What are the best Walking Simulator games on Steam?

Options
Considered

User
Recs.

Dec 6, 2023

Last
Updated

Specs

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Narrative, Adventure, Walking Sim

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Adventure, Interactive Story

Platforms

Windows, Linux, Mac

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

Narrative, Adventure

Platforms

Platform

Playstation 4, Steam

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

First-Person Survival, Sandbox

Platforms

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, macOS, Linux

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Genre

Adventure, Narrative

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Jan 29 2015

Multi-Player

Single Player

Yes

Available Platforms

PC / PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / XBox One

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Genre

Horror, Adventure, Puzzle, Narrative

Platforms

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Overwhelmingly Positive

Genre

Adventure, Narrative

Platforms

PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Xbox One, Linux, macOS

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Mostly Positive

Genre

First-Person Exploration

Platforms

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Linux, macOS

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Simulator

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

Single Player

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Mostly Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Narrative, Walking Sim, Adventure, Puzzle, Investigation, First Person

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Mostly Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Mostly Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Narrative, Puzzle

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

First Person

Steam Rating

Mixed

Genre

Platforms

Windows

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Steam Rating

Very Positive

Genre

Mythology, Puzzle

Platforms

Platform

Release Date

Multi-Player

Single Player

Available Platforms

Co-Op

POV

Pros + Cons

Pro
Fantastic voice acting

There are two leads with each being voice acted in a believable way in how they interact. The relationship presented in the story is given credence due to how well it is acted.

Comment

Pro
Excellent story

Firewatch is an exploration game with a strong focus on its main story which makes you ask "what comes next?" like a good book or enthralling movie.

Comment

Pro
Great atmosphere

You get lost in the world playing as Henry, it even ends up getting a little spooky. It never shows how it's spooky but there's always that creepy vibe in the background.

Comment

Pro
Based on exploration and storytelling

Firewatch is basically a exploration game with a very strong focus on the main story. No need to kill enemies or compete with other games online.

Comment

Pro
Beautiful graphics

The graphics look great with a canvas effect.

Comment

Pro
Adds interaction to the "walking simulator" genre

Unlike many walking simulator game the player is allowed to interact more with the environment than expected. User can repel down ropes, collect caches of items and even adopt a pet.

Comment

Pro
Adds a sense of human connection

[add description]

Comment

Con
Short game

It maxes out at 5 hours of play, which is a bit short, though it is priced fairly for the time one gets.

Comment

Con
Tremendous build up in story, only to have a lackluster finale

Once the player progresses far enough into the game there are plot thread wrap-ups that seem a bit too convenient and overly rushed.

Comment

Pro
Easter Eggs / References

The game has references to other narrative games through items and dialog.

Comment

Pro
Relatively non-linear storytelling

There are some parts of the story you can miss or obtain out of order, but it does not take away from the narrative structure.

Comment

Pro
Good Ending.

The Ending was mature and metaphorical, in a way every intelligent adult can appreciate.

Comment

Con
Story feels a bit weak

Once the player progress far enough into the game there are moments that are left unexplained that were once thought to be important as well as wrap ups that seem a bit too convenient.

Comment

Con
In some parts the game locks you from entering areas

It might sound obvious but sometimes the invisible walls don't feel right, they are put in places you should be able to walk.

Comment

Con
In earlier versions, you can lose the one page that explains part of the plot

You could drop a paper with important information into a crevice to where you can't pick it up again.

Comment

Excellently crafted, hilarious writing delivered by a well spoken, charismatic British narrator. Kevan Brighting has become somewhat of a cult success since the game due to its cult like status which just shows how deserving he is due to how well done the narration of the game is done.

Comment

Pro
Points out narrative limitations in games by encouraging breaking narrative structure through gameplay

The game encourages players to explore decisions that would change the meaning of the presented story. What if you took a left turn where the game asked you to take a right? What if you decided not to push a big red button needed to continue playing because you didn't agree with pushing the big red button? What if you died in a boss battle? How would that affect the narrative of the game? The game rewards you for not following the "intended" narrative structure of the situation in order to point out how the structure is unavoidable in games as a whole. The process of attempting to break the structure can be highly satisfying in The Stanley Parable and can help you better notice limitations of narrative in other games.

Comment

Pro
The game has a lot of different endings to find

There are numerous ending to the game that appear to play out even when the player makes the same choices as their last playthrough.

Comment

Pro
simply the best

what more can be said?

Comment

Pro
A few nods to other games can be seen throughout the game

References to other games including Half-Life 2, Portal & Minecraft can be found throughout the game.

Comment

Pro
Insightful commentary on state of game design

The game tackles topics such as ludonarrative dissonance, choice in games, narrative limitations, etc while mostly focusing on the relationship between the game and the player in terms of storytelling in a very meaningful, educated and entertaining way.

Comment

Pro
Discusses the illusion of choice in games

One of the main themes of the game is the illusion of choice that's presented in games. While a player can make a vast number of decisions in the game, the narrator reminds the player he can only make decisions that the game allows him to and how the game manipulates the player into making them. The narrator points out that not just common choices such as what path to take to get from point A to point B, how to approach a certain situation or what ethical choices are available are limited to the game's designers having thought of and implemented those aspects of the game, but decisions such as purposeful suicide, not taking action, disobeying instructions and even turning off the game are only there if the game allows them to be there.

Comment

Con
More an interactive story than an actual game

The Stanley Parable is not much of a game in the strictest sense but more an interactive story or interactive "art".

Comment

Pro
Instills a sense of wonder

From the opening scene to its final moments, What Remains of Edith Finch, seeks to instill a sense of wonder through it's detailed game world. The house itself is a mix of various unconventional architectural styles and flavors. From it's towering bedroom spires to it's dark, claustrophobic basement, each area of the house is different and varied with different decor and textures. Moving from room to room is sometimes done with interesting travel mechanics such as secret passages that act as a seamless transistion between two vastly different rooms. This makes each area feel fresh, new, and exciting. The player is never quite certain what they're going find beyond the next door, which instills a deep sense of wonder of what other secrets the house holds.

Comment

Pro
Mysterious story

This award-winning story takes us step-by-step through the tragic and mysterious history of the Finch family. We learn of all the family members, the stories of their lives, and how they met an unfortunate and untimely end. By it's thrilling conclusion, the player has been led on a strange journey filled with all sorts of reveals, surprises, and plot twists. At the end, the game closes by answering the titular question: What exactly does remain of Edith Finch? At the beginning of the game, the player is informed that teenager Edith is the last living member of her family. She speculates and half-jokes that her family suffers from some kind of curse. Throughout the family's history, all of the members have met unfortunate and bizarre deaths. The origins and nuances of the alleged curse are a mystery to Edith and the player alike. The overarching storyline for the game expands deeply on this mystery and features two major themes as it progresses. The first theme is Edith's journey through the sprawling house as she tells of her childhood growing up there. Through Edith, we get to hear family stories and learn of the struggles the family has endured over generations. She comments about the family members as she goes from room to room telling us pieces and parts of her past. As the game progresses, much is revealed about Edith and her family through her tales and observations. The second theme revolves around the various family members and how they met their untimely demises. During the course of the game, the player relives memories of the various family members. These memories are always tragic events that result in an untimely or strange death for those involved. By seeing the story not just through Edith's eyes, but the eyes of the deceased as well, we get a complete, deeper and more intimate look into the lives of the family.

Comment

Pro
Expert pacing

The game sets an excellent pace by never giving players a chance to become bored. While detailed and varied, each room only has a handful of objects that can be interacted with. This limited interaction ensures the player will never linger in a single room too long and acts as a gentle nudge to keep moving onward. This encourages a comfortable pacing that allows the player to explore at their own pace, yet doesn't allow for much downtime between important story elements.

Comment

Pro
Amazing attention to detail

Every room in the Finch house is unique in decor and style, and plays its part in telling the story. No two rooms in the game are alike and each is filled with it's own charm and personality. While exploring the hallways and rooms of the sprawling home, the player will find various notes, photos, trinkets, and old momentos. While not all can be interacted with by Edith, the player is still free to zoom the camera in for a deeper look. Old photos and post-it notes often contain untold stories for the player to ponder. When Edith is narrating, the words she is speaking appear within the gameworld and then dissappear with a variety of different effects. They melt, burst, and fade away depending on her emotions. When Edith mentions a specific object, the words will take shape around that object. This is much more involved than the simple subtitles that most games opt to do.

Comment

Pro
Every story features a new gameplay mechanic

As Edith travels throughout the house and surrounding areas, she will encounter objects that tell the history of the various family members and how they met their demise. Upon inspecting the objects, an interactive story will be triggered and the player will take on the role of the family member portrayed in the story. Each one of these stories has its own gameplay mechanic, making for a new gaming experience each time a piece of the family history is discovered. For example, when exploring the room of a young, imaginative child named Molly, the player will come across a handwritten story hastily scribbled in crayon. By examing this note, the player assumes control of Molly for the duration of the tale. This particular story involves taking on the form of different animals and hunting various prey. By the time the story ends, the player not only learns about Molly and her imagination, but they also learn of how Molly met her end. Throughout the game, you will experience the memories and last moments of each family member in unique and interactive ways.

Comment

Pro
Mixes gameplay and narrative in a way that support each other

The interactive and animated captions provide hints for gameplay and the narrative only continues with gameplay.

Comment

Con
Short playtime

The game doesn't take very long to complete and can be comfortably completed within a few hours. This may be a turn off for some players who are hoping for a longer experience.

Comment

Con
No interactive puzzles

There are no puzzles to solve in this game, which can be a dull experience for some. The narrative is told as the player goes room by room without any puzzles or roadblocks for the player to overcome.

Comment

Pro
Four difficulty levels to suit all skill levels

Regardless of your skill level, you will be able to find a difficulty level that suits you and satisfies your craving for a good challenge. This game features four different difficulty levels, making it accessible to a broad range of players. The easiest mode is Pilgrim and it offers a gaming experience suitable to all players where dying is a rare occurrence. For beginning players, Voyager is recommended as it gives you a forgivable way to learn the basics. After that, the difficulty takes a strong curve upwards into the remaining two modes: Stalker, and Interloper - with the latter being considered a very challenging gaming experience only recommended for expert gamers and those who desire a true video game survival challenge.

Comment

Pro
Story mode adds a new way to play

For those who desire a story to go with their survival gaming, The Long Dark offers a fully voiced-acted, five chapter story mode called "Wintermute" complete with cutscenes. It features all the survival gameplay aspects of the sandbox version, as well as story quests and character development, making it an engaging, new way to experience all the game has to offer. In the story, you'll assume the role of a man trying to survive in the harsh Canadian wilderness after crashing his plane during a geomagnetic disaster. Rather than just a no-bones survival situation, you'll be working through an actual storyline as you head for safety. As you progress the story, you'll have the opportunity to do quests, watch voice-acted cutscenes, and interact with other characters who are fighting for their lives as well. This pulls you even deeper into the game world since you now have a real goal to work for - escaping the harsh wilderness alive. Story mode adds a deeper layer of immersion via storytelling than the sandbox mode, which is only about surviving as long as you can. Though currently not all of the chapters are available as they are released episodically over time.

Comment

Pro
Realistic survival elements make you feel a part of the world

You'll feel like you're living in true survival situation, and the game does an excellent job of placing the player in the role. This game features elements of survival that are very close to the real world, creating an enriching gaming experience for those who want a realistic survival challenge. You will have to keep an eye on your calorie intake, monitor your body temperature, and even craft and wear clothing appropriate to the harsh arctic environment. Staying outside too long after dark can kill you via hypothermia. The wildlife is dangerous and can injure or kill you - as the animals are starving too. You can starve to death if you forget to eat, or run out of food. Death in this game is permanent, and will require you to start the game over.

Comment

Pro
Complete freedom to explore the open-world

The game features a massive, open-world sandbox mode in which there are no quests to gate your progress, or artificial boundaries to exploration. The only goal is to survive as long as possible, and to do it by whatever means possible. This free-exploration, open-world design offers plenty of space to roam for those who want to enjoy a more open playstyle without the hindrances of time gates or quest mechanics. Whether you choose to salvage for supplies, hunt the local wildlife, start cooking fires, or simply just take in the view - the freedom to explore and interact with the world in your own way is endless.

Comment

Con
No tutorial

There is no tutorial or learning mode. When you start the game, you have to figure out how to survive in this harsh world on your own. Some say this adds to the experience, but for many, this can be overwhelming especially in a survival game where everything can -- and will -- kill you.

Comment

Con
No multitasking

Most actions in the game have a small wait time, and you can only perform one action at time. For example, if you search an item, boil water, repair your clothes, or salvage anything, you will have to stop and wait until the action completes.

Comment

Con
No jumping or climbing

You cannot jump or climb over fences, rocks, or other obstacles meaning sometimes you will have to take the longest route possible to reach your destination.

Comment

Pro
Good balance between surviving and exploring

There is a delicate balance between exploring and surviving, and every aspect of gameplay is closely related. The amount of activity the player performs and the distance they can travel and explore, are balanced around certain metrics such as time, warmth, and calories - and all of these game systems are closely related resulting in a finely tuned experience. For example, eating food replenishes calories, but in order to find food, you have to explore and salvage which causes you to burn calories in the first place. The player must watch how many calories they burn, even when sleeping, and make sure they find or hunt enough food to keep themselves going. On top of this, the player needs to seek shelter from the cold, make sure they are wearing the appropriate clothing, and build fires to stay warm and cook food. During your explorations to salvage supplies and look for food items, you will need to explore carefully as to not get stuck without a place to sleep for the night.

Comment

Con
In early access

This means the game is not finished yet and may never be finished, so buyer beware. Though what is on offer is a pretty good experience with few to no bugs the game experience is still less than what is promised.

Comment

Pro
Great story

Life is Strange expertly portrays a teenagers life during high school, capturing all the good and bad emotions, while also adding a supernatural twist. The main character and her issues are relatable, side characters are interesting, and the plot twists are very unexpected. The story as a whole is very enjoyable, keeping you on the edge of your seat most of the time.

Comment

Pro
Choice based gameplay with a twist

Your character can rewind time, so you can undo any recent choice or action, allowing you to try out different ones. This feels really awesome since in most games you'd have to reload your save or replay through entire sections just to view the other choices.

Comment

Pro
A well-polished experience

Excellent voice acting, great story, smooth lighting, detailed object/level design, extensive number of people and objects to interact with, and even amazing music. Everything about the game makes it very enjoyable to play.

Comment

Pro
Addresses some adult issues

Has LGBT characters, homelessness, fears from a poor economy, working class characters, and addresses drug dealing, gun safety, and date rape.

Comment

Pro
Uses time travel as a game mechanic

The protagonist's time travel powers are needed to solve puzzles.

Comment

Con
Some audio sync issues

In addition to poorly done lip syncing, character voice lines sometimes overlap as well. You might not understand what's being said unless you turn on the subtitles. It can be really annoying at times, even with subtitles.

Comment

Con
Choices feel a little lacking

While there are many choices in Life is Strange, most of them have no long term impact on the story. The only noticeable changes are the dialogue lines and what scenes you get. While this adds some nuances to your journey, the destination is ultimately the same.

Comment

Pro
Gorgeous, state-of-the-art graphics

During development, real objects were photographed, scanned, and put into the game world using a process called photogrammetry. As a result, everything in-game renders as photo realistic without jagged lines or appearing pixelated. Everything from buildings and trees down to the smallest details like rocks and blades of grass look great.

Comment

Pro
Immersive atmosphere

While wandering the landscape, it's easy to believe you are exploring an old forest and town lost to time. The buildings are run down and decrepit, the roads and railroad tracks are overgrown with grass, and save for the chirping of birds or the river babbling, it is eerily silent. Exploring around and poking into every dark corner of the vast wilderness, one can't help but feel a complete sense of awe and become fully immersed in the mystery.

Comment

Pro
Very surreal and mysterious storytelling

While the game starts out with the premise of a detective trying to solve the disappearance of a young boy, the story quickly takes a sharp turn and begins mixing in some very surreal, strange themes. These themes border on the paranormal and supernatural, and it quickly becomes apparent this is not a clear cut missing persons case. During the course of the game, the story keeps you guessing and invested as you try to figure out exactly what's going on. Additionally, due to the way you explore the nonlinear world, you might be witnessing events out of order which makes it even more mysterious.

Comment

Pro
Incredible texture work

Using state of the art techniques, the game was able to pull off a level of realism never seen before.

Comment

Pro
The puzzles utilize space and locations

Puzzles include walking through buildings and landscapes as part of the puzzle itself instead of just information gathering.

Comment

Pro
Challenging and rewarding puzzles

The puzzles require great observational skills with many clues being found only after thoroughly exploring the location in which the puzzle resides. Oftentimes, these clues are very discreet, well hidden, and integrated into the environment in creative ways. Piecing everything together can be quite a challenge at times as the puzzles provide no instructions, but also very rewarding as bits of the story are revealed after each successful solve.

Comment

Pro
Heavily exploration based

With the exception of a few storyline gated or locked areas, you have the freedom to explore the entire game world from the very beginning. From the dark forests to the run down old houses, you can wander and go wherever you please, stopping to enjoy the scenery or investigate locations at your leisure. There are no linear story paths to follow and most of the puzzles can be completed in any order. This unhindered exploration allows you to explore the world and unravel the mystery completely at your own pace.

Comment

Pro
Interesting Ending

[add description]

Comment

Con
Unsatisfying story

[add description]

Comment

Con
Simplistic gameplay

There is very little direct interaction with the world outside of solving puzzles and reading notes. Much of the game is simply walking around and exploring. From time to time, you will stumble upon a location in which you can manipulate items to solve the various puzzles, read notes, and watch story cutscenes play out.

Comment

Con
Repetitive puzzle solving

Without revealing spoilers, almost every major puzzle in the game is solved using the exact same logic. While the puzzles themselves are thematically different, the way you approach them and the mechanics they use are the same. After you've figured out how the first one works, you'll be applying the same basic principles to every puzzle in the game thereafter.

Comment

Con
Puzzles can go unsolved

The puzzles contribute to the story and the story lacks when the player can continue without finishing a puzzle.

Comment

Con
Pacing feels unbalanced

There is one notable part of the game where the player spends an uneven amount of time in that the environment is lackluster as well as holds many frustrating puzzles. This makes for what feels like unbalanced pacing and is an aggravating section of the game.

Comment

Con
Horrible character models

They are very plain and look almost cartoonish in nature, which is a stark contrast to the photo realistic environment they inhabit. The same level of work that went into the game world didn't quite make it into the character models, and as a result, they are disappointingly bad.

Comment

Pro
Runs at 1080p and 60fps

[add description]

Comment

Con
Not much dialogue

For a game that is heavily steeped in storytelling, there is a surprisingly low amount of actual dialogue and spoken lines. While it doesn't detract much from the experience, some people might be expecting a lot more writing for a game that boasts its story as a selling point.

Comment

Pro
Ability to cap at 30fps

Users who do not like to see frames dropping can set the game to play at a constant 30fps in the settings.

Comment

Con
Framerate drops from 60fps

There are framerate drops in the game but they never go below 30fps and do not tear due to the progressive vsync.

Comment

Con
.

[add description]

Comment

Pro
The simplistic gameplay is surprisingly fun

Running around the side-scrolling town as Mae day in and day out is more enjoyable than it sounds at first. It's mundane, but there's a lot of meaning to find around the town if you're willing to look for it. You go wherever you want, finding out stories about the townspeople and the town itself, or hanging out with friends for scripted story moments. Poking around all over town to find out the history is pretty cool, like the underground diner that Mae used to steal from back in the day, or the old shopping mall that barely gets any customers anymore. When you're not talking to people or going somewhere, you can play around with the rhythm mini-game as you practice with Mae's bass either in her room or in her old band with her group of friends. You can fall into a nice habit of checking in with the NPCs and locations you care about most, almost like in real life where you prioritize the people and places you spend the most time around.

Comment

Pro
Great coming-of-age story

The coming-of-age story in Night in the Woods is unconventional for a video game, making it more unique and intriguing. After dropping out of college, the main character, Mae, struggles with her own disillusionment in life and refusal to grow up, all the while her old friends find success and move on without her. You join in on that struggle as you live as Mae: aimlessly going around town talking to everyone and listening to their worries, browsing your laptop when you're supposed to be doing other important things, and even pressing a button to wake up in bed every morning as a reminder of how mundane life can be. You see all the ways she doesn't necessarily want to grow up, wishing she could stay a kid forever, but then she talks to an old acquaintance who thinks she's washed up now, making her feel anxious about her failings as a young adult. This type of story is familiar for anyone who has also had a hard time with similar problems, and eye-opening for anyone who hasn't.

Comment

Pro
Tragic, realistic setting and NPCs

Night in the Woods is set in Possum Springs, once a booming mine town but now a forgotten speck on the map, rife with poverty and decay. Its history is based on several real Adirondack towns, and its portrayal of rural decline is painfully accurate. The townspeople you talk to lament about having to close down their businesses, or wonder out loud how they'll make ends meet. Everyone's economic hardships feel real and relevant to anyone who's gone through the same thing or knows someone else who has.

Comment

Pro
Well-written side characters

Every character feels like they have a history and realistic personal motivations, even when they're left unexplained. Mae's friends are all different yet interesting in their own ways, like Gregg who's always happy to see her and helps Mae feel like someone truly cares, and Bea with her biting sarcasm and apathy that seem to cover up her more complex issues. The residents of the town also talk about things in ways that are true-to-life, like how they gossip about their neighbors as you listen in, or just flat-out tell you sometimes to leave them alone. Every character in the game feels like a real person, whether they're central to the story or just one of the NPCs you see sitting on their porch all the time.

Comment

Con
Some pacing issues with the story

The story slogs through the premise of Mae's anxieties and disillusionment for a long time until it suddenly switches somewhere in the middle. There are a few hints here and there about how and why the plot becomes a murder mystery, but these things seem inconsequential and not as important as Mae's personal issues. It ends up feeling strange to change things up partway through to something unrelated to the original premise. While the murder mystery isn't necessarily bad, it would have been nice to see a more focused insight and resolution to Mae's young adult troubles.

Comment

Con
The main character is insufferable at first

It's hard to like Mae from the start for a few reasons. She's extremely self-centered, she likes to steal for the thrills, and she has no interest whatsoever in fixing her shortcomings. Her life seems to be one awkward moment after another where you can't help but cringe in embarrassment, like in one early scene where she gets drunk at a party and blabs away about her personal problems after spending hours telling herself she wouldn't. As you get to know her, Mae might grow on you, but if you're the type to lose your patience with people who are immature, then you probably won't like her all that much.

Comment

Pro
Eary isolated landscape

The game really pushes this aspect of isolation well thanks to the graphics in the game and showing a featureless landscape. This creates immersion into the story and setting of the game.

Comment

Pro
Simple mechanics

Focus more on aesthetics and atmosphere than any complex controls, which makes the games mechanics easy to understand and control.

Comment

Con
Hints make the game too easy

While the included hint system may be nice for those that get stuck in the game it does destroy the wandering aspect of the title if used too often, which makes the game a lot easier and destroys some of the atmosphere.

Comment

Con
Confusing focus

Game plays like horror repackaged as family saga partway through production.

Comment

Pro
Deep environmental storytelling

Through interacting with objects in the environment of the game (a house) one is able to learn piecemeal the story that the game is set out to tell.

Comment

Pro
Interesting side stories

Besides the main story there are several side stories in the game that center around the rest of the people who live in the house. Through interacting with objects in the house one learns of the surrounding circumstances of those that live there.

Comment

Con
Very short

Game can be completed within an hour or so.

Comment

Con
Drab graphics

It all seemed really boxy and plain.

Comment

Con
Story assets and dialog conflict

The place the mother works at changes throughout the story among other details.

Comment

Con
Main story feels badly written

[add description]

Comment

Con
Weak voice acting

While most of the voice acting is adequate there are many moments that stick out as poorly done and lessens the experience of the game.

Comment

Pro
Short gameplay

Only about 90 minutes to two hours long. Not everybody has hours and hours of time to invest into a game. Something you can finish in a two or three hour sitting works for some.

Comment

Pro
Narrative driven experience

There are no waypoint markers, no quests, in fact nobody else in this world except the player and the narrator. Hike through the world and discover the inner workings of this person’s mind.

Comment

Pro
Complex backstory

Although the game can be finished in approx. 2 hours, this does not mean that it has been completed. The object of the game is to determine the back story by examining all the clues scattered through the levels. Did you really find all the clues? Have you worked out the story? Are you sure?

Comment

Pro
Pervasive sense of isolation, loneliness, and mystery

The game takes place on an abandoned island, so in a practical sense the player is alone. Add to that that this is a bit of a ghost story and mystery becomes enwrapped within the isolation of the island making for what is as much of an experience as it is a game that makes for a feeling and sense of loneliness and despair that often is only found in real life.

Comment

Pro
Gorgeous, intricately detailed environments

There is no arguing that the scenery and graphics in Dear Esther is jaw dropping gorgeous. Due to how nothing can be interacted with the environment can be rendered in a much more beautiful way as not much needs to change while walking around.

Comment

Pro
Can be relaxing

Just sit back, relax, and spend some time with Dear Esther. The experience isn’t long and there’s no pressure to go past the pace you want to go. While it does have a sense of loneliness and isolation the graphics are beautiful and the music is soothing which also lends a hand in the relaxedness of the title.

Comment

Pro
Outstanding soundtrack

The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful which suits the games visual atmosphere quite well.

Comment

Con
Short gameplay

Only about 90 minutes to two hours long which is pretty short for a game and can easily be finished in a single sitting.

Comment

Pro
You'll think a lot about this game

Its story will haunt you for a while.

Comment

Pro
Goes against a lot of conventions

To a point when it's hard to find an analogous game (the closest one being The Stanley Parable, which is still pretty different), this game is unique in its tone.

Comment

Pro
Non-gamers can enjoy it

Since it combines narrative with unconventional, simple action, the game can be enjoyed by people who don't enjoy games that focus on gameplay.

Comment

Con
Almost as much replayability as a regular book can give

There's no much sense to start it again unless you're into re-watching movies, for example.

Comment

Con
Not for people who like action

The most action here is reaction. You look, you listen, you sometimes gasp, you think. You're not required to collect any special things, there's no multiplayed by definition; the mechanics are inside of you: "to watch", "to listen", "to think".

Comment

Pro
Well-crafted experience

The voice-acting and level-design do a great job of building the narrative in the player's mind.

Comment

Con
Can be difficult to understand

Some people may not find the game interesting or moving, and (due to the nature of the narrative) might misunderstand what it's saying.

Comment

Pro
Works well on low resource hardware

This is great for those that do not own a dedicated gaming rig and just have a low resource system such as a laptop or low priced tower since more people will be more likely to own such a device, which makes for a great introduction to gaming while not having to sink a large amount of money into a rig.

Comment

Pro
Beautiful

There is beauty in the simplicity of this game's art style.

Comment

Pro
Simple mechanics

Proteus is more a walking simulator than a game, which makes it a great introduction to the controls of a first person view title as that is all one will really do, walk around. There are no real goals to the game other than walking to advance the seasons of the environment in order to see them. No confusing settings, no skill tress or complicated mechanics, which is great for people that find those types of things confusing or too stressful.

Comment

Con
Pretty short

The game can be finished in about an hour, or even less if one is rushing. So while the game is fun to experience, once completed one knows pretty much what to expect and may not make for the best option when considering the cost compared to longevity.

Comment

Con
Short

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Atmospheric

[add description]

Comment

Pro
Deeply layered

While there is little in the way of interaction, what is presented to the player is a deeply layered town with many areas to explore. It gives a sense of "realness" that makes for an experience much in the way art or music does, sometimes visceral sometimes eliciting past memories.

Comment

Pro
Fragmented story the player must figure out

The way the story is told matches it's overarching plot of dementia, so that the story is giving in pieces and not in order requiring the user to make the investment to piece it all together and come to their conclusion.

Comment

Con
Side quests are relatively hidden from the player

For those that go into the game blind there is little in the way of explanation that there are side quests hidden in the game that relate to certain objs=ects as one explores. This means that many players will miss a large portion of the title.

Comment

Pro
Non-linear storytelling with a structure

Although the story is pieced together through documents scattered around the town, the acts of the story open for each player once they've gotten the information for the act they are currently in. It's great for those who love to research, snoop, and ask questions.

Comment

Pro
Open exploration

You go where you think you'll find the next clue.

Comment

Con
Story feels flat

The game really focuses on ambiance and looks more so than story, which means if one wants an entertaining story this may not be the game for them.

Comment

Pro
Interesting mix of architecture and colors

The game feature different areas that have completely different feels to them due to the use of architecture and colors. One area may look like a temple and use the color blue a lot while another may use modern architecture of concrete blocks and use the color red a lot. This makes for areas that are not only different in looks but gives a sense of exploration as you never know what will be next.

Comment

Pro
No real story

Sometimes you just wanna get high and see surreal cool stuff. You don't always feel like reading and getting involved in a story.

Comment

Pro
Can walk with right click

You can walk like normal with WASD. But you can also just use right click on the mouse to move forward. A feature more walking simulators need.

Comment

Pro
An engaging story

The main thrust of the story is figuring out what has happened to the population of a small English village. However along the way you'll meet dozens of fleshed out characters with their own lives. It does dip its toe in melodrama and soap opera occasionally but I found it fascinating.

Comment

Pro
Beautiful graphics

[add description]

Comment

Con
Walking speed

Takes the 'walking simulator' genre to heart. The player character can only walk (slowly) or very slowly build up to a slow jog. It shouldn't matter as there's lots of pretty to see, and interesting characters to meet but inbetween the hamlets of the village it can get a bit tiresome.

Comment