GHOST at DAWN

About

GHOST at DAWN is a single player survival management game with horror, mystery, thriller and anime themes. It was developed by Blue and Red Games and was released on October 5, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

Explore an abandoned hotel and search for clues while trying not to succumb to your fears in this ode to 90’s survival horror games. You will solve puzzles, face off against supernatural entities, and use limited resources to maintain your sanity so you can explore deeper in The Pines Hotel and find out what really happened to Emi Kosuke.

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The visuals and atmosphere are well-executed, reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil.
The developer is highly responsive and actively works to fix bugs, enhancing the overall experience.
The game features engaging mechanics, such as permadeath and a well-designed inventory system, which add depth to the gameplay.

The combat system is frustrating, with unavoidable damage and clunky controls that detract from the gameplay experience.
Sound mixing is unbalanced, leading to issues with audio levels that can be jarring or even painful.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to a frustrating experience.

gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the nostalgic mechanics reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil, particularly praising the smooth inventory system. However, many criticize the repetitive nature of combat, unavoidable damage upon entering new areas, and frustrating enemy spawns that detract from the overall experience. The permadeath feature adds an interesting twist, but it can lead to unfair moments that disrupt player engagement.
- “The game mechanics remind me of the first Resident Evil game, which I love.”
- “The inventory mechanics are well done, and the items you pick up interact well when they are used in the right place (e.g., keys to locked doors - you don't have to constantly click on the key then the door and back and forth... smooth, I tell you!).”
- “The game employs an auto-save feature (no save scumming!) coupled with a permadeath mechanic—you get five lives, and if you lose that, your file is gone.”
- “I love survival horror, but this game's gameplay sucks, really bad.”
- “The gameplay is this: walk into a new room, instantly start taking unavoidable damage, shoot, swap target, repeat until all enemies are dead.”
- “The game employs an auto save feature (no save scumming!) coupled with a permadeath mechanic— you get five lives and if you lose that, your file is gone.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The story is characterized as dark and engaging, with a well-executed narrative that unfolds through fully voiced notes and environmental clues found throughout the game. While some players noted occasional camera issues, the overall storytelling is considered thoughtful and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.
- “And that's the same about the story: it's dark and fun.”
- “Nothing crazy but it felt like a well thought out and executed storytelling.”
- “So very dark story; sometimes the camera messes with things.”
- “As is tradition, the story is largely told through (fully voiced!) notes that can be found scattered throughout the hotel and environmental clues.”
- “Nothing crazy, but it felt like a well thought out and executed storytelling.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's graphics have received mixed initial impressions due to its anime aesthetic, but the execution has won over many players. The character design, particularly Ben's expressive features and the film-noir shadowing, enhances the overall visual experience.
- “When I first saw the trailer, I was a touch unsure about the use of the anime aesthetic, but as with anything, it's all about the execution.”
- “Ben's character is very expressive (especially when low on sanity), and he looks great under the heavy shadows of the setting's film-noir aesthetic.”
- “The visuals are underwhelming and fail to impress.”
- “When I first saw the trailer, I was a bit unsure about the use of the anime aesthetic, but the execution ultimately fell flat.”
- “Ben's character, while expressive, suffers from a lack of detail that detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The game's atmosphere is its standout feature, effectively capturing survival horror elements with a spine-chilling ambiance and a sense of resource scarcity. While combat may be somewhat lacking, the well-designed enemies and effective jump scares contribute to an immersive and unsettling experience.
- “The atmosphere is the selling point of the game.”
- “Combat is a little rough, but the enemies are well designed, the jump scares are creepy, and the atmosphere is spot on.”
- “It oozes the same survival horror vibes, from the spine-chilling atmosphere to resource scarcity.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is widely praised for its eerie quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere. Players particularly enjoyed the unique experience of being "murdered" by a ghost jazz band, whose excellent performance adds a memorable twist to the gameplay.
- “The music is great and eerie, which I feel adds to the whole vibe.”
- “I particularly enjoyed getting murdered by the ghost jazz band, who played excellent music while they killed you.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report a decline in performance since the game's original release, indicating that recent design choices by the developers have negatively impacted optimization, leading to a significantly worse experience for some players.
- “Honestly, I never had any of these performance issues before its original release, so it saddens me to say that whatever design choices the devs have made or implemented have made the game run significantly worse for me.”
- “The optimization in this game is a mess; I experience constant frame drops and stuttering, which completely ruins the experience.”
- “After the latest update, the game feels sluggish and unresponsive, making it hard to enjoy what was once a smooth gameplay experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively balances humor and horror, creating an engaging experience that appeals to fans of classic survival horror titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Reviewers highly recommend it for its unique blend of comedic elements within a tense atmosphere.
- “Amazing survival horror with just the perfect balance between humor and horror, highly recommended if you're a fan of classic survival horrors like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.”