The Ghost Ship

About

The Ghost Ship is a single player survival role playing game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Surt R. and was released on November 24, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

In "The Ghost Ship," players become a pirate tasked with exploring a haunted vessel, solving puzzles, and battling supernatural enemies. The game features a rich, immersive story set in the golden age of piracy, with a unique blend of horror and adventure. Players must uncover the ship's dark secrets while surviving encounters with vengeful ghosts and other terrifying foes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a captivating atmosphere with a unique wireframe visual style and an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the post-apocalyptic setting.
It offers a challenging and engaging dungeon-crawling experience, requiring players to manage limited resources and make strategic decisions in combat.
The game successfully combines mecha elements with survival mechanics, creating a tense and immersive gameplay experience.

The lack of a proper map and automapping features makes navigation tedious and can lead to frustration, especially in the game's complex dungeons.
Combat feedback is minimal, and the slow movement and scanning mechanics detract from the overall gameplay experience.
The game is relatively short for its genre, with many players feeling that it lacks depth and content for a full-priced title.

graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The game's graphics feature a unique, minimalist wireframe aesthetic that evokes a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, complemented by an outstanding soundtrack. While the visuals may appear blocky and simplistic, they effectively enhance the immersive experience and support the game's tactical gameplay. Players seeking high-end graphics may be disappointed, but those who appreciate a distinctive art style and atmospheric design will find it engaging.
- “Great post-apocalyptic atmosphere, old-style plasma graphics + interesting story and challenging gameplay.”
- “The presentation is just as spartan yet equally put to just the desired use, minimal wireframe visuals supported by excellent soundtrack conveying this desolate, claustrophobic feeling.”
- “Das Geisterschiff is a brutal tile-based dungeon crawler with no handholding and features unique wireframe visuals, outstanding ambient sound design along with a great soundtrack.”
- “As such, those looking for shiny graphics and twitchy gameplay should stay away: the game’s unique art style looks blocky (although in exchange it works with a toaster, if you can read this you can play it), it’s a turn-based dungeon crawler that demands patience to be played.”
- “An unusual game that transcends its narrow focus and strange visuals with a mesmerizing atmosphere and tense encounters.”
- “There's also the matter of the game's overall aesthetics.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its outstanding quality, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere with a sublime soundtrack that conveys a desolate and claustrophobic feeling. Reviewers note that the music stands out even more than the visuals, creating a nightmarish ambiance that complements the game's survival horror elements. Overall, while the gameplay may be seen as lacking, the soundtrack leaves a lasting impression on players.
- “While the first thing that stands out about the game is definitely the visual style, the part of the presentation that is truly sublime is the music.”
- “The music though, it’s something else: it perfectly conveys the nightmarish, claustrophobic survival horror scenario that the author wanted to convey.”
- “Das Geisterschiff is a brutal tile-based dungeon crawler with no handholding and features unique wireframe visuals, outstanding ambient sound design along with a great soundtrack.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of simple yet deep mechanics set in a challenging, post-apocalyptic dungeon crawler environment. Players must master the mechanics without any superfluous aids, navigating through multiple dungeons with a focus on memory and patience rather than flashy graphics. The game’s unique art style and turn-based nature cater to those who appreciate a retro aesthetic and strategic gameplay over fast-paced action.
- “Great post-apocalyptic atmosphere, old-style plasma graphics, and interesting story combined with challenging gameplay.”
- “There are no crutches here; nothing placed at one's disposal is superfluous or optional - one really must master the mechanics that are present.”
- “Finally got a bit of time to try this one out: it's a cool dungeon crawler inspired by old Japanese PC-88 games. There's a minimap but not an actual map, so remembering the shape of a sector and mentally clearing out which chunk you've visited is part of the gameplay.”
- “The mechanics are thin, and navigating is tedious.”
- “As such, those looking for shiny graphics and twitchy gameplay should stay away: the game’s unique art style looks blocky (although in exchange it works with a toaster, if you can read this you can play it), it’s a turn-based dungeon crawler that demands patience to be played.”
- “Finally got a bit of time to try this one out: it's a cool dungeon crawler inspired by old Japanese PC-88 games, there's a minimap but not an actual map, so remembering the shape of a sector and mentally clearing out which chunk you've visited is part of the gameplay.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game features a compelling post-apocalyptic narrative set in a dystopian future, where players assume the role of a new recruit in a corporation, piloting a basic mecha with limited resources. While the atmosphere and introductory music are praised, some players find the overall story and gameplay experience to be lacking, with a focus on survival and resource management during missions.
- “Great post-apocalyptic atmosphere, old-style plasma graphics, and an interesting story combined with challenging gameplay.”
- “Story-wise, I won’t tell much to avoid spoilers: you’re the newest recruit of a corporation in a dystopic future, you’re given a mook-tier mecha with limited ammo and no melee options besides ramming, then told to go out and do whatever it takes to accomplish the current mission’s objective.”
- “Instead, you’re given limited resources for every mission and you’re expected to survive or die trying.”
- “You can save anytime, but saving and loading cost you points, so running out of them and getting a game over that kicks you back to the start of the game is quite possible if you’re careless.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is praised for its captivating post-apocalyptic atmosphere, enhanced by old-style plasma graphics and a compelling story. Reviewers highlight the tension of encounters and the game's ability to create a mesmerizing experience despite its unconventional visuals and narrow focus.
- “An unusual game that transcends its narrow focus and strange visuals with a mesmerizing atmosphere and tense encounters.”
- “Great post-apocalyptic atmosphere, old-style plasma graphics, interesting story, and challenging gameplay.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the game's navigation challenging, which negatively impacts its replayability. They suggest that adding more colors could enhance the overall experience and make the game more enjoyable to revisit.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking depth, with repetitive mechanics that make navigation feel cumbersome.
- “The mechanics are thin, and navigating is tedious.”