This will be one of, if not, THE most unique "game" you have ever played.
It is a living narrative, conveyed in the perfect medium.
No book, no movie or painting can portray the telling of this story as a game can.
That is to say, Dear Esther has only one button and that is a slight focus or soft zoom of the camera.
So what IS Dear Esther?
It's an experience.
It's an experience that is the most unique, most heartfelt game I have ever played - without the game itself actually delving into specifics.
You see, Dear Esther's narrative is entirely dependent on your actions as an observer, the paths you take and the hidden objects and memorabilia you gaze upon.
As you progress through the adventure, and I do mean adventure in the literal sense, you will find many interesting bits through this setting, this world; and the narrator will comment as you go along - however each comment is not the same as someone else play through...
Your actions dictate the story in small subtle parts that you may not even notice until you play it a 2nd time or more. The different routes to take for example will lead to another telling - even though that other path was just feet away from the one you are on.
Gazing over a cliff leads to yet another narrative you might have missed if you opted to gaze at the ocean for a narrative.
This story is not just about about a voice booming in your head: It is also about the aesthetics, the visuals - and boy did they do them well.
When traversing the small, yet seemingly rich island, you'll be thrown into visceral environment that doesn't stay the same for very long.
One moment you'll be walking through the swaying grass from the soft blowing wind, next, you'll encounter a strange effigy with strange patterns and marking and what seems like blood; only to turn around and find yourself delving into a cave.
In fact Dear Esther takes you to a lot of places, both visually and spiritually as you delve deeper and deeper into the mystery that is Dear Esther.
This story will draw you in wanting more, and it will deliver.
In short, Dear Esther is an experience you shouldn't pass up. It's a game that's hard to explain without giving anything away and even harder to review.
At just over an hour long the price of $9.99 on steam is well worth it.
Being so original and genuinely captivating; it's not just worth your money: it's worth your time. Every second of it.
9/10