Dear Reader (video game)
| Dear Reader | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Local No. 12 |
| Publisher(s) | Local No. 12 |
| Designer(s) | Eric Zimmerman |
| Platform(s) | iOS, macOS, tvOS |
| Release | September 19, 2019 |
| Genre(s) | Word puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Dear Reader is a word puzzle game developed by Local No. 12. and released in September 2019 for iOS, macOS and tvOS as a launch title for Apple Arcade.[1]
Gameplay
[edit]Passages from classic novels and poems are displayed 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]
Further reading
[edit]- Ehrhardt, Michelle (April 7, 2016). "An upcoming puzzle game tasks you with decoding classic literature". Kill Screen. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
References
[edit]- ^ Khan, Imran (September 19, 2019). "A Comprehensive List Of Apple Arcade Launch Games". IGN. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Biersdorfer, J. D. (June 2, 2020). "With These Literary Puzzlers, the Game's Afoot (and in Hand)". The New York Times.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory (May 9, 2016). "Kickstarting Losswords: a mobile game you play by unscrambling passages from great literature". Boing Boing.
- ^ Donlan, Christian (September 23, 2019). "Dear Reader is a delightful game of wordplay". Eurogamer.
- ^ Woodward, Tyler (October 11, 2019). "Apple Arcade: 'Dear Reader' Review – A Word Puzzle Game for Any and Everyone". TouchArcade.
- ^ Partleton, Kayleigh (August 3, 2020). "Call of Duty: Mobile takes home two accolades at International Mobile Gaming Awards". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
