Paul Prospero, an occult detective receives a disturbing letter from Ethan Carter and decides to visit his hometown. Paul visits Ethan’s home at Red Creek Valley, and finds that Ethan is missing in the wake of a brutal murder. Players must use their observation skills and Paul’s supernatural ability, of communicating with the dead, to find out about the missing boy.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a mystery game giving a lot of emphasis on exploration and discovery. The game does not have any sort of combat.