Dear Esther Review

Game image Dear Esther
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Posted: 13 months ago, last updated 10 weeks ago.

Author: @GeekDadGamer and @JonahMonaghan.

OverviewOverview

In Dear Esther you explore an uninhabited Hebridean island while an old man reads a series of letters to his eponymous deceased wife. Themes of love, loss, guilt and redemption intertwine with the bleak geography and orchestral music. As you explore the derelict remains of buildings, shipwrecks and caves, you find a story that must be interpreted to make sense.

DetailsGame Details

Rating: PEGI 12+, ESRB TEEN

Release Date: 14/02/2012

Platforms: Mac, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Genres: Adventure, Narrative and Open World

Developer: @ChineseRoom

TipsTips

View our choice of games like Dear Esther. This game is good if you want to:

CommitmentCommitment

Duration: This game will take between 1 and a half hours and 3 hours to complete.
 
Players: This is a single player game.

CostsCosts

Does not offer in-game purchases, 'loot boxes' or 'battle/season passes'.

This game is free with Origin Access.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Rated PEGI 12 with infrequent mild swearing. Examiner expands on the rating: The director’s commentary features the phrase ‘holy *!@?*!’ The narrator makes several references to taking large amounts of painkillers, with phrases like ‘I swallow fistfuls of diazepam and paracetamol to stay conscious’.

ESRB rated this TEEN with Drug Reference and Language.

AccessibilityAccessibility

Accessibility for this game is as follows:

Difficulty

How you can adjust the challenge of play, and assistance the game offers when you fail or get stuck.

Cognitive Pressure

Reaction-time Not Critical: Individual game actions don’t need quick reactions.

Low Pressure: Game tasks aren’t time-limited or with a high emphasis on performance. Or there is a low pressure play-mode available.

Save Anytime: The game automatically saves progress or you can save any time, and not lose progress.

System Settings

Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators. PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping). Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games... read more about system accessibility settings.

Supported by PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors: @GeekDadGamer


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