Essays on Empathy

A collection of short narrative games exploring different people's lives

Deconstructeam · Published by Devolver Digital · Released May 18, 2021

Reviews: Mostly Positive; 79% of 200
Recent reviews: Not enough recent
Players: 1; daily peak, Oct 28, 2026
Steam Deck: Playable
Last update on Steam: 5 years ago; Aug 22, 2021
Minimum PC: 1 GB RAM; Full requirements

What is Essays on Empathy?

This single-player anthology contains ten 2D games with point-and-click, puzzle, and visual novel elements. You play characters including a hitman employed at a flower shop, a schoolgirl convinced her skeleton isn't hers, and two struggling comedians trying to succeed.

For you if...

+you enjoy unconventional premises and experiments with game mechanics
+you prefer brief character studies over lengthy adventures

Not for you if...

−you expect elaborate gameplay systems rather than small experiments
−you prefer lighthearted stories without heavy personal themes

What players say

79% of 200 reviews are positive

Players praise the documentaries and developer commentary for explaining the studio's creative process. Recurring complaints include uneven polish, awkward controls, and restrictive windowed-mode settings.

Screenshots and trailer

Essays on Empathy system requirements

Minimum: 1 GB RAM.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Essays on Empathy?

The published requirements do not name a graphics card we can compare.

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Minimum

OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 x64
Processor: Intel Pentium D 915 (2800 MHz), AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (2600 MHz) or equivalent
Memory: 1 GB RAM

Does Essays on Empathy have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Single-player

Does Essays on Empathy 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 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
Achievements: 20
Steam features: Family Sharing, Trading cards
Languages: Text only: English.

Does Essays on Empathy 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