When comparing MirrorMoon EP vs Dear Esther, the Slant community recommends Dear Esther for most people. In the question“What are the best Exploration games on Steam?” Dear Esther is ranked 15th while MirrorMoon EP is ranked 31st. The most important reason people chose Dear Esther is:
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.
Specs
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Pros
Pro No other life forms
All of the planets in the game do not have any inhabitants making for a very solitary feeling title.
Pro Explore a vast universe
The game allows the player to explore unnamed worlds in order to solve puzzles on them, through this exploration the player gets to visit a vast universe of unexplored planets.
Pro Far different than any game you'll ever play
The central hub of the game is a vast array of dials and switches that are sparsely defined making for a very explorative environments, from there you will go to many different planets that have crazy color designs. While a very solitary title due to no life forms on these planets it gives the player a chance to really absorb the different worlds and their own control panel.
Pro Basically no instructions
Pro Zen gameplay about discovery
Pro Best soundtrack
Pro Beautiful world
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pro Outstanding soundtrack
The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful which suits the games visual atmosphere quite well.
Cons
Con Can get boring
The nature of the game allows for what can become quite boring in that there is little guidance and also little to see making for an experience that can become quite "samey".
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.