of other indie games for a dollar on "Humble-bundle" and man, it was so worth it. This game is seriously superb, you might not catch it at first though, let it sink in, it's worth the wait.

    Warning: This game appeals to a very specific audience of people who appreciate games that are as artfully and skillfully crafted as this one, if you're the casual "Hack & Slash" PC gamer (nothing wrong there, I enjoy those too occasionally), don't play this game as you might be disapointed.    … Expand
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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.
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  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]
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