The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Gaming NexusRandy Kalista

9/10

When it comes to psychological scares, this whodunit of a ghost story introduces you to your own worst enemy: Being inside your own head. You may anticipate more horror than you'll actually run across, but that's a horrific thought in its own right.

Impulse GamerAdmin

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is probably one of the most amazing looking games on the PC, especially if you have a high-end system as it looks quite

WellPlayedKieran Stockton

8.9/10

A mind-bending and atmospheric mystery in a town that time forgot.

Press StartJames Berich

8/10

There are some elements in place to help guide the player but they are done so in a way that doesn’t ruin the mystery of the puzzle although sometimes these err on the edge of being way too obvious. Finding a hole in the wall and seeing Paul think “Fire-Axe shaped recess” was helpful to me as a player but kind of jarring to the game’s atmosphere. Similarly, if you’re looking for an object, there is a dowsing system of sorts that can point you in the general (and we mean very general) direction of an object too.

VideogamerTom Bardwell

8/10

No summary available

Nintendo LifeVikki Blake

8/10

As the credits roll on this brief but powerful experience, you'll realise a lot is left open to interpretation. For some, that's to be expected. For others, it'll be infuriating. Prospero rarely seems to be in a hurry – even when he bloody should be – and as such, his plodding pace is very much a gamer's Marmite; you'll either love it or hate it… but good grief is this a mystery worth solving.

But that’s another debate for another day. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is one of the most beautiful games ever developed, and backs its aesthetics up with some of the finest Lovecraftian narratives that we’ve seen in interactive form. It’s a compelling argument for games as art, in other words, and not just because it makes for some awesome digital postcards.

Attack of the FanboyDean James

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter may not be a long journey, but the breathtaking visuals and atmosphere are enough to captivate most anybody on their way to solving a number of mysteries that all play a part in the overall story.

TheSixthAxisDave Irwin

7/10

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter might be less involved than a lot of mystery games, but it is by no stretch any less fascinating, beautiful or immersive. Its haunting atmosphere sucks you in with its unsettling vibe, but it’s the mystery that keeps you there until the very end. It may not be the longest game, but if the supernatural intrigues you even a little, then this one case worth taking.

Game RantRob Keyes

7/10

Play it all the way through and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter gives just enough to make what players see make sense, and help them go back to finish the overall story and pickup story elements that passed them by. There's enough beautiful - and at times, outlandish - imagery and story to overcome the game's problems so stick with it. By the end, the narrative wraps up beautifully.

VGChartzEvan Norris

6/10

A gorgeous open world enhances this story-driven murder mystery.The Vanishing of Ethan Carter begins with a brief but meaningful disclaimer:

PolygonPhilip Kollar

Unscored

There's more to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter that I've omitted for fear of spoiling the game's best surprises, but I will say that each of these moments is inextricably tied to the method this story is being told in — that is, as a video game. It is evidence of a kind of narrative that games can do better than anything else, as well as proof that games can work with a story that doesn't need to be overblown or exaggerated — main character's paranormal powers aside. If you have the three or four hours to devote to it and care about the future of games as a storytelling medium, Ethan Carter is ...