A perfect example of a story driven game. There are not many game mechanics but I enjoyed the whole experience and the visuals are really stunning. The end was really hard.

I thought this game was extremely pretentious and the story was mediocre at best. Right off the bat, the title screen proudly proclaims itself to be "a narrative experience that does not hold your hand, an unnecessary statement that drips with contempt for the audience. The game then proceeds to trudge through a few hours of weak "puzzles" that failed to keep my interest and a story that thinks that depressing subject matter is the one ingredient needed for an emotional impact, rather than establishing the characters in any way that might make the viewer attached to them or having a plot that's actually engaging. Spoiler: it's all building up to a variation on the dreaded "it was all a dream." That's it

The nicest thing I can say is that the scenery is kind of pretty i guess. I don't agree with the other reviews that are gushing about the "breathtaking visuals" because there's not a lot of style or creativity on display in the visual design, just some kind of pretty scenery.

At least it's not very long. The only reason i have 5 hours on record is because i kept getting distracted and wandering off to get snacks and play on my phone because, as established, this game is not very interesting.

Recommended if you want to exp what schizo people feels everytime

insanely beautiful & eerie. made me pee a little

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a visually stunning first-person mystery that leaves you piecing together a fragmented narrative. The game excels at creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. The story unfolds through environmental storytelling, where you gather clues from spectral visions and scattered hints, keeping you engaged and searching for answers.

The game features a solid list of achievements, including the elusive "Unfinished Story" trophy. However, unlocking this trophy appears to conflict with the game's save system—saving and loading can reportedly prevent it from unlocking. For those aiming for this achievement, it's best to avoid saving, loading, or exiting the game entirely during your playthrough until the achievement is unlocked, as the system might not capture all data needed for the trophy.

The story is captivating, and the atmosphere is immersive, though the fragmented narrative can sometimes feel like piecing together a disjointed dream. While intriguing, it may leave some players slightly unsatisfied.

I played through the Redux version and recommend that one over the original. You can find my full thoughts here:

https://steamcommunity.com/id/Synikx/recommended/400430/

In this short walking simulator with some peculiar mechanics you play Paul Prospero, a detective.
What makes this game unique is the way it tells the intriguing plot.
There is an unexpected twist at the end, everything closes perfectly in a very original way.
Then you realize who Paul Prospero really is and what's all about.
Graphics are beautiful, environments aswell, but almost empty.
Difficult to say whether its worth current full price.
Maybe if you don't mind about game being rather short and with low difficulty it's probably worth it.
If you like story-driven games, this one will surprise you and will not disappoint you.

Not as good as Firewatch, Edith Finch or Dear Esther...
I recommend playing one of them first.
Its not really bad, but i wouldnt recommend it.

A beautiful and haunting walking-sim mystery. If you liked Firewatch or Kona, you'll enjoy The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Overall, this title is relatively short: It can be completed in as little as 2 hours, if you're the right combination of adept and lucky. The visuals are just amazing. It's worth some extra time to just look around, as there are a few hidden vistas, and The Astronauts did some truly exemplary work with the Unreal engine. The score is the perfect companion to the bittersweet and spooky story, both of which will be stuck in my head for a long time. Controls are super straightforward but there are some decently challenging puzzles sprinkled throughout. The dialogue is performed and captured professionally, and the writing and concept are just beyond impressive to me. Such a thoughtful weaving of narrative elements, delivered in a way that only a fully interactive medium such as a video game could capture.

One last note: The "Redux" DLC is the same as the base game, but with improved graphics, performance, and some and bug-fixes. If you have both, Redux is definitely the better of the two versions. If not, the base game is not materially different. I encountered a bug or two in the base version, mostly concerning achievements not being triggered, but they were easily remedied.

Breathtaking visuals, interesting story, unforgettable soundtrack, amazing atmosphere. Ethan Carter is a fantastic mystery game with fun and unique puzzles to solve.

The only criticism I have is the length: A blind playthrough only takes about 4-5 hours.