Skip to main content

Ghost Song

Ghost Song is a fantastic game that blends Metroid and Dark Souls to create an experience that’s tense, touching and tough to put down.
82%Game Brain Score
story, music
grinding, replayability
84% User Score Based on 912 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox
Buy Nowfrom $2.46
Buy NowGet on Steam€19.99Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

About

"Ghost Song" is a metroidvania-style game set in a moody, atmospheric sci-fi world. As the stranger, a mysterious pilot with a forgotten past, players explore an abandoned space station and battle against alien creatures. The game features various abilities and upgrades to discover, non-linear exploration, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
Ghost Song screenshot
+2

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 925 reviews
story117 positive mentions
grinding48 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and atmospheric sound design create an immersive experience.
  • Engaging story with well-developed characters and intriguing dialogue.
  • Unique combat mechanics that encourage a balance between ranged and melee attacks.
  • Frequent backtracking and limited fast travel options can make exploration tedious.
  • Boss fights often feel like bullet sponges, leading to frustrating encounters.
  • The ending feels abrupt and leaves many plot points unresolved.
  • story
    452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Ghost Song" is characterized by its poignant and atmospheric narrative, blending environmental storytelling with character interactions that evoke a sense of personal exploration and introspection. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and world-building, others find the plot to be simplistic and fragmented, often feeling like a series of fetch quests with loose ends and unresolved threads. Overall, the storytelling is engaging for those willing to delve into its mysteries, but it may leave some players wanting more coherence and closure.

    • “The game's storytelling is poignant, subtle, and emotionally resonant.”
    • “Every corner of the map tells a story, whether through environmental details, ancient ruins, or cryptic messages from other explorers.”
    • “The atmosphere, story, characters, and music are glorious.”
    • “The story is all over the place; the NPCs are somewhat bland and I did not care much about their ramblings.”
    • “The story left me feeling extremely unfulfilled.”
    • “The game's story gets in the way of actually playing the game: the game is littered with missable NPC encounters which change what happens thereafter, and you most of the time are given no hints where to look for them and when.”
  • music
    439 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in *Ghost Song* has been widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's sense of isolation and exploration. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the beautifully crafted visuals, creating a melancholic ambiance that resonates throughout the gameplay experience. While some found the music to be subdued or lacking in memorable tracks, many agreed that it plays a crucial role in immersing players in the game's eerie world.

    • “The soundtrack complements this with haunting melodies that enhance the sense of isolation and wonder.”
    • “The music is phenomenal; this is one of my favorite parts of the game.”
    • “The music is sparse, but loaded with emotional post-rock tunes that can truly soothe the mind and relax the soul.”
    • “Unfortunately, Ghost Song stumbles due to game design choices that significantly detract from the immersive experience.”
    • “Don't understand the hype for this... the art and music and atmosphere are all well done, but the core gameplay mechanics of exploration and combat are so bad, and it ends in a crappy 'what?'-style anti-climax that just craps all over your character.”
    • “The music is either absent (leaving only discordant festering bug noises to hear as you traverse screens) or somber acoustic guitar (kinda boring).”
  • gameplay
    351 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Ghost Song" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric design and unique mechanics, such as the gun overheating system that enhances melee attacks. However, frustrations arise from clunky movement, punishing death mechanics that reduce max health, and tedious backtracking due to limited fast travel options, which detract from the overall experience. While some find the combat engaging and the exploration rewarding, others criticize the game for its derivative mechanics and lack of polish, leading to a gameplay experience that feels both challenging and at times frustrating.

    • “The gameplay is fun and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is challenging without being frustrating and can be made more difficult if you're up for the challenge.”
    • “The gameplay itself is also really solid, with a lot of different weapons and effects to play with in different combinations.”
    • “While Ghost Song's extraordinary atmosphere and narrative depth initially captivated me, its persistent design flaws and gameplay frustrations diminished my desire to fully explore its otherwise brilliant world.”
    • “The gameplay is the most frustrating thing I've experienced in gaming in recent memory, and yes, I play Modern Warfare 2 (2022).”
    • “The game does have its fair share of real flaws though, namely that Dark Souls was the worst thing to happen to indie metroidvanias because they made indie devs think tedious mechanics like loads of backtracking and getting you into a penalty loop for dying in your attempts to get better were good game design.”
  • atmosphere
    274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Ghost Song" is widely praised for its haunting beauty, immersive sound design, and captivating art style, creating a melancholic and eerie environment that enhances exploration and storytelling. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of isolation and mystery, making it a standout experience for fans of atmospheric metroidvanias. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is exceptional, it is occasionally undermined by gameplay flaws and empty areas.

    • “The game's visual design is stunning, with eerie, atmospheric environments that set a perfect tone for exploration.”
    • “Ghost song just oozes with melancholic atmosphere and a sense of exploration.”
    • “The atmosphere alone is enough to write a novel on, but instead I'll say nothing and let you experience it all firsthand blind as all games should be.”
    • “While Ghost Song's extraordinary atmosphere and narrative depth initially captivated me, its persistent design flaws and gameplay frustrations diminished my desire to fully explore its otherwise brilliant world.”
    • “The individual areas in the game, however, lack much in the way of striking atmosphere or identity.”
    • “The isolating and foreign atmosphere is quickly hindered by frequent NPCs and dialogue.”
  • graphics
    188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning art style, atmospheric visuals, and intricate designs that create a haunting and immersive world. Many players appreciate the hand-drawn aesthetics and the effective use of color and parallax effects, which enhance the overall experience. However, some reviewers noted occasional graphical confusion and a lack of variety in certain areas, suggesting that while the visuals are beautiful, they could benefit from more polish and diversity.

    • “Ghost Song masterfully crafts a beautifully desolate world filled with haunting visuals and eerie soundscapes.”
    • “The visuals are gorgeous - it feels like playing through a concept art book.”
    • “The environments and graphics are just absolutely beautiful and a treat to look at while exploring.”
    • “There are some graphically confusing bits on the map that threw me off a couple of times, but no other bugs.”
    • “The game does look to have a lot of work put into it, especially the graphics, but there was one thing off about them.”
    • “No qualms with the graphical style, but the main issue is that there isn't a lot of variety visually - the same colors, familiar aesthetics everywhere.”
  • grinding
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating due to slow movement, expensive upgrades, and excessive backtracking. While some players noted that grinding can enhance gameplay and make it more enjoyable later on, the overall sentiment is that the grinding mechanics detract from the experience, making exploration and combat feel laborious. Despite some efforts by developers to alleviate the tedium, the repetitive nature of grinding and backtracking remains a significant drawback for many players.

    • “The game does a pretty good job of telegraphing when they move (if not necessarily where), so it's not too tedious if you want to go out of your way to complete their stories.”
    • “The game encourages grinding for some upgrades, which feels antithetical to metroidvanias.”
    • “Grinding quickly becomes an absurd prospect with experience requirements inflating rapidly, and stations for leveling up being spread out too far.”
    • “It's impossible to buy all the weapons/equipables from the shop without grinding.”
  • emotional
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its poignant storytelling, heartfelt character interactions, and the ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears. Many reviewers highlight the game's blend of humor and tragedy, as well as its melancholic atmosphere, which resonates deeply and creates a sense of connection with the characters. Despite some gameplay flaws, the emotional depth and well-written dialogues contribute to a memorable and impactful experience.

    • “The game's storytelling is poignant, subtle, and emotionally resonant.”
    • “First metroidvania that made me cry.”
    • “Ghost Song hits on that melancholic - bittersweet tone that Hollow Knight often had with its atmosphere, only here the feeling stems from the loneliness and emotional baggage of the few you meet along your journey.”
  • optimization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally strong on platforms like the Steam Deck, with smooth performance and no bugs reported. However, it struggles on the Nintendo Switch, suffering from inconsistent frame rates and long loading times that disrupt gameplay. Additionally, while the game is primarily optimized for a 16:9 aspect ratio and controller use, keyboard and mouse support is lacking, which may affect the experience for some players.

    • “Shooting is punchy and killing enemies is satisfying, the game looks and feels great, and my entire playthrough was on my deck with 0 drops or hiccups in performance.”
    • “Lastly, performance was great and I did not encounter any bugs, so it's safe to say that this is a well-made and finished product, which isn't a given these days.”
    • “However, I would say that altogether, the mechanics are beautifully implemented for the platforming and map design in place, and have a decent ceiling for optimization that keeps even simple traversal engaging.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game suffers from significant performance problems on Switch, from an inconsistent frame rate to extensive loading times that destroy any flow the game has.”
    • “Personally, there is a little too much emphasis in the design on restrictive mechanics (e.g. stamina management while sprinting) over refining mechanics (e.g. movement techniques and animation cancelling) for me to want to play and replay this game for the joy of the optimization.”
    • “This is a problem, because frankly they don't have the chops to sell their lines, and consequently it makes both the script and the performances fall flat.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable enough to revisit, particularly if they are invested in the characters and their stories, others feel it lacks significant replay value. A few users mention the potential for replay through character customization and upgrades, but many express a desire for more substantial changes or features to enhance replayability.

    • “Replayable if you’re invested in the characters, their stories, & what they have to say/their outcomes.”
    • “This game is somewhat short but has moderate replay value.”
    • “Also with various upgrades and weapon types, the replayability is there.”
    • “For me, the game had no replayability; it just wasn't that good.”
    • “Not much replayability, although you can try creating a character with different stats.”
    • “I wish it would offer some more replayability, like some changes on new game plus.”
  • character development
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional character design and artistic direction, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere. While some players felt that the writing and worldbuilding were lacking, they acknowledged that the character designs and the potential for character growth added depth to the experience. The combination of strong visuals and intriguing character arcs enhances the overall satisfaction of the game.

    • “As far as the writing went, even though I said I didn't like the worldbuilding, the place where the writing shined the most was the character designs.”
    • “Games with strong artistic representation and intriguing character development, at times, are much more satisfying for me than any gameplay could offer.”
    • “An amazing atmosphere, great character design, as well as a great story.”
    • “It also occurred to me way too late in the game that character development might even be a subject of relevance at all, and that every time you return a ship part you pass a threshold for completing missable content.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of intelligent dialogue and moments that juxtapose sadness with comedy, creating an emotional experience. Players find the protagonist, the deadsuit, to be both mysterious and amusing, contributing to the overall lightheartedness despite some initial frustrations with gameplay. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment of the game, especially as players progress and combat becomes less of a barrier.

    • “It also offers some very humorous and intelligent dialogues with NPCs.”
    • “The deadsuit is an excellent protagonist; she's mysterious but also kind of timid and funny.”
    • “Funny thing, the dev once said he was doing it because he was convinced Nintendo wouldn't do another 2D Metroid... then we got Dread.”

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

Buy Ghost Song

11h Median play time
17h Average play time
5-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Ghost Song

ENDER LILIES Quietus of the Knights Image
89%9.6kreviews

ENDER LILIES Quietus of the Knights

2021Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPhonePhone+8
Haiku, the Robot Image
92%2.5kreviews

Haiku, the Robot

2022Open World Platformer
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+4
The Last Faith Image
This game contains adult content
79%1.4kreviews

The Last Faith

2023Hack and Slash
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+7
Phoenotopia: Awakening Image
82%711reviews

Phoenotopia: Awakening

2021Open World Role Playing
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+6
GRIME Image
85%5.3kreviews

GRIME

2021Role Playing
Mac OSMac OSPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+7
Blue Fire Image
75%3.8kreviews

Blue Fire

2021Hack and Slash
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+6
Blasphemous Image
This game contains adult content
84%27.2kreviews

Blasphemous

2019Hack and Slash
iPhoneiPhoneMac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch+16
Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight Image
85%7.8kreviews

Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight

2016Role Playing
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+9
Iconoclasts Image
84%4.7kreviews

Iconoclasts

2018Action Adventure
Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPC+9
Afterimage Image
80%1.6kreviews

Afterimage

2023Hack and Slash
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4+7