Dear Esther: Landmark Edition (2017)

Developer: The Chinese Room, Robert Briscoe
Publisher: Secret Mode
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Free To Play
Rating: 3.7 of 5, 7,468 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.3 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A somber, atmospheric walk through a desolate island, driven by a fractured, poetic narration and a haunting soundtrack.

atmosphericlonelyreflectivemeditativehauntingslow-pacedstory-drivenmelancholic

What players say

Players are divided on Dear Esther. Some praise its atmospheric storytelling and beautiful island as an emotional, meditative work. Others find it too slow and tedious, with almost no interactivity, just walking and narration. The game is very short, typically under three hours.

Screenshots

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition screenshot 1

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition screenshot 2

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition screenshot 3

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition screenshot 4

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition screenshot 5

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition screenshot 6

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More by The Chinese Room

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.