Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 702 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Game Cover
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"Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition" is a multiplayer game where 4 players, as Ghostbusters, use proton packs to catch a Ghost in various locations. The Ghost player aims to evade and haunt the area. As players progress, they unlock cosmetics and upgrades for both sides. The game is easy to learn, fun to master, and offers online and offline play. This edition includes all 2023 DLC Drops.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 702 reviews
story32 positive mentions
optimization13 negative mentions
  • The game captures the essence of the Ghostbusters franchise with great attention to detail, including character customization and nostalgic references.
  • Gameplay is fun and engaging, offering a unique blend of asymmetrical multiplayer mechanics that allow players to either hunt ghosts or play as them.
  • The game is accessible for both casual and hardcore players, with a variety of unlockable content and no microtransactions.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and lag, especially during intense moments or when many effects are on screen.
  • AI teammates can be frustratingly incompetent, often failing to assist effectively during matches, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • Matchmaking can lead to unbalanced games, with inexperienced players often pitted against much higher-level opponents, making it difficult to enjoy the game fully.
  • story135 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered light and brief, primarily serving as a backdrop to its multiplayer focus, with many players expressing a desire for a more substantial narrative experience. While some appreciate the humor and voice acting, particularly from original cast members, others find the story repetitive and lacking depth, often feeling like a series of cutscenes tied to mission progression. Overall, the story is engaging enough for fans of the franchise, but many reviewers wish for a more immersive and fleshed-out campaign.

    • “Despite being primarily multiplayer-focused, the game offers a single-player campaign that has both a solid story with good humor and some fantastic voice acting that really brings the characters to life (especially the entities).”
    • “The story is fun, if a bit short.”
    • “The voice work by the actors themselves is great and the story, though short, is lots of fun and well done.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent and it's literally the same set of maps replayed over and over.”
    • “The absolute only qualm I have with this game is that the story just isn't really there; it mostly consists of watching a cutscene and then being told to 'go do some missions' and once they're 'ready' you just watch another cutscene, rinse and repeat.”
    • “My only big criticism is how short the story is.”
  • gameplay102 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics and fun loops, effectively capturing the essence of being a ghostbuster or a ghost in a cooperative multiplayer setting. While the game offers a unique blend of asymmetrical gameplay with solid customization options, some players note a lack of depth and variety in content, leading to repetitive experiences over time. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the genre, especially those who enjoy cooperative play, but may not appeal to those seeking extensive replay value or innovation.

    • “The cooperative ghost-catching gameplay is incredibly engaging and a great way to team up with friends.”
    • “The gameplay is easy to pick up but not shallow; it provides enough variety for depth and strategy.”
    • “Gameplay loop is fun, matches don't feel like they overstay their welcome and both ghosts and ghostbusters have plenty of mechanics and options to allow for creative plays for either team.”
    • “The gameplay loop is, overall, the same.”
    • “However, this isn't the main issue; the game just doesn't provide much. It is designed for coop/multiplayer, but there are only 14 players in-game on Steam at the moment, so expect to play with bots or bring your friends because this is boring. The story can be completed in less than a day, and it is the same stuff every match; they basically copied Dead by Daylight and added Ghostbusters mechanics for PvP.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics feel clunky and un-intuitive, and there's a strong lack of depth and purposeful design.”
  • graphics48 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and charm that aligns well with the Ghostbusters franchise. However, players report significant performance issues, including stuttering and lag, especially on lower settings, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the visuals polished and engaging, others criticize the cartoonish aesthetic as overly bright and lacking realism.

    • “The graphics and effects are sharp and polished and really add to the playfulness of the game.”
    • “Developed by seasoned veterans in the gaming industry, this title delivers a delightful blend of hide-and-seek asymmetrical gameplay, stunning visuals, and enough Ghostbusters charm to make even the most stoic of gamers crack a smile.”
    • “The stunning graphics, intuitive gameplay, and clever incorporation of classic elements like the ecto goggles create an immersive experience.”
    • “This game stutters like crazy on the lowest graphical setting, which wouldn't be an issue if the game didn't feel like a chore of multitasking.”
    • “Is an amazingly fun game, yet whenever a ghost attacks, the game lags hard even on lowered graphics.”
    • “The game also feels poorly optimized for PC in many cases, with noticeable stuttering in cutscenes and when a lot of effects are going on screen at the same time, unless put on the lowest graphical settings.”
  • optimization37 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frame rate drops, and performance issues, particularly on PC. While some users noted that performance improves after initial shader compilation, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, requiring more powerful hardware than expected. Despite these issues, there are indications that developers are actively working on patches to address these performance concerns.

    • “In addition to cosmetics, gear upgrades substantively alter your equipment and performance, so it has tangible effects.”
    • “It's well optimized, and the offline bots are actually competent and do what they're supposed to.”
    • “However, since I've been playing this since its release on Epic, I can say that the devs are very on top of bug stomping and performance quality, and it will only get better from here.”
    • “Game is super unoptimized; it takes more power to run this than it does to run Warhammer 40k: Darktide, and that is crazy to me.”
    • “The game also feels poorly optimized for PC in many cases, with noticeable stuttering in cutscenes and when a lot of effects are going on screen at the same time, unless put on the lowest graphical settings.”
    • “This game is really unoptimized, like really bad, despite having a PC capable of running it.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while many players appreciate the sound design and voice acting, noting that it captures the nostalgic essence of the original Ghostbusters, others lament the absence of iconic tracks like Ray Parker Jr.'s theme and Elmer Bernstein's score. Despite this, the original soundtrack is generally well-received, with some players highlighting its ability to evoke a retro 1980s feel and enhance the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's charm, though the lack of certain classic songs is a notable drawback for some fans.

    • “The music does a great job of feeling like the original soundtrack while adding layers of epicness.”
    • “This satisfies the nostalgia with all the right sights and sounds you expect with an exceptional soundtrack.”
    • “Great looking graphics, runs well, has all the music and little easter eggs from the films that fans of the series will recognize.”
    • “First, the iconic soundtrack is missing.”
    • “I understand that it's probably a copyright issue, but it’s a real bummer to not have these iconic songs in this game.”
    • “The ghost capture and firehouse music are unbearable, too short to loop endlessly.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including lost progress. While some players note improvements with recent updates and DLCs, others feel that new content often introduces additional issues rather than resolving existing ones. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability remains a significant concern.

    • “It runs great and feels smooth like butter.”
    • “Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
    • “Very buggy currently, have lost progression twice in the last couple hours.”
    • “With each DLC release, the game itself gets more buggy and more issues always seem to arise again due to Illfonic focusing on releasing junk DLC instead of properly utilizing the Unreal 4 engine and actually releasing a 'correct' patch.”
    • “The bugs, glitches, and overall performance issues will remain until Illfonic decides to 'properly' fix said issues.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, battle passes, and other monetization tactics, offering a complete experience for the $20 base price. Players appreciate the absence of cash grabs and the availability of free updates, highlighting the game's commitment to a fair and enjoyable experience without the pitfalls of modern monetization strategies.

    • “You level up quickly and there are tons of customization options with zero microtransactions.”
    • “All the game updates have been completely free, and there is no monetization whatsoever.”
    • “Unlike almost every other game of this type, there are no battle passes or microtransactions; the $20 base game gets you everything.”
    • “All the game's updates have been completely free, and there is no monetization whatsoever.”
    • “Please take note that all of this is without a hint of premium currency or microtransactions in-game.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game effectively captures the fun and immersive atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe, drawing favorable comparisons to classic titles and other horror franchises. Players appreciate the art style and environment design, which invite exploration and enhance the overall experience, making it a standout in the asymmetrical multiplayer genre. Despite some community challenges, the atmosphere remains a highlight, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “A fun game that captures the fun and atmosphere of the world of the Ghostbusters.”
    • “Honestly, this is the closest game besides the original movie games to nail the atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe, especially the animated universe in terms of art style.”
    • “[i]Spirits Unleashed[/i] creates an atmosphere that invites you to experience the world of Ghostbusters without having to spell things out.”
    • “Honestly, this is the closest game, besides the original movie games, to nail the atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe, especially the animated universe, in terms of art style.”
    • “[i]Spirits Unleashed[/i] instead creates an atmosphere that invites you to experience the world of Ghostbusters without having to spell things out.”
    • “The environments and atmosphere are especially well done.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability thanks to its diverse loadout options and engaging gameplay, particularly after completing the story mode. However, some players feel that the limited variety of major ghosts in the missions may hinder long-term replay value. Despite this, many users still recommend the game for its fun mechanics and overall replay potential.

    • “Has a lot of replayability due to its variety, as there are many different loadout options for the busters and choices for the ghosts.”
    • “Super fun and offers lots of replayability.”
    • “We really only ever see one 'major ghost' in the story missions, and a few more are playable.”
    • “Has a lot of replayability due to its variety, as there are many different loadout options for the busters and options for the ghosts.”
    • “Has massive replay value after story mode; I would suggest it to friends.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game features a well-crafted single-player campaign that combines a solid story with effective humor and excellent voice acting, particularly for its characters. Players find the humor to be a standout aspect, describing it as easy, fun, and consistently funny, with memorable jokes that enhance the overall experience.

    • “Despite being primarily multiplayer-focused, the game offers a single-player campaign that has both a solid story with good humor and some fantastic voice acting that really brings the characters to life (especially the entities).”
    • “Easy, fun, and funny too.”
    • “This hilarious game needs to be optimized.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both enjoyable and tedious, with a strong emphasis on customization that encourages ongoing engagement. However, concerns are raised about the sustainability of the game once the online player base diminishes, as many competitive multiplayer titles lack offline options. While grinding is present, it is designed to be manageable through passive unlockables tied to contracts and challenges.

    • “It's fun, but tedious.”
    • “There's a sea of extremely competitive and grindy multiplayer games that already exist, and most of them don't have bots to play offline. So when the online player base dies, so does the entire playability of the game.”
    • “The game can be a little bit grindy as a fair warning, but unlockables are meant to be done passively once you've activated the various contracts and challenges.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game is praised for its wholesome emotional experience, with players feeling a strong investment in the world due to a robust character creator. While some critics mention a lack of content, many find the emotional depth and charm sufficient to create a fulfilling experience, despite its relatively short playtime of around 9.5 hours.

    • “The game is very wholesome, and while some may say it lacks content, I disagree.”
    • “I won't spoil it, but it's plenty wholesome, albeit a bit short (roughly 9.5 hours, not counting lore from hidden collectibles).”
    • “The character creator is shockingly robust and made me feel much more invested in the world.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
5-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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