The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

20 Games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter on Xbox 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 20 that fit the “Xbox” category. The Exit 8, Outer Wilds and Dear Esther: Landmark Edition 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

Tags

NarrativeDarkSolo

Year 2014Dev The Astronauts

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗Epic ↗PS ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Xbox” category, the closest game to The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is The Exit 8 — scoring 83/100 on our similarity scale. Outer Wilds and Dear Esther: Landmark Edition follow close behind.

#1The Exit 883 #2Outer Wilds76 #3Dear Esther: Landmark Edition75 #4Firewatch73 #5Telling Lies71

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The best games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter on Xbox

20 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.

#1The Exit 8Closest overall match

83

The Exit 8

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

#2Outer WildsClosest on world

76

Outer Wilds

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

Steam Epic Xbox

#3Dear Esther: Landmark EditionClosest on visuals

75

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition

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

73

Firewatch

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

71

Telling Lies

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

64

Refunct

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

63

Blue Prince

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

62

Obduction

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

60

The Witness

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

#10Thank Goodness You're Here!

58

Thank Goodness You're Here!

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationCasual

Steam👍 96%· 8.0KRAWG👍 87%· 50IGDB90· 3OC84· 62

Year 2024Dev Coal Supper · PanicPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Where it differs: brings precision platforming, vibe casual and setting cartoon, while skipping horror tension

Thank Goodness You're Here! is an absurd comedy slapformer set in the bizarre Northern English town of Barnsworth.

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

Released 10 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone43Setting0

#11AER: Memories of Old

58

AER: Memories of Old

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationRelaxing

Steam👍 86%· 7.7KIGDB68· 4OC67· 44

Year 2017Dev Forgotten Key · Daedalic EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe relaxing, vibe casual and fantasy world, while skipping horror tension

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

Released 3 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone41Setting0

57

Abzu

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationRelaxing

Steam👍 93%· 27KIGDB81· 27OC80· 122

Year 2016Dev Giant Squid · 505 GamesOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, vibe relaxing and vibe casual, while skipping horror tension

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

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone33Setting0

57

Road 96

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 92%· 25KIGDB83· 8OC78· 93

Year 2021Dev DigixArt · RavenscourtOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

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

≠ Stands apart with procedural generation and melee combat, while skipping horror tension

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

Released 7 years after The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Visuals100Tone73World51

#14Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

56

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

GenreAdventureSubgenreOpen World Action-Adventure

SoloNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 89%· 7.8KIGDB75· 14OC76· 65

Year 2014Dev Frogwares · Focus EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

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

≠ Its own twist: ranged combat, historical setting and visual third person, while skipping horror tension

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

Genre100Game mode100World100Progression100Tone73Visuals70

#15The Suicide of Rachel Foster

61

The Suicide of Rachel Foster

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

Complete list of games like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter on Xbox

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.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Adventure · Simulation

Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program

Adventure · Simulation

The First Tree

The First Tree

Adventure · Simulation

Roblox

Roblox

Adventure · Simulation

Port Royale 3

Port Royale 3

Simulation

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Rankings in the same genre

Best Open-World Adventure Games Best Adventure Games