Ghostrunner 2

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,245 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Ghostrunner 2 Game Cover
You’ll suffer hundreds of deaths in Ghostrunner 2, but every single one is worth it to move you forward step-by-bloody-step.
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Ghostrunner 2 is the sequel to the first-person slasher game, where players will once again engage in brutal combat, set in a futuristic, cyberpunk world. The story takes place one year after the original game's events, with bloodshed and high-stakes action promised. Expect intense sword-fighting and acrobatic movements, as you navigate through challenging levels and unravel the mysteries of the world.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,245 reviews
gameplay380 positive mentions
optimization97 negative mentions
  • Fast-paced and fluid gameplay that retains the core mechanics of the first game.
  • New abilities and mechanics, such as the motorcycle and wingsuit, add variety and excitement.
  • Visually stunning graphics and an engaging soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • Performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, detract from the gameplay experience.
  • The addition of a hub area and open-world segments disrupts the fast-paced flow of the game.
  • The story and character dialogue are often considered weak and uninteresting compared to the first game.
  • gameplay1,129 mentions

    The gameplay in Ghostrunner 2 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and the introduction of new elements like the motorcycle and wingsuit, which add variety to the experience. However, some players feel that the game suffers from clunky mechanics, a lack of polish, and an overemphasis on story elements that disrupt the gameplay flow. While the core combat and parkour mechanics remain engaging, the addition of new features has led to a more complex and sometimes overwhelming experience, with some players preferring the streamlined gameplay of the original.

    • “The core gameplay loop—slashing through enemies, solving environmental puzzles, and upgrading your abilities—feels rewarding, and there’s always something new to discover in each level.”
    • “The parkour gameplay remains smooth and fluid, with wall-running, rail grinding, and pole-swinging returning in full force.”
    • “Ghostrunner 2 is a fantastic follow-up that improves on the original formula with new abilities, more dynamic gameplay, and exciting motorcycle segments.”
    • “Going through a level feels like a chore, doing the same run, same movement; you can expect different results because the mechanics work or don't work at all, or are uncomfortable and not fluid.”
    • “10/10 story, ruined by 3/10 gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is where it’s at; it's intense and challenging, with combat, puzzles, and platforming.”
  • story1,058 mentions

    The story in "Ghostrunner 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it attempts to expand on the narrative from the first game, it often feels disjointed and less engaging. The introduction of a hub area for character interactions and story exposition has been criticized for disrupting the game's fast-paced flow, leading some to prefer the more streamlined storytelling of the original. Overall, while the story offers some interesting elements and character development, it is often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and pacing issues, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.

    • “The story revolves around you, the ghostrunner, Jack, continuing your fight to free Dharma City from the clutches of a tyrannical force.”
    • “A more robust story is told through interactions with your fellow rebels, each with their own unique backstories, making it feel more grounded than the first game.”
    • “The story is interesting, though admittedly lacks some of the mystery of the first one; the visuals are great and the gameplay is just as fast-paced as before.”
    • “Most generic command hub you can imagine, utterly unrelatable NPCs and a story that feels like you're hearing it for the 10th time.”
    • “The story is much more ambitious than the first game, and I don't know if I like it more.”
    • “The story is garbage and is really confusing.”
  • music407 mentions

    The music in "Ghostrunner 2" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and immersive soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay, reminiscent of the first game. However, some players noted a decline in quality, citing moments of silence in levels and a less memorable overall experience compared to the original's standout tracks. While the soundtrack features contributions from various artists, it lacks the cohesive charm of its predecessor, leading to a sense of inconsistency in the musical experience throughout the game.

    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, and the art style is great while also giving more of a variance in the environments that you encounter.”
    • “The music seamlessly transitions from adrenaline-fueled combat sequences to moments of quiet contemplation, underscoring the game's themes of isolation and resilience.”
    • “The music is so good that when it kicks in it’ll automatically hype you up!”
    • “After only 2 hours, I had completely turned off the game audio and was only listening to music, rather than listening to the incredibly cringe, boring, and bafflingly poorly voice-acted banter between the characters.”
    • “The techno music that used to blare constantly and add fuel to the action goes dead quiet and every level just becomes a drab, quiet affair.”
    • “The only downgrade is the OST which doesn't pack a punch like the first one.”
  • optimization305 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly in high-density areas and during specific combat sequences. While some users experienced stable performance on high-end systems, the overall consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized compared to its predecessor, leading to an often frustrating gameplay experience. Many hope for future patches to address these issues, but as it stands, the game's performance is a major drawback.

    • “Very good graphics, fun gameplay, cool story, very well optimized.”
    • “The developers did a great job with optimization so when you die there is no long loading, you just respawn immediately.”
    • “Performance-wise it ran very well with only a few hitches here and there over my 10-hour playthrough.”
    • “Unoptimized and unplayable.”
    • “The performance is absolutely abysmal; the game is borderline unplayable.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, but the crashes, glitches, and poor optimization are really disappointing.”
  • graphics288 mentions

    The graphics in Ghostrunner 2 have received mixed feedback, with many praising the stunning cyberpunk aesthetics and vibrant environments that enhance the immersive experience. However, some players noted issues with character models and animations appearing dated, as well as performance problems such as frame drops and texture loading delays. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered impressive, optimization concerns and occasional graphical glitches detract from the experience for some users.

    • “The graphics are a beauty, the mechanics are smooth and there's nothing like it out there.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, with neon-drenched environments and a sleek cyberpunk aesthetic.”
    • “The game's art style is a perfect blend of gritty realism and futuristic aesthetics, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.”
    • “I really don't like the 'plastic-y' and just strange art style compared to the first game, and it's kinda disappointing.”
    • “And to top it all off, a huge amount of technical errors throughout the game (I have fallen through the floor, got stuck in objects, went off bounds, crashed enemy AI, and many many more) and a lot of texture/graphical errors (the game genuinely looked awful in the open world section and in the areas with more light).”
    • “The graphics are much better, but optimization for PC is bad.”
  • stability112 mentions

    The stability of Ghostrunner 2 has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Common complaints include freezing, inconsistent hitboxes, and problematic mechanics, particularly with the motorcycle and parkour elements. While some players still find enjoyment in the gameplay, the pervasive technical issues have led to a consensus that the game feels less polished compared to its predecessor.

    • “This game is amazing; the story is easy to follow and it runs great even on older PCs.”
    • “While there are some performance and optimization issues later in the game that come with large amounts of enemies, overall the game provided a reasonably bug-free experience.”
    • “I encountered no glitches and only got stuck on terrain once (dashed up a flight of stairs, just crouched and was unstuck).”
    • “The gameplay is fun but the crashes, glitches, and poor optimization are really disappointing.”
    • “The game is just straight up buggy sometimes.”
    • “It's a great game, ruined by glitches.”
  • grinding49 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many describing it as tedious and sometimes frustrating, particularly in relation to certain mechanics like the motorcycle handling and boss fights. While some appreciate the hub sections as a breather, others feel that the game introduces unnecessary bloat that detracts from the fluidity of gameplay. Despite these criticisms, there are moments of satisfaction in grinding for achievements and improvements in combat mechanics, though the overall pacing can feel slower and less engaging compared to the previous installment.

    • “Enemies vary more and the 100% achievement isn't as tedious.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It just feels too tedious to play.”
    • “The only issues this one has is a few performance issues, it gets a little preachy with nihilism, and the open world sections can be a little tedious.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impressive cyberpunk aesthetic, featuring vibrant visuals, a captivating electronic soundtrack, and immersive world design that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere is occasionally undermined by excessive dialogue and inconsistent level design, detracting from the overall immersion. Despite these criticisms, many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of place and mood, making it a standout feature.

    • “The game's art style is a perfect blend of gritty realism and futuristic aesthetics, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The cyberpunk aesthetic of Ghostrunner 2 is as striking as ever, featuring neon-lit cityscapes, futuristic industrial environments, and atmospheric visual design.”
    • “The game's cyberpunk world is more vibrant and detailed than ever, pulling you into its dystopian atmosphere with dazzling visuals and a killer soundtrack that matches the intensity of every moment.”
    • “The game's fun, however you can easily tell this game tries to have an atmosphere and feeling it can't reach.”
    • “However, the music is not as memorable as the first game and the overall atmosphere is inconsistent.”
    • “I wish there was a bit more level variety compared to the first, the majority are largely a similar atmosphere with one section that changes it up.”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and engaging, while others criticize it as cringeworthy and overly forced. Characters like Jack and the interactions between others often provide comedic moments, though the writing style can feel juvenile and detracts from the overall experience for some. Despite its flaws, many appreciate the humor's ability to lighten the mood, even if it sometimes borders on absurdity.

    • “Their sense of humor is plastered everywhere, making you cringe and (almost) work for the enemy.”
    • “The dialogue is so funny that I died multiple times in some parts just laughing.”
    • “However, Victor and Butch's interactions are f***ing hilarious and they carry the hub world.”
    • “The dialogues are terrible with unfunny jokes and stupid characters.”
    • “I'm glad that they killed Connor in the beginning since all he did was make unfunny jerking off jokes and be a satirical asshole.”
  • replayability34 mentions

    Overall, "Ghostrunner 2" has mixed reviews regarding its replayability. While many players appreciate the multiple combat approaches, collectibles, and the addition of a roguelike mode that enhance replay value, others feel it lacks the depth and competitive elements that made the first game more replayable. The game is particularly enjoyable for speedrunners and perfectionists, but some critics argue that its design choices limit its overall replayability compared to its predecessor.

    • “With multiple ways to approach combat, new abilities to unlock, and speedrunning becoming a major focus, Ghostrunner 2 offers high replay value.”
    • “There's a lot of replayability in this game, and I aim to 100% it just because it's that enjoyable to go back to.”
    • “The rogue-like/lite mode that is included in this also adds an awesome level of replayability, without the same 'trial and error' safety net that the main game has, which adds a nice extra level of tension/excitement.”
    • “The replay value is borderline non-existent and the lower number of speedrun submissions reflects that.”
    • “Total playtime is less than 10 hours, and replayability is close to zero.”
    • “It's not designed for replayability like the first game, and combat design went from advanced to basic.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has been criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players finding the story boring and the characters unmemorable. Despite some enjoyable gameplay mechanics, significant moments intended for emotional impact fail to resonate due to poor character development and dialogue. Overall, the game struggles to evoke genuine feelings, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative and characters.

    • “In Grii, the main character just feels more 'wholesome' and 'human', far from the badass character made in Gri.”
    • “When I played Ghostrunner, I cried tears of joy at a game that did not lack in visual aesthetic, interesting narrative, tight gameplay and mechanics, and an all-banger soundtrack.”
    • “The best example of this I have is a spoiler which I'll include below, but in summary they took zero risks with the story to the point that significant moments of character development had zero emotional impact when they should have been a huge deal.”
    • “Boring story and annoying characters; okay gameplay but kind of repetitive.”
    • “Very fun levels, but one of the more boring storylines and forgettable side characters.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some fans appreciate the expanded lore and the depth of certain characters like Jack, others find the overall development to feel artificial and lacking emotional impact. The character designs are noted for their distinct personalities, but the execution suffers from poor dialogue and a lack of expressive animation, which undermines significant moments in the story. Overall, while there are standout characters, the development feels inconsistent and fails to resonate emotionally.

    • “Fans of the first game will appreciate the expanded lore and character development.”
    • “Jack especially, now one of my favorite protagonists in the video game industry, had such great character development; I hope to see more of him.”
    • “The little character development feels artificial.”
    • “The story is terrible; they added some really bad dialogue, with weird pauses, zero facial expression, and very mediocre character design.”
    • “They took zero risks with the story to the point that significant moments of character development had zero emotional impact when they should have been a huge deal.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling it resembles a cash grab compared to its predecessor, while others appreciate the absence of microtransactions and battle passes. However, there is a sense of disappointment regarding the lack of communication from developers and the game's perceived decline in quality.

    • “There are no microtransactions or battle passes, which is a refreshing change.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without any paywalls.”
    • “I can tell that there are sparks of passion there, but I feel as if it has faded from the burning blaze present in GR1. It feels a little like a cash grab, and the reason I bought this game for 9 pounds.”
    • “Update - the game is stale and it is a worse version of GR1. I miss so much of what the first game used to be, and no matter what the community wants, there seems to be no communication, only advertisement in the Discord of the game. Disappointing.”
    • “Unlike other products, the ads don't lie about this game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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