Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
Give it 2 hours
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 3 reviews are negative (33%); after 4h it's 1 in 9 (11%).
- Fully opens up by hour 4.
- 65% of players who start reach the ending.
- The biggest drop-off is between “Donnelley” (Finish Chapter 'The Lighthouse') and “Jakobson” (Finish Chapter 'The Buoy'): from 100% to 76% of starters.
- Only 55% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 7,761 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 213 reviews: 2h for positive, 1.4h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (55.4% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Donnelley Finish Chapter 'The Lighthouse' 100%
- Jakobson Finish Chapter 'The Buoy' Most players quit here 76% −24
- Esther Finish Chapter 'The Caves' 70% −5
- Paul Finish Chapter 'The Beacon' 65% −5
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (10)
story milestone ending side
- Donnelley Finish Chapter 'The Lighthouse' 100%
- Seonaidh Drown Once 87%
- Jakobson Finish Chapter 'The Buoy' 76%
- Esther Finish Chapter 'The Caves' 70%
- Paul Finish Chapter 'The Beacon' 65%
- Stac an Armin Die from falling off a cliff once 58%
- Man of the Rocks Walk 5000 steps 43%
- Seanchaidh Trigger all voice over points 27%
- Tuir Uncover 4 urns 21%
- Mullach an Eilein Trigger all director's commentary 18%