Dear Reader (video game)

Dear Reader is a word puzzle game developed by Local No. 12. and released on September 2019 for iOS, macOS and tvOS as a launch title for Apple Arcade.[1]

Dear Reader
Developer(s)Local No. 12
Publisher(s)Local No. 12
Designer(s)Eric Zimmerman
Platform(s)iOS, macOS, tvOS
ReleaseSeptember 19, 2019
Genre(s)Word puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay edit

Passages from classic novels and poems are displyed as pages and the player is challenged with tasks such as correcting the word order or rearranging phrases. The challenges are time-based depending on the player's preference and completing a passage rewards them with ink. Cheerful music and sound effects accompany the challenges.

Development edit

Dear Reader was released by Local No. 12, developers of party game Metagame, for iOS, MacOS and tvOS for Apple Arcade subscribers on September 19, 2019.[2] It was crowdfunded on Kickstarter as Losswords in May 2016.[3] The game uses public domain books like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Claude McKay's Harlem Shadows and Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain's Sultana’s Dream.[2]

Reception edit

The New York Times found it to be inventive and nimble, evoking "close reading".[2] Eurogamer said it keeps adding new ideas and a sense of panic to figure out "someone's voice".[4] TouchArcade said it to be relaxing and found it to be educational.[5]

It won Best Meaningful Play at the 2020 International Mobile Gaming Awards.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Khan, Imran (September 19, 2019). "A Comprehensive List Of Apple Arcade Launch Games". IGN. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Biersdorfer, J. D. (June 2, 2020). "With These Literary Puzzlers, the Game's Afoot (and in Hand)". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Doctorow, Cory (May 9, 2016). "Kickstarting Losswords: a mobile game you play by unscrambling passages from great literature". Boing Boing.
  4. ^ Donlan, Christian (September 23, 2019). "Dear Reader is a delightful game of wordplay". Eurogamer.
  5. ^ Woodward, Tyler (October 11, 2019). "Apple Arcade: 'Dear Reader' Review – A Word Puzzle Game for Any and Everyone". TouchArcade.
  6. ^ Partleton, Kayleigh (August 3, 2020). "Call of Duty: Mobile takes home two accolades at International Mobile Gaming Awards". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved July 1, 2021.

External links edit