Ghostbusters

About

Ghostbusters is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by IllFonic and was released on October 18, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Ghostbusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition will include the game and all four of the DLC Drops from 2023. This is a fun, multiplayer game perfect for all skill levels. Four proton pack wielding Ghostbusters attempt to catch a Ghost haunting unique locations in asymmetrical multiplayer battles online or offline. As players progress, they will unlock cosmetics and upgrades for both Ghostbusters and…

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 822 reviews

story40 positive mentions

optimization14 negative mentions

The game captures the charm and nostalgia of the Ghostbusters franchise, making it a delight for fans.
Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a good mix of cooperative and competitive elements.
Customization options for characters and gear are extensive, allowing for a personalized experience.

The AI can be frustratingly incompetent, often hindering gameplay rather than assisting.
There are performance issues, including stuttering and lag, especially during intense moments.
The matchmaking system can lead to unbalanced games, with inexperienced players often pitted against veterans.

story
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
69%
6%
The game's story is generally considered short and somewhat lacking in depth, often feeling like a series of cutscenes interspersed with repetitive missions. While it features nostalgic elements and voice acting from original cast members, many players express a desire for a more substantial narrative experience, particularly in a co-op context. Overall, the story serves as a light backdrop to the multiplayer gameplay, providing some charm but leaving players wanting more.
- “The storyline is well-crafted, evoking a sense of nostalgia for fans of the franchise.”
- “The voice work by the actors themselves is great and the story, though short, is lots of fun and well done.”
- “The story is fun, if a bit short.”
- “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 them telling you to 'go do some missions and we'll call you when we're ready' and once they're 'ready' you just watch another cutscene, rinse and repeat.”
- “My only big criticism is how short the story is.”
gameplay
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The gameplay of "Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" is generally praised for its engaging and accessible mechanics, offering a fun asymmetrical multiplayer experience that balances nostalgia with fresh elements. Players appreciate the variety in loadouts and playstyles, though some note a learning curve and potential imbalance against veteran players. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable and customizable, concerns about repetitiveness and matchmaking issues have been raised, suggesting that the game could benefit from additional content and refinement.
- “The gameplay is really great, mechanics are cool, loadouts are awesome to build based on different play styles as Ghostbusters. The ghosts are real fun to play as but have a slight learning curve that's easy to master after some practice. The XP system is nice, and the community is awesome.”
- “Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ecto Edition brings the iconic ghost-hunting franchise to life in a fun, accessible asymmetrical multiplayer experience that strikes a solid balance between nostalgia and fresh gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is fast, fun, and chaotic in all the right ways, providing enough variety for depth and strategy while keeping players engaged.”
- “The gameplay loop is pretty boring after a few matches.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay loop doesn't really lend itself to high replay value.”
- “The gameplay mechanics feel clunky and un-intuitive and there's a strong lack of depth and purposeful design.”
graphics
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the vibrant art style and its ability to capture the essence of the Ghostbusters franchise. While the Ecto Edition sacrifices some graphical fidelity for portability, it still maintains a strong aesthetic, though some users noted performance issues and stuttering on lower settings. Overall, the visuals are described as charming and well-executed, enhancing the fun gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, bringing the vibrant and spooky atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe to life with impressive detail.”
- “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 graphics animation style is both reminiscent and a tribute to the original films and cartoon series.”
- “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 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.”
- “Game is fun overall, however frequent infinite load screens and graphical stutters run rampant making the overall experience extremely frustrating.”
optimization
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
51%
36%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users noted that the Ecto Edition is surprisingly well-optimized and portable-friendly, others experienced severe frame drops and poor performance, especially during intense effects. Overall, while there are indications that performance may improve with continued play and future patches, many players find the game to be poorly optimized, particularly at launch.
- “The ecto edition is optimized surprisingly well and doesn’t feel like it was just duct-taped together.”
- “In addition to cosmetics, gear upgrades substantively alter your equipment and performance, so it has tangible effects.”
- “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.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
45%
14%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic feel and ability to evoke the original Ghostbusters soundtrack, while others find certain tracks corny or repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is highlighted as a strong point, enhancing the game's retro charm and satisfying fans with familiar themes and sound design. However, some players noted that specific tracks, like the ghost capture music, can be grating and too short.
- “Great soundtrack!”
- “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.”
- “Also, the music is corny as hell.”
- “Sounds like the kind of music they use in movies and TV shows when a bumbling idiot shows up on screen.”
- “The ghost capture and firehouse music are unbearable, too short to loop endlessly.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed – Ecto Edition" is a standout feature, blending unique gameplay mechanics with comedic elements, such as chasing mischievous ghosts and calming frightened bystanders. Players find the chaotic interactions and character-driven humor both entertaining and engaging, making it a delightful experience for fans and casual gamers alike. The game's charm is further enhanced by its solid voice acting and a lighthearted narrative that keeps the tone fun throughout.
- “Not many other FPS games come to mind where your objective isn't to kill the enemy but instead to chase it down and trap it, making for a unique and humorous rhythm.”
- “As a ghostbuster, you’ll be sweeping through museums, prisons, and other very haunted real estate trying to track down some slippery poltergeist who thinks it’s funny to throw chairs and scream like a kettle on fire.”
- “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.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
The game's stability has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. While some players note improvements with recent updates and DLCs, the overall sentiment indicates that the game remains prone to instability, affecting the overall experience. Despite these issues, players still find the game enjoyable, suggesting that ongoing updates may eventually enhance its stability.
- “It runs great and feels smooth like butter.”
- “Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
- “This game would be good...if it wasn't for a lot of game crashing glitches!”
- “Very buggy currently, have lost progression twice in the last couple hours.”
- “The bugs, glitches and overall performance issues will remain until Illfonic decides to 'properly' fix said issues.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics and vibrant, spooky aesthetic that effectively brings the Ghostbusters universe to life. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create an immersive experience that captures the fun and essence of the franchise, making it one of the best recent entries in asymmetrical multiplayer games. Overall, the atmosphere is described as inviting and enjoyable, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, bringing the vibrant and spooky atmosphere of the Ghostbusters universe to life with impressive detail.”
- “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.”
- “An excellent and fun game which captures the Ghostbusters atmosphere perfectly.”
- “Honestly, this is the closest game besides the original movie games to get close to nailing 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 environs and atmosphere are especially well done.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
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.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it offers opportunities for customization and progression, it can also feel tedious and time-consuming. Some users appreciate the option to pay for unlocks to bypass grinding, while others enjoy the challenge it presents. Overall, the grind is seen as balanced but may deter those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “Interestingly, if you don't like grinding content like that, you can opt to pay an extra $7 to unlock everything.”
- “It's fun, but tedious.”
- “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/challenges.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse gear, maps, and customizable ghosts, making it enjoyable even after completing the story mode. While some players note that the gameplay loop may not support extensive replay value, the overall variety and fun factor encourage repeated playthroughs. Many users recommend it for its engaging mechanics and substantial replay potential.
- “It successfully delivers on the fantasy of both hunting and haunting, offering high replayability thanks to the variety of gear, maps, and customizable ghosts.”
- “Has a lot of replayability due to its variety, as there are many different loadout options for the busters and choices for the ghosts.”
- “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.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a wholesome and emotionally uplifting experience, with a robust character creator that enhances their investment in the world. Despite some criticism regarding content length, many appreciate the emotional depth and enjoyment it brings, particularly in moments like winning as a ghost. Overall, the game successfully evokes positive feelings and a sense of connection.
- “The game is very wholesome, and while you might see some 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.”