Ethel

About

Ethel is a first-person adventure game where you piece together a fractured story through environmental clues and nonlinear exploration. You play Thomas Myrtle, a WWII veteran haunted by trauma and guilt, trying to uncover what happened during a night in 1949 that left his grandmother missing. The game leans heavily on atmospheric puzzle solving and sparse guidance, forcing you to interpret cryptic symbols, navigate decaying spaces, and reconcile fragmented memories. Your choices influence how the truth unfolds across multiple endings. The game’s strength lies in its unsettling tone and emotional weight. Dilapidated settings like abandoned homes and overgrown estates amplify the sense of isolation, while the protagonist’s turbulent past adds layers to every interaction. Early access reviews note its ambition sometimes outpaces polish, but fans of atmospheric mysteries praise its bold narrative structure. With a 78% on Metacritic, it’s a divisive yet memorable experience for players who enjoy figuring out stories through exploration rather than direct exposition.

Storyline

You take on the role of Thomas Myrtle, a World War II veteran, returns from the war with PTSD and struggles with addiction, leading to the collapse of his marriage and a period of homelessness. In 1949, his grandparents take him in, helping him achieve sobriety, but his fragile peace shatters when his grandmother accuses him of stealing her medication. One night, Thomas awakens in her room, surrounded by blood, with no memory of what happened, and his grandmother is missing. Wracked with guilt and fear, Thomas goes into hiding for twelve years. Now, he returns to uncover the truth about that night and seek redemption.