GhostControl Inc.

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 108 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
GhostControl Inc. Game Cover
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In GhostControl Inc., manage a team of ghosthunters and strategize in turn-based battles to rid London of paranormal infestations. Develop your business, equip your team with useful gadgets, and keep property damage to a minimum while exploring the city's landmarks. Your mission: put an end to ghostly pests and save the day!

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 108 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Fun blend of Ghostbusters and X-Com gameplay, offering a unique tactical experience.
  • Engaging management mechanics where players can upgrade equipment, hire staff, and run a ghost-hunting business.
  • Charming retro graphics and humorous dialogue that evoke nostalgia for classic games.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • Repetitive gameplay and lack of content can make the game feel grindy after a few hours.
  • Limited map variety and a small number of ghost types lead to a lack of depth in combat and strategy.
  • story39 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and unengaging, with players noting a lack of depth and a focus on grinding rather than narrative development. While there are mission calls and some text-based interactions, the overall plot feels bare-bones and fails to capture the charm of the "Ghostbusters" franchise. Players express disappointment in the absence of a free-play mode and a cohesive storyline, leading to a gameplay experience that feels more like a management simulation than a story-driven adventure.

    • “What made Ghostbusters special was not just the comedy and special effects, but the story of these three guys with this crazy idea starting a business, hiring new help, struggling with low funds, and blowing up into a successful organization.”
    • “A typical mission will start with a call coming in on your phone with someone telling you about their haunting, and you have the option to accept the mission or hang up on the caller.”
    • “There is a story, but you can play at your own pace and catch ghosts as long as you want, so there's lots of replay value here too.”
    • “There's also no proper story here.”
    • “There's no big story, no grandiose plot, no DLC, no controversy; it is very much that trope of 'what's on the tin.'”
    • “Certainly, the real story of the game is just managing your team, but there is an attempt at a mounting threat, but it's very bare bones and unengaging, and marred by more failed attempts at humor.”
  • gameplay33 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic turn-based strategy mechanics and creative ghost trapping features, while others criticize its clunky controls, repetitive nature, and outdated UI. Players appreciate the blend of tactics and management, but many feel that the gameplay lacks depth and can become monotonous over time. Overall, while the game offers fun elements and interesting systems, it struggles with execution and player engagement.

    • “Great gameplay and a must buy for a classic game enthusiast!”
    • “The concept is great, the gameplay is well-thought-out, it looks nice; if I were an indie dev, I'm sure I'd be very proud of it.”
    • “The gameplay takes the driving mechanic of the original Ghostbusters game from the NES, Master System, and Commodore 64 era, adds an X-COM battle element, and douses it all with a lot of ghostbusting-themed items.”
    • “My whole experience was trying to get through some really annoying mechanics, poor UI (I didn't mention it, but yeah, the UI in this game is way too old school and in this exact case it is not a good thing) and poorly implemented visuals.”
    • “The gameplay was immediately repetitive, and the refuel mechanic makes exploring a management chore.”
    • “Unfortunately, while it covers all the surface expectations, the gameplay itself feels really, really shallow.”
  • graphics30 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro style that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic titles like the original X-COM and Commodore 64 games. While some players appreciate the vibrant colors and pixel art, others note issues such as glitches and a dated user interface that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered serviceable and fitting for the game's theme, but they may not appeal to everyone, especially those seeking cutting-edge graphics.

    • “The art work / graphics are charming, and the music is very catchy.”
    • “The graphics are fun in their own retro style, and the theme works very well with the nostalgic look, but there are some definite rough patches.”
    • “The sound and visuals all give a solid retro experience, which can be a turn-off for some, but I think it provides a lot of charm and feels, overall, fairly consistent.”
    • “The problem is – the graphics in this game kinda... prevent you from having fun.”
    • “My whole experience was, like, trying to get through some really annoying mechanics, poor UI (I didn't mention it, but yeah, the UI in this game is way too old school and in this exact case it is not a good thing) and poorly implemented visuals.”
    • “Graphically, the game is pretty basic, and the UI is distinctive.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game features a catchy, nostalgic soundtrack reminiscent of the 80s Ghostbusters theme, which many players find enjoyable and fitting. However, the selection is limited and can become repetitive, leading some to suggest turning it down or off after a while. Overall, while the music adds charm and humor to the experience, it could benefit from greater variety to maintain player engagement.

    • “The art work / graphics are charming, and the music is very catchy.”
    • “Oldschool (8-bit?) style music that has a Ghostbusters feel without actually being Ghostbusters.”
    • “Great music despite not having any of the actual tracks from the movie and the gameplay of running a 'ghost control' business was fun.”
    • “The music is fairly small in selection and very repetitive, so expect to turn it down or off after the first 20 minutes of play.”
    • “The in-game music is repetitive in places and could do with more variety.”
    • “It never really grated my nerves, but it is bit-tune kind of music, so don't expect too much.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the witty dialogue and comedic elements reminiscent of Ghostbusters, while others feel that the attempts at humor often fall flat and can become tedious. Overall, the game is described as charming and funny, with humorous one-liners and amusing scenarios that enhance the gameplay experience, despite some critiques regarding the depth and engagement of the humor.

    • “Dialog that is both verbal and text that is both hilarious and reminiscent of Ghostbusters without being Ghostbusters.”
    • “The best part of this game is the art, music, and honestly the humor.”
    • “Reminds me of Ghostbusters (which I think it's supposed to) and the one-liners the characters say while on a job are funny.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly detract from the overall experience, including issues with saving progress and frustrating UI design. While some players find the vibrant graphics enjoyable, the lack of developer support for future updates raises concerns about the game's long-term stability. Overall, the game's janky performance and unresolved technical issues make it difficult to recommend.

    • “First thing to know is that the game is buggy.”
    • “Lastly, the game is just incredibly janky and buggy.”
    • “Duplicating items, fights that don't end when you've beaten the enemies (and won't even let you quit the game because you can't continue it), a variety of other serious glitches, and the bare-bones tutorial make for a frustrating experience.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players consistently highlight that the game suffers from excessive grinding, particularly after the initial boss encounter, making progression feel tedious and repetitive. Many express frustration with the cluttered environments and combat mechanics, which contribute to a sense of stagnation and lack of meaningful advancement. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the enjoyment, contrasting unfavorably with more engaging experiences in similar games.

    • “Further, this game suffers from a massive amount of grinding in order to be able to progress the story.”
    • “There's been times I've felt like I've made zero progress in the game, simply because of how tedious the game can become.”
    • “So far so good, and then you realize that's it - the game is grindy and repetitive, and not in a fun way like Diablo 2.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking and feel it offers little incentive to replay, others appreciate the freedom to explore at their own pace and the variety of character classes and weapons that enhance strategic depth. Additionally, the unique handling of monsters contributes to a decent level of replayability for those who enjoy tactical gameplay.

    • “There is a story, but you can play at your own pace and catch ghosts as long as you want, so there's lots of replay value here too.”
    • “A great depth of tactics and strategy afforded by different character classes and a huge arsenal of weapons with varying abilities truly adds depth to the strategy, along with a decent amount of monsters that handle uniquely and require different strategies, contributing to decent replayability.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, with frequent crashes, unresponsive interface, and performance issues that worsen after extended play. Players also report problems with item equipping, unlocking features, and significant errors in saved game data, including incorrect character positions and stats.

    • “Crashes are relatively common, items will sometimes not equip properly, and the interface will ignore your input. Performance starts chugging wildly after playing for more than an hour, certain items and features won't unlock when they're supposed to, and most importantly, saved games will load incorrectly, switching character positions and stats around randomly.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is emphasized as a crucial element, with players encouraged to invest time in enhancing their characters' resilience to effectively confront challenges, particularly when facing hordes of the undead.

    • “Character development allows you to invest time in your characters, making them more resilient against hordes of the undead.”
    • “The depth of character development in this game is impressive, as it enables players to create unique and powerful heroes.”
    • “I love how character development is not just about stats; it truly shapes the narrative and emotional connection to the game.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “The character arcs are predictable and fail to evolve throughout the game, leaving players feeling uninvested.”
    • “I expected more depth in character development, but it feels rushed and underwhelming, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized as fun and lighthearted, providing a satisfying experience as players engage in ghost-wrecking activities.

    • “It's pretty satisfying to wreck ghosts in a fun, lighthearted atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy GhostControl Inc.

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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