ESC
An interactive novel about identity, roleplay, and dreams
Lena Raine · Published by Radical Dreamland · Released May 15, 2020
- Reviews
- Very Positive
- 98% of 111
- Recent reviews
- Not enough recent
- Players
- 1
- daily peak, Oct 28, 2026
- Steam Deck
- Playable
- Last update on Steam
- 6 years ago
- May 8, 2020
What is ESC?
This single-player interactive novel takes place in a near-future network connecting human minds. You progress through simulated typing, alternating between Raine's memories of the text-based world VerdaMUCK and the perspective of a mysterious figure called the Navigator as a conspiracy unfolds.
For you if...
- +you enjoy unconventional science fiction and slow-building mysteries
- +you prefer a short experience built around reading
Not for you if...
- −you want active gameplay beyond progressing through text
What players say
98% of 111 reviews are positive
Players praise the music and writing. Several describe the plot as confusing, though some consider its ambiguity part of the appeal.
Screenshots and trailer
ESC system requirements
Minimum: Yes, 0 GB RAM, 0.1 GB of disk space.
As published by the developer.
Can my PC run ESC?
The published requirements do not name a graphics card we can compare.
Set up my PC →Minimum
- OS
- Something released after 2010
- Processor
- At least one
- Graphics
- Yes
- Memory
- 32 MB RAM
- Storage
- 98 MB available space
Does ESC have co-op or multiplayer?
No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.
Does ESC run on Steam Deck?
Playable Playable: it runs on Steam Deck with some adjustments.
- Default controller config not fully functional
- Sometimes shows mouse, keyboard or non-Deck controller icons
- Some text entry requires manually opening the on-screen keyboard
- Some in-game text is small and may be hard to read
- Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
PC version details
- DRM
- None declared on Steam
- Controller
- Keyboard and mouse
- Platforms
- Windows
- Steam features
- Family Sharing
- Languages
- Text only: English.
Does ESC use AI-generated content?
No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.
Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 27, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam
