We Love It's Guide to…
Walk a remote Hebridean island, finding letter fragments and following a shifting, ambiguous story through exploration.
Released 14 Feb 2017
Explore a Hebridean Island
Follow Fragmented Letters
Explore Coastal Caves
Dear Esther immerses you in a stunningly realised world, a remote and desolate island somewhere in the outer Hebrides. As you step forwards, a voice begins to read fragments of a letter: 'Dear Esther...' - and so begins a journey through one of the most original first-person games of recent years.
Developed by The Chinese Room, Robert Briscoe · Published by Secret Mode
You explore a remote, desolate island in the Outer Hebrides as a first-person wanderer. A narrator reads fragments of a letter, alongside memories and clues that suggest the island’s mysterious past.
The main activity is walking and observing: follow the island’s routes through coastal landscapes, abandoned places, and caves. Certain locations trigger narration, while interaction with the environment is minimal and there is no combat.
Some narration and environmental details vary between playthroughs, leaving room to interpret how the fragments fit together. An optional Directors’ Commentary mode adds the creators’ thoughts on the game’s design and production.
Players who enjoy slow, contemplative experiences often praise the island’s lonely atmosphere, striking landscapes, and evocative music. Some appreciate piecing together the fragmented story for themselves, while others find it too cryptic; the minimal interaction and slow walking pace are also recurring drawbacks.
'A deserted island... a lost man... memories of a fatal crash... a book written by a dying explorer.'
Dear Esther immerses you in a stunningly realised world, a remote and desolate island somewhere in the outer Hebrides. As you step forwards, a voice begins to read fragments of a letter: 'Dear Esther...' - and so begins a journey through one of the most original first-person games of recent years.
Abandoning traditional gameplay for a pure story-driven experience, Dear Esther fuses its beautiful environments with a breathtaking soundtrack to tell a powerful story of love, loss, guilt and redemption.
Every play-through a unique experience, with randomly generated audio, visuals and events.
Explore incredible environments that fully immerse you in the haunting island and its mysterious past.
A poetic, semi-randomised story like you've never experienced in a game before.
Stunning soundtrack composed by Jessica Curry, featuring world-class musicians.
An uncompromisingly inventive game delivered to the highest AAA standards.
Dear Esther: Landmark Edition has been remade with the Unity engine, featuring a full audio remaster, and the addition of a brand-new Directors' Commentary mode, allowing players to explore the island and learn what inspired the game and how it was crafted by The Chinese Room and Rob Briscoe.
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 10 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller support | Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Website | Official website |
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