●●●●○

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a first-person narrative adventure in the vein of Gone Home and Dear Esther, games characterised by minimal gameplay and an emphasis on aesthetics and narrative. It tells the story of Paul Prospero, a paranormal detective responding to a fan letter from Ethan Carter, a lonely child shrouded in mystery.

The game’s greatest strength is undoubtedly its visuals. The Twin Peaks-esque rural American landscape – populated with distant mountains, picturesque buildings, and glistening lakes – offers some of the most beautiful images possible on current hardware. These visuals shine when, in spite of the clichéd setup, it becomes apparent that the story being told is far from standard or predictable. When the plot takes its stranger turns – the insanity of which really must not be spoiled – that visual fidelity not only captivates but has the power to astonish.

The gameplay is something of a letdown. Clearly acting as checkpoint markers to validate conventional expectations of the form (and also, perhaps, to pad out the game’s 3-4 hour playtime), these segments of traditional gameplay consist exclusively of brief, simple puzzles. They achieve nothing except the complete shattering of any suspension of disbelief. It’s a damn shame as the narrative is so ambitious and well executed, managing to wrangle a satisfactory, touching ending from its eclectic plot threads. For any fans of this emerging genre of interactive narrative experiences, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a worthwhile investment.

Released on PC and PS4. Reviewed on PC.