GHOST at DAWN

About

GHOST at DAWN is a single player survival action adventure game with horror 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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Unique survival horror with strong homage to classic fixed-camera games; combines anime style, noir atmosphere, and traditional gameplay mechanics effectively.
Engaging and dark story with multiple endings, enhanced by good voice acting and a well-developed, atmospheric setting (the Pines Hotel).
Developer is highly responsive and dedicated, frequently updating the game to fix bugs and improve the experience; soundtrack and art style often praised.

Combat and health/sanity mechanics are often frustrating due to unavoidable damage from proximity to enemies, instant kills on touch, and limited resources.
Game suffers from control issues, including clunky tank controls and buggy movement; camera transitions can also be problematic.
Some bugs and design choices reduce playability, including spawn kills, enemy respawns, poorly explained mechanics (like ammo count and sanity effects), and occasional game-breaking glitches.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
56%
12%
The story is notably dark, intense, and emotionally compelling, tackling heavy themes like trauma and human trafficking with thoughtfulness and depth. While some find the tone inconsistent or the main character underdeveloped, many praise its well-executed, narrative-driven approach, immersive setting, and strong emotional impact. Overall, it stands out as a gripping and thoughtfully crafted tale within its genre.
- “The story is a masterpiece.”
- “But it is this deep raw content that makes it such a compelling story.”
- “If you like a story-driven narrative, this is one for you.”
- “That said, the tone was pretty hit and miss for such a dark story.”
- “It's got some visual charm, a lot of the bugs have been cleared up, and the story is serviceable (though the main character could have been fleshed out a bit more).”
- “One big content warning about this game: the story isn't really in your face but the game is about human trafficking and a pedophile, so obviously, you have to decide if that is something you're willing to experience.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay offers a unique take on classic survival horror with well-executed mechanics like smooth inventory management and a challenging permadeath system. While some appreciate its style, strategic depth, and tension-building features like limited ammo and sanity effects, others find the combat repetitive, enemy spawns frustrating, and occasional instant kills unfair. Overall, it blends nostalgic elements with fresh twists, though it may not appeal to all players due to its difficulty and pacing.
- “Overall, despite my issues, there is something really unique here that stands out among the crowd both visually and mechanically.”
- “This is a classic survival horror game with some neat little twists on the mechanics and an impeccable sense of style.”
- “The inventory mechanics are well done and the items you pick up interact well when they are used in the right place (ex: keys to locked door - you don't have to constantly click on the key then the door and back and forth... smooth I tell you lol).”
- “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.”
- “I’ve mentioned before that I’m not the biggest fan of the permadeath mechanic so when I realised that Ghost at Dawn incorporated this I really was on edge.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The music in the game is generally praised for being unique, eclectic, and well-composed, greatly enhancing the atmosphere and overall experience. While many find the soundtrack eerie and fitting for the horror setting, some feel that the nearly constant, sometimes chipper music can detract from building tension during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the visuals and mood effectively.
- “The art style and soundtrack are really one of a kind here.”
- “A great blend of awesome art, eclectic music, and brain-tickling detective fun.”
- “Graphically it’s beautiful and atmospheric which is only added to by the absolutely stunning soundtrack.”
- “Many of the tracks are very chipper, which works extremely well in a more surreal game such as Alisa, where that was the environment and the atmosphere and it really served the game... but here, there were times when it simply felt like the wrong music was playing.”
- “Almost too many unique songs for each map kinda takes the ability to enjoy them while playing.”
- “A horror game’s music is supposed to add to the fear, make the player feel on edge and the hairs on the back of their neck stand up.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The game's graphics stand out with a unique, ultra-stylized art style that blends anime and film-noir aesthetics, creating a visually striking and creepy survival horror atmosphere. Reviewers praise its expressive character designs, clever UI elements, and overall stunning, atmospheric visuals that complement the game's tone perfectly.
- “This one is certainly one of the more unique survival horror games out there, from its ultra-stylized visual approach in both UI and in-game aesthetics to its clever spins on item boxes, limited saves, and player feedback. There's a whole lot of playful boundary pushing going on here without ever straying so far as to make it feel anything but a genuine survival horror game.”
- “The graphics, aesthetics, and classic survival horror design make for a very creepy experience.”
- “Graphically this game is beyond stunning.”
- “The only positive I have for this game is that they tried something different with the art style.”
- “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.”
- “The visuals.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
27%
18%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy, tense, and cinematic qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals and well-designed monsters. However, some users felt the music occasionally clashed with the mood, with overly cheerful tracks detracting from the intended tension. Overall, the atmosphere is a key strength, effectively supporting the survival horror experience.
- “I fell in love with the game's atmosphere the second I saw the first trailer.”
- “The scenery is incredibly atmospheric, the colour palette is gorgeous, and the camera angles create incredible cinematic experiences.”
- “The game does establish the creepy atmosphere quite well and adds in various spooky moments and jump scares to keep the player on their toes.”
- “75% of the time, the music was really nice and helped distinguish the game from its peers, but I think a little more atmosphere would have done wonders for the tension, rather than having near-constant songs playing as you explore and fend off ghosts.”
- “Many of the tracks are very chipper, which works well in a surreal game like Alisa where that fits the environment and atmosphere, but here, there were times when it simply felt like the wrong music was playing.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for its well-timed, tongue-in-cheek moments that provide a perfect balance to the horror elements, creating an enjoyable and memorable experience. Players appreciate the dedication to incorporating clever comedic touches without detracting from the survival horror atmosphere.
- “Like it took me out completely staring at his 'ahhhhh' face lolol, I had to stop and laugh because it was hilarious.”
- “The fun little nuggets of tongue-in-cheek humor sprinkled throughout is *chef's kiss, and shows a certain level of dedication the creator has (which is a lot).”
- “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.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s multiple endings significantly enhance its replayability, offering players compelling reasons to revisit and explore different outcomes. This feature is highly praised and contributes strongly to the game's overall value.
- “The game has multiple endings, which adds replayability to its value. It's a solid 9/10!”
- “There are multiple endings, which means great replay value!”
- “You cannot beat a game with replay value, that's for sure.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits minor stability issues, including buggy joystick controls and occasional glitches, which slightly impact the overall experience.
- “The joystick movement is buggy, the enemies have nearly unavoidable AoEs, and everyone looks like a nendoroid.”
- “Still some minor glitches.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by exceptionally stylish and beautifully rendered anime-inspired designs, with many characters based on real people known by the developer, adding a unique and personal touch.
- “The character design is off the charts cool - especially as many (if not all) are based off of real people known by the developer.”
- “The character designs are very anime and beautifully rendered.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect somewhat tedious, particularly due to the more involved storage and management requirements compared to typical systems.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has declined since its original release, with performance issues emerging due to recent design choices, leading to a noticeably worse experience for some players.
- “Honestly, I never had any performance issues before the game's original release, so it saddens me to say that whatever design choices the developers have made or implemented have made the game run significantly worse for me.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect highlights a deeply personal and heartfelt narrative centered on a character's sister's disappearance, emphasizing feelings of frustration and urgency due to the lack of serious attention given to the case.