Dear Reader (video game)
{{short description|2019 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Dear Reader
| image = Dear Reader logo.jpeg
| developer = Local No. 12
| platforms = iOS, macOS, tvOS
| released = September 19, 2019
| genre = Word puzzle
| modes = Single-player
| designer = Eric Zimmerman
| alt =
| publisher = Local No. 12
}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Imran |date=2019-09-19 |title=A Comprehensive List Of Apple Arcade Launch Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/09/19/a-comprehensive-list-of-apple-arcade-launch-games |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=IGN |language=en}}
Gameplay
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
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. It was crowdfunded on Kickstarter as Losswords in May 2016.{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=May 9, 2016 |title=Kickstarting Losswords: a mobile game you play by unscrambling passages from great literature |url=https://boingboing.net/2016/05/09/kickstarting-losswords-a-mobi.html |website=Boing Boing}} 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.
Reception
The New York Times found it to be inventive and nimble, evoking "close reading".{{cite web |last1=Biersdorfer |first1=J. D. |title=With These Literary Puzzlers, the Game’s Afoot (and in Hand) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/books/review/with-these-literary-puzzlers-the-games-afoot-and-in-hand.html |website=The New York Times |date=2 June 2020}} Eurogamer said it keeps adding new ideas and a sense of panic to figure out "someone's voice".{{cite web |last1=Donlan |first1=Christian |title=Dear Reader is a delightful game of wordplay |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/dear-reader-is-a-delightful-game-of-wordplay |website=Eurogamer |language=en |date=23 September 2019}} TouchArcade said it to be relaxing and found it to be educational.{{cite web |last1=Woodward |first1=Tyler |title=Apple Arcade: ‘Dear Reader’ Review – A Word Puzzle Game for Any and Everyone |url=https://toucharcade.com/2019/10/11/apple-arcade-dear-reader-review/ |website=TouchArcade |date=11 October 2019}}
It won Best Meaningful Play at the 2020 International Mobile Gaming Awards.{{Cite web |last=Partleton |first=Kayleigh |date=3 August 2020 |title=Call of Duty: Mobile takes home two accolades at International Mobile Gaming Awards |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/74074/call-of-duty-mobile-takes-home-two-accolades-at-the-international-mobile-gaming-awards/ |access-date=1 July 2021 |website=pocketgamer.biz}}
References
{{Reflist}}