When comparing Gunpoint vs Dear Esther, the Slant community recommends Gunpoint for most people. In the question“What are the best short games on Steam?” Gunpoint is ranked 29th while Dear Esther is ranked 30th. The most important reason people chose Gunpoint is:
Players can choose how they play as stealth is not a prerequisite, players can run and gun if they feel like or even go around setting traps.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Stealth is not forced
Players can choose how they play as stealth is not a prerequisite, players can run and gun if they feel like or even go around setting traps.
Pro Movement is precise and empowering
Movement is very fluid in the game and works very well, which is needed for a platformer. It is fun jumping around and there are no consequences when falling too far, so it allows for plenty of experimenting on where one can travel in a level.
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 Extremely short
The man story can be beaten in under 3 hours, which makes for a pretty short game.
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.