Ghost Song

Ghost Song is the perfect mix of Metroid and Hollow Knight, creating a gorgeous-looking game full of exploration, a great story, and a creepy atmosphere. If you like Metroidvania-style games, make sure you check out this title!

84%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, replayability

84% User Score Based on 1,007 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

Ghost Song is a single player open world role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Old Moon and was released on November 3, 2022. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,007 reviews

story125 positive mentions

grinding51 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
The story and character interactions are engaging, with well-written dialogue that adds depth to the experience.
The combat system encourages a balance between ranged and melee attacks, providing a unique gameplay mechanic.

The game suffers from excessive backtracking and limited fast travel points, making exploration tedious.
Boss fights can feel unbalanced, often being bullet sponges that detract from the overall enjoyment.
The story can be vague and leaves many questions unanswered, leading to a lack of satisfaction in the conclusion.

story
487 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The story of "Ghost Song" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its atmospheric and philosophical themes, while others criticize its execution as vague and disjointed. The narrative often relies on environmental storytelling and NPC interactions, which can lead to missed content if players do not explore thoroughly. Overall, while the game offers intriguing ideas and emotional moments, it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of closure, leaving some players feeling unsatisfied with the overall plot progression.
- “The atmosphere is wonderful, the story is somber and thought-provoking, and the OST is astoundingly appropriate for it all.”
- “The writing is excellent and the voice work is good, but it's absolutely carried by its soundtrack - the guy behind the music understood the assignment, it perfectly suits the game's melancholy-yet-warm story and tone.”
- “The story is quite mysterious in itself and leaves some things unanswered or up to interpretation, but its different quests are often full of charm and emotion which made the journey even more engrossing.”
- “It's honestly some of the most off-putting storytelling the medium has to offer.”
- “The story is somewhat non-existent.”
- “The plot you do have is to fetch 5 things around the world, but after each you have to return to the hub, all in the name of padding game length with tedium.”
music
479 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The music in "Ghost Song" is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's melancholic tone and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautiful, soothing, and perfectly suited to the game's exploration-driven narrative. While some find the music occasionally forgettable or subdued, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and aesthetic appeal.
- “The soundtrack is easily the standout aspect here.”
- “A beautiful atmospheric metroidvania with a slow, almost cozy pace with stunning ethereal music.”
- “The music and the tone are hauntingly beautiful, and there's a vibe here that absolutely nails that lonely, otherworldly sci-fi feel.”
- “The music is forgettable, at least what's there.”
- “While there's no song I found myself humming or memorized, they are very much somber ambiance style tracks, and in this regard, they nailed it.”
- “The soundtrack feels warm but lonely and fits this game like a glove.”
gameplay
375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The gameplay of "Ghost Song" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its atmospheric design and unique mechanics, such as the overheating gun system that enhances melee attacks. However, criticisms abound regarding sluggish controls, frustrating death penalties, and a lack of depth in combat and exploration, leading to a gameplay experience that feels both tedious and derivative of other titles in the genre. While some find enjoyment in its challenges and artistic presentation, others feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it hard to recommend without reservations.
- “Ghost Song is a beautifully-crafted game with fun game mechanics, an eerie atmosphere, a mysterious premise, and interesting paths to explore.”
- “The gameplay is challenging without being frustrating and can be made more difficult if you're up for the challenge.”
- “The sense of mystery, the actual joy of exploration, and the core gameplay itself all combine into one of the best examples of a true metroid-like that I've ever played.”
- “After 19 hours of gameplay and active upgrades, the protagonist’s damage increased from 16 to 18.”
- “The gameplay is slow - similar to the original Metroid.”
- “The dark souls mechanic where you lose everything if you die twice, even if you are on easy mode, doesn't need to be there, or should be an option for those who want it.”
atmosphere
300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The atmosphere of "Ghost Song" is widely praised for its evocative, melancholic tone, enhanced by stunning art design and a haunting soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of isolation and mystery, making exploration feel immersive and rewarding. However, while the atmosphere is a standout feature, some reviews note that it occasionally overshadows gameplay mechanics, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience.
- “A beautiful atmospheric metroidvania with a slow, almost cozy pace and stunning ethereal music.”
- “The atmosphere is moody and well-defined, expertly capturing the melancholic isolation reminiscent of classic metroid games.”
- “Ghost song is a beautifully crafted game with fun game mechanics, an eerie atmosphere, a mysterious premise, and interesting paths to explore.”
- “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
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning art style, atmospheric visuals, and haunting soundscapes, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Many reviewers noted the beautiful hand-drawn artwork and the effective use of color and parallax effects, which enhance the game's melancholic tone. However, some players mentioned occasional graphical confusion and a lack of variety in certain areas, though overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Ghost Song masterfully crafts a beautifully desolate world filled with haunting visuals and eerie soundscapes.”
- “The visuals in this game 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 murky, gnarled art style and zero premises turned me down, let alone the rather weak state of our protagonist.”
- “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
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with players finding the combat slow, tedious, and lacking in variety. The limited fast travel options and frequent backtracking contribute to a frustrating experience, making exploration feel laborious. While some players noted that grinding can lead to improved gameplay later on, the overall sentiment is that the game suffers from excessive repetition and a lack of engaging mechanics.
- “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 problem is that with so few fast travel locations, it makes it too tedious to keep checking every location for a new event or to progress an ongoing sidequest.”
- “Grinding quickly becomes an absurd prospect with experience requirements inflating rapidly, and stations for leveling up being spread out too far.”
- “It's tedious having to travel long distances after you die to a boss.”
emotional
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching storytelling and poignant character interactions, often evoking strong feelings such as sadness and nostalgia. Players appreciate the blend of humor and tragedy, with many noting that the narrative resonates deeply, leading to moments of genuine emotional impact, including tears. Despite some gameplay flaws, the heartfelt dialogues and atmospheric music contribute to a memorable experience that captures the essence of human emotion in a way that stands out among other titles.
- “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.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
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 noted that creating different character builds or experiencing new game plus modes could enhance replayability, but many agree that the game could benefit from additional content or improvements to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “Replayable if you’re invested in the characters, their stories, and 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
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
Character development in the game is mixed, with some players noting a lack of meaningful growth for the main character, Samus, while appreciating the brief and endearing development of secondary characters like Blue. The character designs and overall art direction are praised, contributing to a strong atmosphere, but the depth of character development may not be as prominent as expected. Overall, while the artistic representation is compelling, it does not fully compensate for the perceived shortcomings in character growth.
- “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.”
- “And while I can't find any meaningful character development from Samus, I see brief and endearing character development from Blue.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with smooth performance reported across platforms, including the Steam Deck, and no significant bugs encountered. However, it is noted that the game is primarily optimized for a 16:9 aspect ratio and that keyboard/mouse controls may not be as refined as those for controllers. While the mechanics are well-implemented, some players feel that the emphasis on restrictive mechanics detracts from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay experience.
- “Though Ghost Song is visually appealing, the game is primarily optimized for a 16:9 aspect ratio.”
- “Shooting is punchy and killing enemies is satisfying; the game looks and feels great, and my entire playthrough was on my deck with zero 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.”
- “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.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 mechanics. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment of the game, especially as players progress and unlock new abilities.
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Despite being available for an extended period, users continue to experience frequent freezing issues, indicating ongoing stability problems.
- “It's been out for a long time, and it still freezes.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experience constant lag and instability, which ruins the experience.”