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Ethel

Ethel Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, atmosphere
Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability
95% User Score Based on 195 reviews

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PCWindows
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Ethel Game Cover

About Ethel

Ethel is a single player simulation game with horror, mystery and historical themes. It was developed by TS GAMES LLC and was released on March 14, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

AVERAGE TIME TO COMPLETE: 1hrs 30m 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 ni…

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Ethel screenshot
Ethel screenshot
Ethel screenshot
Ethel screenshot
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Reviews

95%Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews
story68 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • Exceptional atmosphere and sound design that create lasting tension and genuine psychological horror.
  • Engaging story with multiple endings, rich lore, and thoughtful narrative progression.
  • Well-crafted jump scares that are paced effectively to maintain suspense without overuse.
  • Limited game length and scope, leaving some players wanting more depth and content.
  • Some puzzles feel obscure or convoluted, occasionally leading to frustrating backtracking.
  • Minor technical issues such as inconsistent saving, occasional bugs, and limited control and audio settings.

  • story

    117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    58% positive mentions, 39% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The story of this horror walking simulator is widely praised for its rich, well-paced, and emotionally charged narrative that unfolds through exploration, atmosphere, and carefully integrated jump scares. Players appreciate its thoughtful themes of trauma, addiction, and family, multiple endings, and the way it encourages interpretation over explicit guidance. Overall, it delivers a compelling, immersive psychological horror experience that keeps players engaged and eager for the sequel.

    • “The premise is simple on the surface, but it quickly becomes clear that the story is less about uncovering a straightforward mystery and more about navigating fractured memories, unresolved guilt, and the emotional residue of trauma.”
    • “Rather than guiding players with explicit objectives, the game encourages observation and interpretation, allowing the story to emerge piece by piece.”
    • “Ethel masterfully intertwines rich storytelling with spine-chilling jumpscares and stunning visuals.”
    • “Only get the game if it's on sale and you like silly jumpscares and a quick, simple horror story.”
    • “My one small gripe was I wish they had a space to revisit the notes and story you find as some of it are needed.”
    • “I respect the attempt at the game, but coming from someone with the attention span of a fly, why is it necessary to have 1,000 paragraphs of information to read, just to get the story across.”

  • atmosphere

    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    48% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for being creepy, tense, and immersive, effectively building fear and dread through detailed world-building and psychological horror elements rather than relying solely on jump scares. Many reviewers highlight its well-crafted sound design, eerie environment, and narrative ambiguity that keep players constantly on edge and deeply engaged. Although some mention puzzle complexity or pacing issues, the overall mood and haunting ambiance are consistently regarded as a standout and defining feature.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly well-crafted—tense, eerie, and dripping with dread without ever overloading you with cheap jump scares.”
    • “The world building is incredible and the overall atmosphere of dread and anxiety is something else.”
    • “That, coupled with the environment, audio, gameplay, and events, created a very immersive and haunting atmosphere that kept my attention throughout until the end.”

  • gameplay

    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    20% positive mentions, 68% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions

    The gameplay in Ethel is minimalistic and focused on exploration, mood, and narrative rather than mechanical complexity, offering smooth, purposeful interactions and well-designed puzzles that enhance the psychological horror experience. While some players find it simple or limited, the game effectively balances engaging puzzles, atmospheric sound design, and well-executed jump scares that complement the story and mood. Overall, its originality and thoughtful mechanics appeal to those seeking a focused, story-driven horror experience rather than action-packed gameplay.

    • “Ethel, developed and published by TS Games LLC, is a tightly focused first-person psychological horror experience that builds its identity around mood, memory, and quiet dread rather than mechanical complexity.”
    • “The gameplay balances psychological terror with engaging puzzles, making the revelations both rewarding and terrifying.”
    • “Graphically done well, the gameplay is smooth and easy to get used to even for the most casual PC player. The sound design is on point, the puzzles are challenging but give a sense of real accomplishment on completion, and the jump scares aren't overdone or out of place.”
    • “However, this simplicity can also make the experience feel somewhat limited, especially for players expecting deeper interactivity or more varied gameplay systems.”
    • “There's no tool to unboard the door in initial scene (at least for me, might be a bug, I checked a gameplay video and there should be an axe to pick, but it doesn't show up for me).”
    • “+ the gameplay isn't something to write home about being a horror walking simulator and all but what is present is executed well.”

  • graphics

    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    81% positive mentions, 19% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The graphics are widely praised for their high quality, impressive lighting effects, and immersive atmosphere, contributing significantly to the game's eerie and engaging experience. Players commend the visuals as gorgeous and well-executed, enhancing the overall storytelling and jump scares without relying on cheap tactics. Even users with lower-end PCs found the graphics to be very good, highlighting their adaptability and smooth performance.

    • “The graphics and atmosphere are truly remarkable, immersing you completely in its terrifying world.”
    • “Excellent visuals with some superb lighting effects courtesy of the Unreal Engine.”
    • “Ethel masterfully intertwines rich storytelling with spine-chilling jumpscares and stunning visuals.”

  • emotional

    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game delivers a deeply emotional and unsettling experience, skillfully exploring themes of trauma, guilt, and fractured memories. Its story is personal and resonant, enhanced by thoughtful puzzles and a heartfelt developer note during the credits that leaves a lasting impact.

    • “The premise is simple on the surface, but it quickly becomes clear that the story is less about uncovering a straightforward mystery and more about navigating fractured memories, unresolved guilt, and the emotional residue of trauma.”
    • “From the moment I stepped into the house, I was drawn into a story that felt deeply personal, unsettling, and emotionally charged.”
    • “What gives ETHEL its emotional weight is the way it handles its themes.”

  • music

    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    75% positive mentions, 25% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The music and sound effects are highly praised for effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere, contributing to a creepy and immersive experience that complements the graphics, lighting, and jump scares.

    • “Easy enough puzzles to understand, music and sound effects create the atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Very creepy game with atmospheric sound and music.”
    • “All the way from the music, to the sound, to the lighting, to the jump scares.”

  • optimization

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    33% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 67% negative mentions

    Optimization has significantly improved with faster load times and the elimination of previous issues like stuttering and frame drops, although some users still report poor FPS performance.

    • “Load times were much faster, and the performance issues I encountered before—like stuttering and persistent frame drops—were completely gone.”
    • “It also had an awful FPS performance.”

  • stability

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game initially had some minor bugs but became stable and glitch-free after a few restarts, with consistently solid rendering throughout gameplay.

  • grinding

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in this game involves some repetitive puzzles that can feel a bit tedious, though they aren’t overly difficult or frustrating. The engaging story and characters help balance out the monotony.

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Character development is praised for its crisp design and a refreshing story, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ethel is a simulation game with horror, mystery and historical themes. Common tags for Ethel include first-person, indie, linear, psychological, exploration and others.

Ethel is available on PC and Windows.

Ethel was released on March 14, 2024.

Ethel was developed by TS GAMES LLC.

Ethel has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked Ethel for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Ethel is a single player game.

Similar games include Summer of '58, Claire, Dead Take, Father's Day, The Lightkeeper and others.