The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The Astronauts · 2014 · $19.99 · Adventure · deal grade B

• Estimated net residual revenue: $902 to $1.4k per month
• Opportunity: $2.4k per month at x2.10 dormancy
• Estimated lifetime owners: 514.7k
• 88%% positive across 8976 reviews · 10.5 reviews/month

Why it's flagged

• Developer silent for 11.1 years
• Studio active elsewhere (2 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
• Last build shipped 11.8 years ago
• Last discounted 1 months ago, 5 sales in the last 12 months

Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A first-person walking detective mystery set in rural Pennsylvania where players reconstruct a vanished boy's final days through environmental storytelling.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter generates $1.1k/mo in residual revenue from a stable, engaged niche audience despite zero developer activity for 133 months. The 88% positive rate, elastic demand curve, and recent discount (1.4 months ago) signal latent commercial potential; however, the game's small studio status, single-title catalogue, and weak onboarding create acquisition risk unless repositioned as a publishing or revival play targeting renewed horror-mystery interest. Most realistic play: watch.

• Risk: Developer status is dormant; no meaningful engagement since late 2022, making rights consolidation and future support uncertain.
• Risk: Core audience is highly niche walking simulator fans; mainstream visibility has eroded over 12 years.
• Risk: Player feedback flags poor onboarding, illogical puzzle logic, and autosave bugs that frustrate new players and deter revival campaigns without redesign.

This case as Markdown · Estimates carry ±30-50%% error per title.