9 Dark games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter that you should try

Games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter · Find similar →

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 9 that fit the “Dark” category. Fatum Betula, The Exit 8 and Firewatch 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 dark games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

9 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

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeDarkOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 97KIGDB79· 18OC80· 134

Year 2016Dev Campo Santo · PanicOn PS4 · Linux · PC

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

≠ Stands apart with vibe casual, while skipping puzzle design

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone92

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

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloDarkNarrativeOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 92%· 4.1KIGDB90· 1

Year 1999Dev Looking Glass Studios · Eidos InteractiveOn PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, stealth mechanics and melee combat, while skipping puzzle design

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

It predates The Vanishing of Ethan Carter by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Visuals100

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Steam GOG

#6The Suicide of Rachel Foster

iRank67

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeDarkOpen WorldHorrorExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 68%· 6.8KIGDB65· 4OC68· 61

Year 2020Dev ONE-O-ONE GAMES · Daedalic EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, while skipping puzzle design

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

Released 6 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Visuals100Tone76

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Steam GOG Epic

#7Agricultural Simulator: Historical Farming

iRank25

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloDarkNarrativeOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 25%· 304

Year 2013Dev Actalogic · United Independent EntertainmentPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of open-world adventures: dark, oppressive atmosphere, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, vibe casual and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping adventure storytelling

Enjoy being a farmer between 1950 and 1970 in the Agricultural Simulator – Historical Farming. The game takes you to the good old days and you will experience the charming farming of the 60's and 70's.

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

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

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression67Tone40Setting0

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Steam

#8Scribblenauts UnlimitedClosest on combat

iRank87

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloMagicDarkOpen WorldExploration

Steam👍 94%· 12KIGDB72· 10

Year 2012Dev 5th Cell · WB GamesOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: precision platforming, sandbox freedom and vibe casual, while skipping horror tension

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

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Combat69World44Tone29

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Steam Nintendo

#9The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

iRank90

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloDarkOpen WorldHorrorExploration

IGDB90

Year 2000Dev Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.3 · Nintendo

✓ Both are open-world adventures — sharing adventure storytelling, puzzle design and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with ranged combat, fantasy world and visual third person, while skipping horror tension

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

It predates The Vanishing of Ethan Carter by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone59Setting55

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Nintendo

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Rankings in the same genre

Best Open-World Adventure Games Best Adventure Games