It’s been over four years since Dear Esther first appeared on PC, and The Chinese Room is finally bringing their debut game to consoles.
Seen as one of the founding games of the Narrative Exploration genre (sometimes more commonly referred to as walking simulators), Dear Esther paved the way for the likes of Gone Home and The Chinese Room’s more recent, and much loved, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. Taking place on an abandoned island in the Hebrides, players step into the shoes of a man exploring the island and uncovering the mystery of a woman named Esther.
The new version of the game, called Dear Esther: Landmark Edition, will hit PS4 and Xbox One September 20 for $10. Featuring remastered audio, a graphical improvement with the port to Unity 5, and even trophies and achievements, the game will also come with other extras. The Landmark Edition will include a new commentary from Writer and Producer Dan Pinchbeck, Artist and Level Designer Robert Brisoe, and Composer Jessica Curry.
Dear Esther Lanmark Edition will also make its way to Mac/PC in the next few months. It will be a free download for anyone that already owns the game.
For PS4 gamers looking to get a taste of The Chinese Room’s magic, or remind themselves why a game from The Chinese Room is well worth getting excited over, don’t hesitate to pick up Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture. We loved it in our review, praising it as “astoundingly beautiful,” and saying it has “one of the best soundtracks ever made for a video game.”