Roger Ebert notoriously claimed that games (at least for the foreseeable future) could not be art. Many replied with numerous examples, which he shot down. One example was Flower, which it was claimed wasn't eligible for discussion as it didn't tie in with his definition of a game. Dear Esther is less of a game than Flower, and even more likely to be art.
One game I did play recently that has some similarities is Journey- both have a very different feel, but they are both pilgrimages, both focused on death and rebirth. And both beautiful, although Journey is appropriately light and sparse, where Dear Esther is dark and rich.
Roger Ebert would claim It doesn't feel like a game, but I can't imagine the story working in any format. And whilst this is more of a curio than a piece of entertainment, it's a provocative one that stretches the limits of the medium.
7.5/10
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