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Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

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.

Steam Page
Publisher
Release
February 14, 2017
9 years and 171 days ago
Steam Reviews
Mostly Positive7,489 reviews74.6%

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Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
The publisher operates under public or major corporate control.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
A public or major corporate publisher has a material publishing role.
Search Google: How is Dear Esther: Landmark Edition and Secret Mode funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Dear Esther: Landmark Edition and The Chinese Room and Robert Briscoe?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.
The game was released through a separate publisher.

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About the Game

'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.

Key features:

  • 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.