Good Game Get! Dear Esther

Dear Esther is a beautiful first person game in which through slow pacing and player patience; a narrative unfolds before you. The world is incredibly encompassing and heartbreaking and my afternoon became lost in it’s folds.

The environment design in Dear Esther is one of the best I’ve ever seen and I dare say it - it has the most intelligent linearity I’ve seen as well. The game simply knows where you’ll try to go and will re-route you in the most organic and polite way possible. It’s a story on rails, but it’s charm lies in it’s inevitability.

It’s a humbling experience that will effect the player in different ways depending on maturity and life experience. It’s endearing to know that the things I’ve felt whilst playing the game are different than what others may feel.

However, it is also important to note that the connectedness hopefully felt by players of the game is something important as well. Differing play experiences aside, something universal can still be found within the game’s heart.



Pardon my slant towards ambiguity, but to truly know this game you should probably play it.

Just know that I approve of it.

- Kyle