MyDear.exe is a beautiful little love story that had me hooked from the first folder to the last
I loved MyDear.exe. I sat down with it on my ROG Xbox Ally X and ate the whole thing up in one go. Around two hours later, I had experienced a lovely, intimate story, met two characters I genuinely cared about, and maybe shed a few man-tears along the way. That's a pretty good return for an afternoon.
You play as Ellie, exploring the folder system on an old family computer that her husband Lucien has prepared for her. Its files hold photographs, letters, minigames, and memories of their long life together. As you dig through them, you get to know the couple and the two lovely pets they picked up along the way.
I've seen MyDear.exe described as a “Foldervania,” and I can see where that comes from. You navigate through folders, find clues and passwords, and open up more of the computer as you go. Personally, I'd describe it as a visual novel with more to do than simply move from one screen of text to the next.
Where 1997 RELOADED mostly had me reading and following its story, MyDear.exe asks me to poke around and piece things together. Opening a picture or reading a letter feels like finding a little part of someone's life, and the next locked folder gives you a reason to pay attention to what you've discovered.
There are also simple minigames scattered throughout the computer. They usually only require one or two inputs, so don't go in expecting anything especially complex. They add a bit of variety to the browsing and reading, though, and fit the playful nature of Lucien's gift. You're spending time with the things that matter to these characters, even when you're clicking through a silly little game.
The story is the reason to play, and I don't want to say much more about where it goes. Discovering those moments for yourself is a huge part of the experience. What I can say is that Ellie and Lucien's relationship feels real. The writing and voice acting give their conversations a warmth that made me feel connected to them, and the small details of their shared life make the emotional moments hit that much harder.
I also love how the old computer presentation brings everything together. Clicking through folders and opening pictures feels like rummaging through a collection of personal keepsakes. There's a little curiosity in every new file: what am I going to learn about these two next? The game doesn't need a massive cast or a long runtime to make their story matter.
Playing on the Ally X does come with an annoying catch. The game works on the handheld, but it clearly feels better suited to a mouse and keyboard. Moving the cursor with an analog stick gets the job done, yet it never feels as comfortable or precise as using a mouse.
The bigger problem is entering passwords. There are quite a few of them, and while the Ally X has a handy shortcut for bringing up the Windows keyboard, doing so kept hiding the game screen for me. Having to deal with that repeatedly pulled me out of the experience. It's playable on a handheld, but if you have a mouse and keyboard available, I'd recommend using them.
Even with that frustration, I enjoyed every bit of my time with MyDear.exe. It's a short, affordable game with a creative way of telling a story that feels personal and heartfelt. If you have an afternoon free and want something that might make you smile and tear up in equal measure, give it a go. Thanks for reading!
