Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

Does Dear Esther: Landmark Edition run on Windows 11, Mac, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Expected to work. It is sold for Windows today and no problem is on record. Source
Windows 10	Yes. The store lists it in the system requirements. Source
Windows 7	Yes. The store lists it in the system requirements. Source
macOS	Yes, it is sold with a Mac version. Older 32-bit Mac versions do not start on macOS 10.15 or later. Source
Linux	Through Proton: ProtonDB rates it Platinum (runs perfectly out of the box). Source
Steam Deck	Verified by Valve: it works great on Steam Deck. Source

Minimum operating system on the store page: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10. What these mean.

Synopsis

You walk alone across a bleak, uninhabited island off the Scottish coast while a narrator reads fragments of letters addressed to a woman named Esther. There are no puzzles or enemies; you explore beaches, cliffs, and caves at your own pace and piece together the story from the narration. This edition rebuilds the original in a new engine with remastered audio and a commentary mode.

What people say

Reviewers consistently praise the island's visuals, the voice acting, and Jessica Curry's score, and they find the loose, open-ended story thought-provoking. The main criticisms are that the game is only about one to two hours long and offers almost nothing to do beyond walking and listening. Some critics found the writing vague or predictable, and several felt the remake adds little for people who already played the original. Steam players are mostly positive, reflecting a split between those who value the mood and those who want more gameplay.

Watch the video essay and read its transcript →

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 5 / 5

• ✓ Sold today from an official store
• ✓ Runs on current Windows without fan patches
• ? Single-player works without an internet connection (not checked yet)
• ? All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks) (not checked yet)
• ? Supports modern resolutions and widescreen (not checked yet)
• ✓ Full controller support or remappable controls
• ✓ Steam Deck Verified or Playable, or a native handheld version
• ✓ No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
• ✓ No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
• ? No known game-breaking bugs in the current version (not checked yet)

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked with a question mark count once someone has checked them.

Design today

Not judged yet. Someone has to play it first: we check whether the controls, menus, saving, onboarding, pacing and camera still feel good next to games made today.

Sources

1. Metacritic: Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
2. Steam: Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
3. Game Revolution: Dear Esther: Landmark Edition Review
4. KeenGamer: Dear Esther: Landmark Edition Review (PS4)