Psychological horror Horror puzzle Horror

Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End

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Charlotte's story ends, and begins, in the House one last time.

Platforms: PC
Price: Paid
Rated: Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam (98% of 3,484 reviews)
Players: 1
Made by: etherane
Released: 2018

What frightens The final Hello Charlotte story, a prologue and epilogue at once: a prosumer noise machine, a virulent insect and an obscene revelation, with the store warning of graphic violence and death, suicide, self-harm and body horror.
Content: graphic violence and death, suicide, self-harm, body horror, strong language.

Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End is the last episode of etherane's surreal horror series, serving as both a prologue and an epilogue to the story. You explore the House, talk to its tenants and your classmates, solve puzzles and follow one of two routes to the truth behind Charlotte's story.

About Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End

Childhood's End is the third and final episode of Hello Charlotte, by etherane, released on Steam on 4 January 2018. The store describes it as the final story in the series, serving as a prologue and an epilogue to the main plot. It follows the free EP1 (2015) and EP2 (2016).

The store is sparing with its setup on purpose: Charlotte's story has ended, and Charlotte's story has begun. It promises a prosumer noise machine, a virulent insect, an obscene revelation and an earnest thank you. How those fit together is the point of playing, so we will not go further.

The play mixes visual novel-inspired storytelling with exploration and puzzles. You explore the House, talk to the tenants and your classmates, find books to read and solve puzzles, and the conclusion splits into two different routes. Inked, hand-drawn portraits fill the screen during conversations, and the pictures often turn red, glitch or warp into something grotesque.

Its horror is surreal and personal rather than a chase: dread, revelation and a world that is not what it seemed. The store warns of graphic violence and death, suicide, self-harm, cursing and body horror.

It is made for players who have finished EP1 and EP2 and want the answers. New players should start with the earlier episodes, which are free.

How to play Hello Charlotte EP3: Childhood's End

Play Hello Charlotte EP1 and EP2 first if you have not; this episode concludes their story.
Start a new story from the title screen.
Explore the House, talk to the tenants and your classmates, and read the books you find.
Solve the puzzles that block your way forward.
Follow the story to its conclusion, then go back for the other of the two routes.

Screenshots

Hello Charlotte EP3 title screen: a blue-haired figure before a huge dark red circle, with New story, Load and Quit

Hello Charlotte EP3 screenshot: Charlotte smiles in front of a tree by the sea, saying looks like the lessons have ended

Hello Charlotte EP3 screenshot: a frightened girl in red tint while a figure with a club stands in the corridor behind her

Hello Charlotte EP3 screenshot: an inked drawing of grotesque hands amid red glitches, with the text wash and repeat, it's not enough

Hello Charlotte EP3 screenshot: a grinning boy in a yellow jacket in front of a cluttered workshop, asking what are you guys up to

Tips

Keep a save before the story splits so you can see the second route without starting over.
Talk to everyone in the House; the tenants and classmates carry much of the story.
Read the books you discover; the store lists finding them as part of the game.
Check the store's content warnings before you start: they include suicide, self-harm and body horror.