Ethel

About

"Ethel" is a single-player simulation game with an intriguing story and exceptional graphics. As World War II veteran Thomas Myrtle, struggling with PTSD and addiction, players must navigate a challenging journey of sobriety and redemption after losing his family and home. The game is highly engaging, requiring a high level of concentration and memory retention, with an average completion time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 114 reviews

story41 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a captivating story that keeps players engaged throughout.
The jump scares are well-timed and effective, creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
The developer is highly responsive to player feedback and has shown a commitment to improving the game, which is commendable for a first-time indie developer.

Some players experienced bugs, such as cut scenes not triggering, which affected their overall enjoyment of the game.
The puzzles can be overly convoluted and may require excessive backtracking, leading to frustration for some players.
The game lacks a sprint option, which can make navigation feel slow and tedious, detracting from the overall pacing.

story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
32%
5%
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, engaging plot twists, and well-crafted lore, which keeps players invested throughout. Many reviewers highlight the immersive atmosphere and the balance between storytelling and gameplay, with multiple endings adding to its replayability. While some found the narrative a bit verbose, the overall consensus is that the story is captivating and enhances the horror experience significantly.
- “The story was awesome as well, being confused on what happened and figuring it out and watching it unravel was done well.”
- “Ethel masterfully intertwines rich storytelling with spine-chilling jumpscares and stunning visuals.”
- “The game's story is elevated by the gameplay, which consists of puzzles that are thoroughly enjoyable.”
- “Normally the scares are good and the story is bad or vice versa.”
- “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?”
- “Parts of the story were kind of strange, especially with whatever was going on with the girlfriend.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
36%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepiness and immersive quality, effectively utilizing sound, lighting, and environmental details to create a tense and haunting experience. Players report that the well-placed jump scares and strong narrative elements contribute to a spine-chilling ambiance that keeps them engaged and on edge throughout the gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding puzzles and lighting, the overall consensus highlights the game's impressive atmospheric design as a standout feature.
- “That, coupled with the environment, audio, gameplay, and events, created a very immersive and haunting atmosphere that kept my attention throughout until the end.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are truly remarkable, immersing you completely in its terrifying world.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly creepy and tense, and the scares are well placed and very well done.”
- “The atmosphere is so creepy and properly understated that you have a false sense of safety when things are ramping up without you knowing it.”
- “Right away, the atmosphere was creepy and spine-chilling.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The gameplay is praised for its originality, smooth mechanics, and engaging puzzles that enhance the overall story experience. Players appreciate the well-crafted lore, effective sound design, and balanced use of jump scares, which contribute to a rewarding sense of accomplishment. The developer's commitment to improving gameplay quality is also highlighted as a notable aspect.
- “Some of the gameplay concepts are really original and interesting, and the documents, lore, and story are very well written.”
- “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 indeed challenging but give you a sense of real accomplishment on completion... and the jump scares included in the game aren't overdone or out of place.”
- “The gameplay balances psychological terror with engaging puzzles, making the revelations both rewarding and terrifying.”
- “The game's story is elevated by the gameplay, which consists of puzzles that are thoroughly enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay is solid, the character design is crisp and the story is refreshing!”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
27%
The graphics in the game are consistently praised for their stunning quality and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by impressive lighting effects from the Unreal Engine. Players appreciate the visual design, which complements the engaging story and well-placed jump scares, contributing to an overall captivating experience. Despite some technical limitations for certain players, the visuals remain a standout feature.
- “Excellent visuals with some superb lighting effects courtesy of the Unreal Engine.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are truly remarkable, immersing you completely in its terrifying world.”
- “Ethel masterfully intertwines rich storytelling with spine-chilling jump scares and stunning visuals.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
- “The character models look stiff and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to create a captivating atmosphere.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, optimization has seen significant improvements, with users reporting much faster load times and the resolution of previous performance issues like stuttering and frame drops. However, some still experienced poor FPS performance, indicating that optimization may not be consistent across all systems.
- “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.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is noted for its creepiness and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall tension alongside sound effects and lighting. It contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, particularly during jump scares.
- “The music creates a very creepy atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of the game.”
- “From the music to the sound effects, everything contributes to an immersive and thrilling environment.”
- “The music is very creepy and adds to the atmospheric sound of the game.”
- “The music, along with the sound effects and lighting, contributes to the overall unsettling experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the developer's genuine passion, evident in a heartfelt note during the end credits that resonates with players. Reviewers emphasize the sincerity of this gesture, suggesting it adds a meaningful layer to the overall experience.
- “Tony definitely put his soul into it, and you can tell with the heartfelt note during the end credits.”
- “I won't spoil any of the story for you, but if you've managed to read this far in my review, make sure you read the most sincere and heartfelt 'thank you' from a developer I've seen in a long time after you play the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers appreciate the humor in the game, noting that it adds an enjoyable layer to the horror experience. The combination of creepy elements with funny moments, such as unexpected ghost encounters, enhances replayability and overall enjoyment. Players find the balance between tension and humor to be a standout feature, contributing to a memorable gaming experience.
- “Thank you, developer, for reaching out to me! I replayed your game and I must say, well done! The lighting was a major change and made for a more pleasant gaming experience. I also loved the small details added, like the piano and moving chair, which gave me extra creeps. In general, I love the story of the game, and cheers to your wife for supporting you in this journey. This is one of the best new horror games I have played in a while. It's well made with great details, and at the same time, funny! I have played this game four times now :D The first time the ghost charged to the attic was a real jump scare, but when I replayed it, it was more hilarious! XD Thanks for making this amazing game and keep up the good work! ^^”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find some puzzles to be tedious, contributing to a sense of grinding, but the engaging story and characters help mitigate this frustration.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers appreciate the solid gameplay and crisp character design, highlighting that the refreshing story contributes positively to character development.
- “The gameplay is solid, the character design is crisp, and the story is refreshing!”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with the characters.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a high level of stability, noting the absence of bugs or glitches and consistent rendering quality throughout their experience.