Compare this game
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Review · Action · Xbox One · PC · Nintendo Switch

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

Xbox One · PC · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4

The Astronauts · 2014

Ludograph rating

D

Caution

44 /100

Automated review

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a narrative adventure that builds problem-solving and critical thinking, but contains mature themes and horror elements.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 29 · R 11
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

29

Risk (RIS)

11

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.50
B2Social-emotional
0.10
B3Motor
0.10

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter offers a rich, narrative-driven experience that heavily emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and exploration. Players are encouraged to piece together clues, interpret environmental storytelling, and make deductive leaps to progress the mystery. The game fosters a sense of curiosity and rewards careful observation.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains mature themes, including violence, unsettling situations, and strong horror elements, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While not featuring explicit monetization or social risks, the dark narrative and potential for jump scares could be distressing for sensitive players.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.67
R4.4Substance References
0.33
R4.5Fear / Horror
1.00

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~4 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is The Vanishing of Ethan Carter safe for kids?

Ludograph gives The Vanishing of Ethan Carter a rating of 44/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. There are notable risks worth knowing before letting kids play.

What age is The Vanishing of Ethan Carter appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB M: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play The Vanishing of Ethan Carter?

Our session recommendation for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter?

The game contains mature themes, including violence, unsettling situations, and strong horror elements, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While not featuring explicit monetization or social risks, the dark narrative and potential for jump scares could be distressing for sensitive players.