To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the seminal Dear Esther, it’s currently free to own on Steam.
We can’t quite believe that Dear Esther is ten years old – double digits already! This narrative exploration title sees players make their way around a remote Scottish island while they soak in a moving tale of love, loss and guilt. It’s a game that’s inspired many others in the years since its release, and one of the earliest titles to be dubbed a “walking simulator”.
As reductive as that genre label may be, it’s a testament to Dear Esther that it’s still as relevant now as it was 10 years ago. Games that have come since – like Gone Home, Firewatch and What Remains of Edith Finch have all drawn inspiration from Dear Esther. And so if you’re yet to play it and have enjoyed any of those others, it’s well worth jumping into.
It won’t take you more than a few hours to complete, but it’s a few hours spent in gorgeous scenery (yes, even after 10 years!), enjoying stress-free gaming and getting lost in a compelling and beautifully-narrated story. What more could you want?
Make sure you head over to Steam today or tomorrow to add Dear Esther to your library for free. There’s no catch; simply sign into your account and click the ‘Add to Account’ button. We do love a good freebie.
