Dear Devere

About

Dear Devere is a single player action game with romance, mystery and historical themes. It was developed by Jasmine Osler and was released on May 29, 2020. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

A romance/mystery visual novel set in 1930s Scotland, told through a letter correspondence.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews

story42 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game features beautiful visuals and superb voice acting that enhance the storytelling experience.
The writing is engaging and emotional, allowing players to connect deeply with the characters through their letters.
As a free visual novel, it offers a charming and heartwarming story that is perfect for a short play session.

The story feels rushed at times, lacking depth and leaving players wanting more.
Limited interactivity and choices may leave some players feeling disconnected from the narrative.
The overall experience is quite short, which may disappoint those looking for a more substantial gameplay experience.

story
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The story is a charming and engaging love tale told through letters, set in 1930s Scotland, that combines romance with elements of mystery and magic. While many reviewers appreciated the beautiful visuals, voice acting, and the unique epistolary format, some noted that the narrative felt rushed and lacked depth, leaving them wanting more. Overall, it is a short, sweet experience that resonates with those who enjoy heartfelt storytelling, despite its predictability and brevity.
- “I sincerely apologize, but the one shortcoming is that this exquisite love story was far too brief, leaving me longing for more.”
- “There is so much to love in such a short story, from the heartfelt romance and distinct characters to the exquisite art and beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The story is gripping.”
- “The story is short (around 1 hour to finish) and kind of cliché, but it is romantic and woven with mystery, magic, and werewolf elements.”
- “In fact, the only portion where you, the player, get to interact with the story is nearly at the end of the so-called game; and even when you finally get to interact, you won't really feel like you have a massive effect on the characters or the force of the story at all.”
- “The art of each letter is very good and the voice acting professional, but the story was disappointingly twee, somewhere between the company of wolves and Outlander.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
20%
13%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beautiful illustrations and immersive quality, enhancing the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the charming art style and attention to detail, particularly in the envelope artwork, which adds a unique touch to the visual narrative. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The visuals in the game really help immerse you into the story that's being told, and they're so beautifully illustrated.”
- “Dear Devere was an absolute joy to play, the visuals stunned me as if I was walking through a gallery that I didn't want to end and the voice acting was gorgeous and rather ominous at times.”
- “Each letter is removed from an envelope beautifully 'drawn' upon, these graphical depictions either relating to an event that has just happened, one that may be impending, or with some other connection to the main characters.”
- “A non-anime visual novel with voice acting and only letters for visuals.”
- “Graphically, the game is simple, and yet delightfully rewarding.”
- “I don't usually take much interest in short form visual novels, but this really caught my attention with the letters text and just attention to detail in its simple visuals.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
8%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing significantly to the emotional depth of the story. While some players noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive, the general consensus is that it complements the visuals and voice acting well, creating a charming and immersive experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, adding to the game's appeal as a free visual novel.
- “There is so much to love in such a short story, from the heartfelt romance and distinct characters to the exquisite art and beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The music is gorgeous and sets such a lovely atmosphere, the voice acting is on point and adds so much personality, the art is beyond; such creativity for a short game, and what to say about the story itself: it is simply phenomenal.”
- “A beautifully made short visual novel with great writing, visuals, acting, and music.”
- “The music is nice but annoyingly repetitive.”
- “The voice acting and the music are quite riveting, but the overall story has some potential.”
- “The game is free and there is also a free soundtrack.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Dear Devere" is highlighted by its beautifully crafted letters, resonant voice acting, and a heartwarming narrative that evokes a range of feelings. Players appreciate the touching romance, distinct characters, and the overall magical experience created by the exquisite art and soundtrack, making it a genuinely moving visual novel.
- “What was pleasantly surprising was how exquisitely crafted these emails were, and how the voice acting for the main characters was so perfectly matched and emotionally resonant that it was genuinely moving.”
- “There is so much to love in such a short story, from the heartfelt romance and distinct characters to the exquisite art and beautiful soundtrack.”
- “These letters are touching and fun, featuring adorable art, excellent voice acting, and beautiful music.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, with players noting the meticulous attention to detail in the art, music, and voice acting. The combination of these elements creates a captivating environment that enhances the storytelling and overall experience, showcasing a thoughtful design that effectively balances what to include and what to omit.
- “I also love the way the atmosphere was handled; I was immersed in minutes.”
- “The atmosphere is so well crafted, and it shows in the care and love that resides in the hidden meanings of little details.”
- “The music is gorgeous and sets such a lovely atmosphere; the voice acting is on point and adds so much personality. The art is beyond; such creativity for a short game, and what to say about the story itself: it is simply phenomenal.”
- “Design is such that character sprites would not benefit the atmosphere – it is a skill to recognize what to leave out sometimes, and this has been achieved with aplomb in both display and text.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The gameplay in this visual/interactive novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue with limited choices that lead to a couple of different endings. Overall, it lacks substantial interactive elements, raising questions about its quality and suitability for publication.
- “A fun play on the 'visual novel' convention of gameplay.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “There's no real gameplay, just a few choices later in the story that lead to two (?) different endings.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or even 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its sharp wit and clever observations, as exemplified by a remark about the minimal demand for a book, suggesting a satirical take on niche interests. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to deliver humor that is both insightful and amusing.
- “The funny thing is, if you wanted to print this book, you'd only need to print 12 copies to satisfy the entire world's demand for it.”