The Vanishing of Ethan Carter 2014

Is it still worth playing?

Paul Prospero, an occult minded detective, finds that the boy who wrote to him has vanished, in this 2014 first person horror adventure from The Astronauts. The boy's letter takes him to Red Creek Valley, Wisconsin, an open world you can explore at will, and it says it does not hold your hand, so there is very little explanation of the mechanics. When you find a body, you use paranormal abilities to sense where important objects are and restore the scene, then reassemble the timeline of the death. There is no combat. Additional stories have to be fully uncovered for the final ending, and some are puzzles while others are stealth sections that reset if you fail. It is inspired by early twentieth century weird fiction, and it focuses on atmosphere and mood more than on puzzles. Exploring at your own pace still gives each discovery weight.