25 Puzzle games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter down to the 25 that fit the “Puzzle” category. Fatum Betula, The Exit 8 and Outer Wilds top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

iRank83/ 100

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GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

The best puzzle games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

25 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Fatum BetulaClosest overall match

iRank91

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloDarkNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 1.1KIGDB80· 1

Year 2020Dev Bryce BucherPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual, while skipping combat magic

The GameFatum Betula is an atmospheric exploration game with light puzzle elements. A magical birch is the only thing dictating the future, and it is your job to find something appropriate to feed it with. There is a total of 10 unique endings and a plethora of secrets to uncover.

Released 6 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Setting70

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Steam Nintendo itch.io

#2The Exit 8Closest on tone

iRank93

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeDarkOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 11KIGDB93· 2

Year 2023Dev KOTAKE CREATE · PLAYISMOn Xbox · PS4 · Switch

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, horror tension and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, linear, story-driven structure and setting modern, while skipping combat magic

Released 9 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Visuals66Setting59

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Steam Xbox PS

#3Outer WildsClosest on setting

iRank90

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldSpaceHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 102KIGDB85· 7OC85· 61

Year 2019Dev Mobius Digital · Annapurna InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: combat.

Released 5 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Setting84Visuals84

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Steam Epic Xbox

#4Cosmic Osmo and the Worlds Beyond the Mackerel

iRank79

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 79%· 115

Dev Cyan WorldsPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

You're an Osmo, a strange creature indeed. You explore the galaxy in your spaceship, and the planets you encounter are almost as bizarre as the Osmos themselves. There are seven worlds presented for your consideration, each more goofy and peculiar than the last.

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: tone and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100World64Visuals51Setting47

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Steam

#5Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

iRank70

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 75%· 7.4KIGDB65· 11OC67· 38

Year 2016Dev Rob Briscoe · Curve DigitalOn PS4 · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and horror tension

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, vibe relaxing and linear, story-driven structure, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: tone and world.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Setting57World43

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeDarkOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 63%· 1.3KIGDB85· 7OC79· 50

Year 2019Dev Furious Bee Limited · Annapurna InteractiveOn PS4 · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, while skipping horror tension

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Released 5 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Visuals100

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Steam GOG PS

#7Refunct

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 17KRAWG👍 66%· 152

Year 2015Dev Dominique GrieshoferPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with precision platforming, vibe relaxing and vibe casual, while skipping horror tension

A short experience about restoring a world featuring: Platforming: Wall-jumps, slides, pipes, lifts, springboards Beautiful: Emotional soundtrack and vibrant visuals Peaceful: Non-violent, open world without death Playful: Learn to play without tutorials Relaxing: Play at your own pace without…

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: tone.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone28

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 87%· 18KIGDB91· 5OC89· 117

Year 2025Dev Dogubomb · Raw FuryOn Xbox · Switch · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, deep simulation and procedural generation, while skipping horror tension

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: world.

Released 11 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100Tone73Progression73Visuals69World42

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Steam Xbox PS

#9Shadow of the Colossus

iRank92

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

OC92· 136

Year 2012Dev Team Ico · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming and visual third person, while skipping horror tension

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: visuals.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone69Visuals0

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#10Antichamber

iRank87

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 18KRAWG👍 83%· 435MC82IGDB83· 6

Year 2013Dev Alexander Bruce · DemruthPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming and setting scifi, while skipping horror tension

You control a nameless and faceless protagonist, who starts in a white chamber in the center of a high-tech maze. Your goal is to move forward through the maze by solving many difficult and intricate puzzles.

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: setting.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone66

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Steam

#11Obduction

iRank75

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 4.0KIGDB67· 9OC72· 37

Year 2016Dev Cyan WorldsOn PC · PS4 · iOS

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual, fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping horror tension

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone55

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Steam GOG Epic

#12The Last Clockwinder

iRank89

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 784IGDB80· 1OC83· 12

Year 2022Dev pontoco · Cyan VenturesPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: deep simulation, vibe relaxing and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping horror tension

You are on a mission to repair an ancient clocktower built into the trunk of a colossal tree. Inside, you find a pair of gloves that allow you to turn anything you do into a looping clockwork automaton. Use the Clockwinder’s gloves to turn every task into a looping clockwork automaton.

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: setting and tone.

Released 8 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Visuals100Progression52Tone38

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Steam

#13The Witness

iRank84

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 85%· 21KRAWG👍 77%· 1.3KMC87IGDB88· 12OC86· 98

Year 2016Dev NVIDIA Lightspeed Studios · TheklaPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings punishing difficulty, vibe relaxing and procedural generation, while skipping horror tension

The Witness is a 3D puzzle game where you explore a mysterious island full of natural and artificial structures. The game is focused on non-verbal communication that should make the player more attentive to the environment surrounding him.

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: setting.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100World58Tone51

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Steam GOG Epic

#14From DustClosest on combat

iRank71

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloMagicOpen WorldExplorationSandbox World

Steam👍 67%· 2.9KIGDB80· 5

Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the open-world adventures cluster, with adventure storytelling, puzzle design and open world exploration

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping horror tension

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: setting and visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Progression100World53Setting0

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Steam Epic

#15The Spirit and the Mouse

iRank90

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationCozy

Steam👍 97%· 1.0KOC75· 8

Year 2022Dev Alblune · Armor Games StudiosPlaytime ~6hOn PC · Nintendo

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, cozy, relaxing feel and fantasy world, while skipping horror tension

After a shocking thunderstorm brings them together, unlikely allies Lila the mouse and Lumion the Spirit guardian must work in tandem to restore balance to their quaint village. Thankfully, Lila has her big heart and electrifying new powers to aid her on this journey.

Where it drifts furthest from The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: setting and visuals.

Released 8 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone49Setting0

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Steam GOG Epic

Complete list of puzzle games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.