Ghost of a Tale

Oozing heart, wit, charm and adventure from every digital pore, Ghost of a Tale is a beautifully crafted and warmly affecting adventure that deserves a place in the collections of PS4 owners everywhere.

90%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

90% User Score Based on 2,294 reviews

Critic Score 71%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $19.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

Buy NowGet on itch.io Store$24.99

About

"Ghost of a Tale" is an action-adventure game set in a medieval world. You play as a minstrel mouse named Tilo, who must navigate treacherous dungeons and outsmart enemies to save his kidnapped companion. The game features stealth-based gameplay and puzzles, with a strong focus on exploration and lore.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+12

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,294 reviews

story709 positive mentions

stability141 negative mentions

Charming visuals and art style that evoke nostalgia for classic animated films.
Engaging story with well-developed characters and rich lore that keeps players invested.
Fun stealth mechanics and exploration that reward curiosity and attention to detail.

Frequent backtracking and fetch quests can become tedious and frustrating.
Some bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with saving and character interactions.
Lack of clear direction for quests, leading to confusion and reliance on external guides.

story
1,999 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story of "Ghost of a Tale" is widely praised for its depth, charm, and emotional resonance, drawing players into a richly crafted world reminiscent of classic tales like "Redwall." While the narrative is engaging and features well-developed characters, many players note that the quest design can be tedious, often relying heavily on fetch quests and backtracking, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these gameplay frustrations, the compelling storyline and immersive atmosphere keep players invested, leaving them eager for a potential sequel to continue Tilo's journey.
- “The story and world building is amazing.”
- “The story is compelling, with Tilo’s quest driven by a mix of personal stakes and a desire to uncover the truth.”
- “Beautiful visuals, adorable and memorable characters, a fantastic story with wonderful world building!”
- “Just be wary of the search for whatever it is when you get stuck; running all over the map to find the next piece of the puzzle that continues the story is a bit tedious and arduous.”
- “Even on my third playthrough, I was getting hung up on the gating of game states denying progress, basically how main quests and side quests should dovetail together.”
- “The main story leaves you on a cliffhanger, and I can only hope that there’s a sequel in the works.”
gameplay
758 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
5%
The gameplay of "Ghost of a Tale" is primarily centered around stealth mechanics, exploration, and item collection, with a charming narrative and immersive world. While many players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and character interactions, criticisms arise regarding the repetitiveness of fetch quests and the simplicity of the stealth mechanics, which can feel rudimentary and less challenging as the game progresses. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable for those who appreciate story-driven experiences, but it may not satisfy players seeking complex mechanics or intense action.
- “The gameplay with its mechanics is great too, and it all works to create a really wholesome and immersive experience.”
- “The stealth mechanics are satisfying, and the game encourages you to think carefully about every move, making every success feel earned.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet fun.”
- “The gameplay is just tedious, with a lack of engaging mechanics that make it feel repetitive.”
- “The stealth mechanics quickly become a chore to engage with, rendering the gameplay stagnant.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay remains stagnant even after obtaining upgrades, and the infamous armor makes stealth feel obsolete.”
graphics
640 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style and immersive environments, often compared to high-budget titles despite being developed by a small indie team. Players appreciate the charming character designs, detailed textures, and atmospheric lighting that enhance the overall experience, although some have noted occasional graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enchanting narrative and world-building.
- “The art style is stunning, featuring a cute aesthetic that makes exploring the environment a joy.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, the way the grass and plants behave in this world is just incredible.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, delivering cozy and atmospheric environments - dawns are breathtaking, I bet you'll be stopping amazed from time to time just to watch.”
- “The game is full of graphical bugs that I can't even count.”
- “There are issues with this game, like bad explanations of what needs to be done in a quest and (for me) not enough contrast in the graphics making everything blend together.”
- “The graphics, sound, attention to detail and level design are all top notch, sometimes the game falls short, particularly when it comes to bigger story events (enemies bugging out when fighting each other, NPCs not reacting properly to recent events etc.).”
music
305 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
53%
1%
The music in "Ghost of a Tale" is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many noting that it complements the storytelling and character interactions effectively. However, some players express disappointment over the sparse use of music, particularly given the protagonist's role as a minstrel, and wish for more vocal accompaniment and consistent tracks throughout the gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered charming and fitting, its limited presence detracts from the immersive experience for some players.
- “The music is gorgeous and adds greatly to the emotional impact of exploring each area.”
- “The art, the music, the story... everything in this game is beautiful and charming!”
- “The music is well composed, especially the songs Tilo can sing, and the exploration/dialogue songs are good enough.”
- “A clear weak point this game has is: the main character is a minstrel, but the songs you can play are not voiced.”
- “The music when getting chased is extremely annoying and will play all the time.”
- “I also wish the music were better: it's adequate, but rather mundane, which is especially unfortunate because music is an important theme in the story.”
atmosphere
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
25%
2%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and enchanting qualities, combining beautiful graphics, charming character design, and a rich narrative that draws players into its world. Reviewers highlight the effective use of lighting, sound, and environmental details to create a captivating experience that enhances both exploration and storytelling. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature, making the game a must-play for fans of atmospheric adventures.
- “The atmosphere is incredible; you can stand on a parapet and just watch the sunrise, and you'll realize just how much more you need those candlesticks in this game than in Skyrim.”
- “The atmosphere created was awesome, the story is really good, graphics amazing, and the gameplay is fun.”
- “The game offers both a beautiful soundtrack and a lack thereof, as it doesn't shy away from supporting its atmosphere with absolute silence at times, leaving you in a dank, cold, dark and dirty dungeon with just the sound of bare mouse feet on the hard, cold floor.”
- “It's a little rough on the technical and performance side, but if you can stomach that, this is an engaging and beautiful little adventure, with very strong worldbuilding, attention to detail and a gentle yet haunting atmosphere.”
- “Even with its flaws, if you like atmosphere and story while exploring a game's every nook and cranny, I'd recommend giving this one a shot.”
stability
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly during the opening scenes. While some users noted that minor issues could be resolved with restarts or workarounds, many expressed frustration over game-breaking bugs and an unpolished experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, it currently suffers from significant stability issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “In summary; fantastic graphics and not buggy at all, the game looks beautiful and functions very smoothly.”
- “Awesome art style, cute animals, and runs great on mid-range specs.”
- “Amazing game, no glitches or bugs to report in the early access.”
- “I've tried reinstalling it 3 times and it freezes on the opening scene with the flame.”
- “Unfortunately, there are some UI bugs and glitches, and I don't think they'll be fixed. It's a shame because this game deserves better care.”
- “The save system is a crime against proper game design. Had I known how confusing and buggy it is, I would have hit the refund button so hard.”
humor
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, charming characters, and well-crafted dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter. Reviewers highlight the balance of whimsical and heartfelt moments, with many noting that the humor is both cute and sophisticated, avoiding crassness while still delivering memorable comedic moments. Overall, the game's humor enhances the storytelling and character development, making it a delightful experience for players.
- “The characters and dialogue are well-written, funny, and engaging.”
- “The writing is clever and often very funny, with some genuine surprises sprinkled throughout.”
- “The dialogues are often funny, but can deliver emotionally powerful exposition; the hidden depths of characters are nice to see, and you end up caring about the core cast of characters.”
emotional
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Ghost of a Tale" is widely praised for its heartwarming and immersive storytelling, featuring well-developed characters that evoke genuine feelings of joy, nostalgia, and empathy. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend lighthearted moments with deeper themes of grief, love, and hope, creating a cozy yet impactful experience. The art direction and music further enhance the emotional depth, making it a memorable adventure that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “If you're a fan of heartfelt adventures with stealth elements and a beautifully realized world, Ghost of a Tale will steal your heart.”
- “The characters have been very well thought out and written by the developers, hitting all the right emotional points and capturing the charm I seek in these kinds of tales.”
- “The story is touching, heartwarming, and tragic.”
grinding
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
99%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the backtracking and item searching tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the charming story and environment, the lack of fast travel and objective markers often leads to a frustrating experience, especially during fetch quests and stealth sections. Overall, while the game has its enjoyable moments, the repetitive nature of the gameplay can detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a slog at times.
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
- “The final nail in the coffin is that the last quest is so grindy and unsatisfying that I uninstalled and quit altogether.”
- “There are no objective markers, no fast travel, and you only unlock a limited 'thief-o-vision' partway through, so without a guide you're basically scrambling all over the map trying to interact with everything multiple times like the most tedious point-and-click adventure game you could imagine.”
- “Having to constantly re-travel areas in a stealth game where you're never allowed to kill any of the guards gets tedious, but the graphics are incredible, and the worldbuilding and story and lore are so detailed.”
optimization
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
45%
26%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, bugs, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly in later sections. While some users praised the visuals and reported smooth performance on higher-end systems, others experienced frequent drops in frame rates and technical glitches, indicating that the game may still require further optimization. Overall, the aesthetic appeal is strong, but the technical execution leaves much to be desired for a smoother gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are excellent and everything runs smoothly for me!”
- “Beautiful game, excellent on both artistic and technical level (perfect 21:9 support, and great optimization).”
- “Incredible well optimized”
- “Game performance is not good at all.”
- “The game is fun but the main thing that knocks it down is its performance and instability.”
- “I never buy early access games actually because of the reason why I'm refunding the game now: after so many years of early access development, it's still a buggy unoptimized mess.”
character development
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
23%
8%
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting the rich backstories of both main and NPC characters that enhance the overall narrative. The charming character designs and engaging dialogue contribute to a deep emotional connection, making players genuinely care about the characters' well-being. Overall, the game's storytelling, atmosphere, and character development are highlighted as standout features, appealing particularly to fans of lore-driven experiences.
- “So much for that, all in all it is a rich fantasy world, with lovely characters, and you can really feel the amount of love and care that went into the world and character design, and the story quickly pulled me in.”
- “Character development: the NPCs who become integral to the game have fairly rich backstories you learn over time, many of which could become relevant to the overall world the game is set in.”
- “The character development had me thrilled because not many games can make you desire the well-being of many characters, but this one did.”
- “I think it is a good compromise of game size, atmosphere, story and character design.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to its engaging story and side quests, others feel it lacks significant replay value after the initial playthrough, with limited incentives for subsequent runs. Overall, the game is praised for its narrative and aesthetics, but many reviewers express disappointment in its replayability, rating it around 6.5/10.
- “Despite that egregious bug, the game's actually surprisingly replayable if you really enjoy the story.”
- “I want a game to be fun first, possess a depth of mechanics that inspires me to figure everything out second, have replay value third, and finally... graphics are a nice bonus from games that already possess some of these higher qualities.”
- “I recommend this game if you're looking to get lost in the world of a fun, replayable stealth game with RPG elements and a great story.”
- “So replayability to see how the different choices affect the game is thrown out.”
- “Sadly there's almost no replay value; the only motivation for a new playthrough would be to get two achievements (never being spotted or hit), but you get no perks from having completed the game before.”
- “There isn't much replayability to the game; once you've done everything, you've done it, but it's still an excellent story, beautifully animated, and has a lovely score.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy has been criticized for feeling incomplete, as players perceive the lack of a proper conclusion as a potential setup for a sequel rather than a genuine narrative choice, leading to suspicions of a cash grab.
- “It's basically a 'to be continued...', but there's not enough content there for it to conceivably have been a cash grab to promote a sequel. It honestly feels like they got to the end of the game and decided to just not include any real conclusion.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems like the developers are more interested in squeezing money out of players than providing a complete gaming experience.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”