Ghostlore

Ghostlore is an 'Eastpunk' Fantasy Hack and Slash Action-RPG, where up to 2 players can team up in local co-op mode to fight supernatural monsters from Southeast-Asian folklore. With detailed character customization, procedurally generated maps, and authentic 90's retro graphics, Ghostlore boasts an exciting plot, good mechanics, and real scares. However, it has lots of bugs and is quite grinding, which might affect the overall gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 326 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

The game features a unique setting based on Southeast Asian folklore, providing a refreshing change from typical fantasy themes.
The glyph system allows for deep customization of character builds, encouraging experimentation and strategic planning.
The combat is fast-paced and satisfying, with a variety of skills and abilities that make gameplay engaging.

Inventory management can be cumbersome, with limited space and no sorting options, making it difficult to keep track of items.
The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, particularly with controller support and visual clutter during intense combat.
The story content is currently limited, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness in gameplay as players progress through the same areas.

gameplay
71 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this action RPG is generally praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging build systems, and fast-paced combat, reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo II. While some players appreciate the depth and originality of the mechanics, others find certain aspects, such as item management and monster fleeing, to be excessive or frustrating. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a unique setting and a variety of gameplay systems, though it may require some adjustments for balance and clarity.
- “Incredible gameplay, unique story.”
- “I was blown away by how well they've nailed the fast-paced and absolutely broken build-based gameplay that I absolutely crave from the genre.”
- “The gameplay systems are fun and satisfying.”
- “Several stats and mechanics are either explained in a misleading way or outright don't work properly.”
- “In co-op, you don't get the tutorial that explains various keyboard shortcuts (like how to quickly sell or stash stuff) or mechanics.”
- “The gameplay loop consists of going to a randomly-generated map, killing a boss there, going back to town, and repeating.”
story
71 mentions
11 % positive mentions
85 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as thin and lacking depth, with many players noting its brevity and reliance on textboxes for storytelling, which detracts from engagement. While some appreciate the incorporation of local folklore and unique elements, the overall narrative is often described as bland and uninteresting, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling experience. Despite these criticisms, a few players find enjoyment in the game’s mechanics and endgame content, suggesting that the story, while not strong, does not significantly hinder the overall experience.
- “Absolutely fantastic; the evening I bought it I didn't stop until I beat the story mode... the pacing and power scaling with freedom to craft some wonky stuff is just great.”
- “After playing the entire story, and with more endgame on the way, you can tell there's a lot of love put into this game.”
- “It has everything that I love: delicious local food, satisfying gameplay, abundance of flashy loot, unique skill system, famous landmarks and features of home, interesting story and characters, diverse equipment, frightening and memorable monsters, and distinct classes to choose from.”
- “The story is so bland and only told through textboxes that I stopped caring after less than an hour.”
- “The story is so light it barely exists, and that's an enormous shame.”
- “There's not a whole lot to say because the game is quite barebones as is; there's a handful of zones in the story, then the postgame hits at like level 20 and you're just grinding the same zones with increased monster level.”
graphics
61 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique retro pixel art style and its charming aesthetic, particularly in relation to its Southeast Asian setting. However, some players expressed concerns about readability during chaotic moments, a desire for more diverse character models, and a general feeling that the graphics could benefit from a modern overhaul. Overall, while the visuals evoke nostalgia for some, others find them simplistic or muddy, impacting their overall immersion in the game.
- “Ghostlore is an innovative diablolike with beautiful throwback pixel art graphics and a rich mythology-inspired setting.”
- “The visuals, while very retro, have a great vibe and the Southeast Asian setting is a fresh touch in the genre.”
- “Enormously original, with stylish presentation, crisp visuals, and tons of build diversity, Ghostlore is bound to become a classic of the genre.”
- “My only major complaints are the graphics and the music: the visual style is kind of nice, but the game is sometimes hard to read, especially if there is a lot of stuff going on the screen at the same time.”
- “Could have been really good if it wasn't for the pixelated art style and the slow/clunky combat.”
- “The only gripe I have is the graphics look a bit muddy and the sounds and music are lackluster.”
music
23 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its chill and atmospheric qualities, while others find it repetitive and monotonous, especially in longer play sessions. Although the soundtrack features a variety of tracks, many feel that the songs loop too quickly, leading to a sense of tedium during gameplay. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, its repetitiveness can detract from the experience for some players.
- “The mix between modern day and the occult, the music and color scheme all come together to create a wonderful atmosphere that's just pleasant to behold.”
- “Actually found myself jamming out to the background music while killing mobs.”
- “The music is *chef's kiss*.”
- “The soundtrack has about 10 different songs that all feel like they loop after less than a minute.”
- “Standing in town and doing the previously mentioned inventory tetris while listening to the same song over and over is mind numbing to say the least.”
- “The music definitely exists, but it's very monotonous and gets lost in the background.”
grinding
17 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the ability to quickly obtain gear and experiment with builds without excessive time investment, others find the grinding tedious and repetitive, particularly due to inventory management and the need to restart characters for new builds. The endgame structure encourages grinding for optimal setups, but many feel the lack of content and the necessity of grinding through previously cleared zones detracts from the overall experience. Overall, it caters to those who enjoy grinding, but may frustrate players seeking a more streamlined or varied gameplay experience.
- “It's just really grindy.”
- “There's not a whole lot to say because the game is quite barebones as is; there's a handful of zones in the story, then the postgame hits at like level 20 and you're just grinding the same zones with increased monster level.”
- “The game is very low on content right now; after 4 hours, I am just grinding stats.”
stability
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
-15 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and unpolished elements, particularly in co-op mode, which feels like an afterthought. While some users have experienced smooth performance without issues, others have encountered clunky controls and unresponsive gameplay, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to be in a moderately buggy state, typical for an open beta.
- “Runs very well with no glitches or bugs so far.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance throughout, ensuring a stable experience.”
- “I've experienced consistent stability, making gameplay enjoyable and hassle-free.”
- “Pretty buggy from the start.”
- “There's so many unpolished, buggy, or imbalanced things; calling co-op an afterthought would be quite generous.”
- “At the time of this review, the game still has quite a few bugs and glitches, but that's to be expected for open beta games.”
replayability
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its diverse class combinations and skill setups, allowing players to experiment with different strategies without needing to start over. The inclusion of re-spec options and procedurally generated maps further enhances the replay value, making it an engaging experience that players can return to frequently. Overall, the potential for additional content and balancing could elevate it to a highly replayable indie masterpiece.
- “Setting up combos is very satisfying (like, triggering skills on the skills board) and replayable. Your save is re-spec'able if you want to 'replay' without starting over; there's an item for that too.”
- “Definitely has replay value to try other classes and combos on more playthroughs. I would say this is a lot more diverse in terms of skills and how you could layout it than other games with passives.”
- “Nevertheless, it is a replayable game since there are several class combinations to experiment with.”
- “Nevertheless, it is a replayable game since there are several class combinations to experiment on.”
- “With some re-balancing and additional difficulties for replay value, Ghostlore has the potential to be an indie masterpiece.”
- “-proc gen maps aid replayability.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers great performance and various settings options, it suffers from significant issues typical of early access titles, including memory leaks and frame rate drops during busy scenes. Controller support is strong, but players may experience stuttering with skills and other inconsistencies that can detract from the experience. Multiplayer runs smoothly, though it relies on the host to provide characters for joining players.
- “Great performance and settings options.”
- “While fairly basic, the glyph board offers some interesting additions in the combo ones you find, which leads to a sort of Tetris-like optimization of builds that can be engaging or frustrating depending on the player.”
- “Multiplayer runs smoothly but requires the host to supply characters to the joiners.”
- “Be wary, it's an early access game, so there are optimization issues galore in the form of really bad memory leakage and frame rate drops when the screen gets busy, along with the ever-looming possibility that it will never be totally finished.”
- “I do hope they fix some of the stuttering that seems to happen when you use a skill. Sometimes you can shoot them off, other times there's a delay even though I have charges and mana, which I found a bit jarring. A fixed distance dodge would be good; it's not very far, so that would be nice.”
- “The only downside is the game is about 90% optimized for controllers.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique art style and engaging music, creating a distinctive experience. Reviewers highlight the fluid animations and satisfying sound effects that enhance the overall ambiance, contributing to a refreshingly enjoyable environment.
- “The art style, music, and atmosphere are also great.”
- “It's got a very unique atmosphere and a graphical style I've not really seen before.”
- “The hack/slash action is irrationally satisfying, from the animations to the sound effects; the movements are fluid and perfectly paced, and the atmosphere is refreshingly dope.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users feel that while the emotional aspects of the game show potential, there are areas that require improvement to enhance the overall experience.
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdly broken balancing, which leads to some deaths feeling cheap yet entertaining, contributing to an overall fun experience.
- “Some of the deaths can feel cheap because of how hilariously broken the balancing is, but in a fun way.”