Gravity Ghost is a peaceful, non-violent gravity-based game where you play as Iona, a ghost searching for her lost friend. Explore a handpainted galaxy, solve unique gravity challenges, and meet magical guardians. Features 100+ levels, 10+ powerups, and a beautiful original soundtrack. Discover the story through 25+ minutes of animation hidden throughout the game. Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Beautiful hand-drawn art style and captivating visuals that create a whimsical atmosphere.
Touching and emotional story that resonates with themes of loss and acceptance.
Relaxing gameplay with unique gravity mechanics that allow for creative problem-solving.
Short playtime, typically around 2-4 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
Gameplay can feel too easy at times, lacking significant challenge.
Some voice acting and animations may feel inconsistent or lack polish.
story
509 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The story of "Gravity Ghost" is a poignant and emotionally engaging narrative that unfolds through a series of non-linear vignettes, often presented in animated cutscenes. Players follow the journey of a ghost girl, Iona, as she collects memories and navigates themes of loss and acceptance, with the storytelling enhanced by beautiful art and a captivating soundtrack. While some find the fragmented presentation confusing, many appreciate the depth and heartfelt nature of the story, which resonates with players and adds significant value to the overall gaming experience.
“The story is simple but heartbreaking and the pacing is excellent.”
“Gravity Ghost is a beautiful physics platformer wrapped around a sweet and touching story.”
“The voice acting, art style, and gameplay all perfectly harmonize together to deliver what truly feels like a storybook experience made into a game.”
“The actual story of the game is presented in a fragmented sort of way that was more confusing than interesting.”
“There was also just a lot of story beats and details that were not needed to tell this kind of story yet I guess they were included for the sake of charm?”
“It's not that the story is bad, exactly; rather, it's underwhelming and doesn't carry much weight.”
gameplay
373 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The gameplay of "Gravity Ghost" is characterized by its unique gravity-based mechanics that allow players to navigate between planets, collect stars, and utilize various elements to alter gameplay dynamics. While many players appreciate the relaxing and engaging nature of the mechanics, some find the gameplay to be simplistic and occasionally tedious, with a lack of challenge in certain levels. Overall, the game is praised for its charming aesthetics and storytelling, making it a delightful experience despite its brevity and occasional frustrations.
“The gameplay has you jumping off of planets and using their gravity to grab stars and objects that extend the length of your hair; stars open the door that completes the level.”
“Gravity ghost is a sublime puzzle game which jumped off of the Mario Galaxy concept, introduced story snippets as rewards, and implemented much more advanced and interesting mechanical concepts.”
“The gameplay, together with the music, is relaxing and mesmerizing -- while the levels do get progressively more complex, it never feels frustrating or impossible.”
“But to me, the gameplay and accompanying collect-a-thon are more tedious than anything else.”
“It's disorienting, and its gameplay can be quite tedious.”
“The best strategy for almost every level is 'jump at it and hope for the best,' which makes the gameplay boring.”
music
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting the work of composer Ben Prunty, known for his previous work on *FTL: Faster Than Light*. The soundtrack is described as calming, enchanting, and perfectly suited to the game's whimsical art style and narrative, enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention a desire for more variety, the majority of players find the music to be a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere.
“The art and music are incredible in the game, and are probably the two standout features of the game besides its gameplay.”
“The soundtrack is superb.”
“The music is beautiful as well, and contributes to the unified whole of this excellent game.”
“I thought that the game soundtrack was okay but it wasn't noteworthy or enhance the gameplay experience.”
“It has a serviceable soundtrack with questionable sample quality that is a little better than the things you'd find on Newgrounds at the boon of flash games, but it is by no means 'great' and I cannot recommend paying extra for the soundtrack edition.”
“I find it interesting that the person who made this OST is apparently known for making the music to other games though, and I find that more than a little disappointing.”
graphics
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, hand-drawn art style, which combines elements reminiscent of crayon and pastel drawings, creating a charming and visually captivating experience. Many reviewers highlight the unique aesthetic that complements the game's themes and story, although some note inconsistencies in animation quality and a disconnect between cutscenes and gameplay visuals. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's relaxing atmosphere and emotional impact, making it a standout feature.
“I adored the vibrant art style of this game!”
“The graphics and music are also incredibly pretty and relaxing.”
“The art style is magnificent, and has a wonderful hand-drawn storybook feel throughout.”
“I found the art style to be weird and not that good.”
“No real graphics options, some stuttering, and occasional frame drops.”
“My only (mild) dislike of the game is here: there is a very disconnected art style between the cutscenes and game that some may find off-putting enough that it takes away from the experience.”
emotional
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
1%
1%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with many players expressing that it evokes strong feelings of loss, acceptance, and heartwarming connections. The narrative, often described as touching and heartbreaking, resonates deeply, leading to moments of genuine emotional response, including tears. Players appreciate the blend of engaging gameplay with a beautifully crafted story that explores themes of family and the void left by loved ones, making it a memorable experience.
“This game won my heart; the story is amazing and touching.”
“The story is simple but heartbreaking, and the pacing is excellent.”
“Everything from the art to the music to the story is wonderful, and it made me feel things that a video game hasn't made me feel for a long while.”
“I know that seems like a YouTuber complaining, but with some of the touching cutscenes here, it would be nice to be able to replay them easily.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The atmosphere of "Gravity Ghost" is a captivating blend of cute and serene elements that gradually shift to darker tones, creating an ethereal and otherworldly experience. The game's painted graphics and soothing soundtrack enhance its relaxing ambiance, making it feel like a nostalgic journey through childhood imagination. Players appreciate the low-pressure environment, where the focus is on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than conflict, resulting in a uniquely immersive and atmospheric gameplay experience.
“The graphics and sound combine to form a nice relaxing atmosphere.”
“The space-y and emotional atmosphere given by the music is strongly evocative of the sound in 'FTL', and if you were a fan of Ben Prunty's masterful soundtrack, you are in for a serious treat with the sounds of 'Gravity Ghost'.”
“The atmosphere of the game starts cute and positive but gets a lot of darker tones later.”
“The atmosphere is very calm and serene and you can't die (obviously because you're already a ghost...), which makes the game very relaxing.”
“The space-y and emotional atmosphere given by the music is strongly evocative of the sound in [i]FTL[/i], and if you were a fan of Ben Prunty's masterful soundtrack, you are in for a serious treat with the sounds of [i]Gravity Ghost[/i].”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a mixed bag, blending lighthearted "dad jokes" with darker themes, which some players feel clash with its spiritual aesthetic. While the writing features both funny and touching moments, it successfully elicits laughter and warmth, particularly through the interactions with animal guardians. Overall, the humor is appreciated for its ability to balance levity with more serious undertones, making for a surprisingly engaging experience.
“But the game also doesn't take itself too seriously and there are some great humorous moments.”
“The funny parts made me smile and laugh out loud, the sad parts made me genuinely cry (my cold dead heart is hard to stir).”
“In-game, all of Iona's dialogue and interactions with the animal guardians are touching and/or hilarious; it made me really want to get to the next guardian to see what's up.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and disorienting, often detracting from the overall experience despite the charming art and engaging story. While some boss encounters offer variety, many are seen as overly repetitive, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. The calming music and visuals provide a relaxing backdrop, but the gameplay's lack of evolution and reliance on grinding can make it feel more like a chore than an entertaining challenge.
“But to me, the gameplay and accompanying collect-a-thon are more tedious than anything else.”
“It's adorable and the story I saw looks like it's shaping up to be heartbreaking, but the gameplay is tedious and doesn't look to be evolving much.”
“The 'boss' encounters vary wildly in how easy they are, and some are more tedious than others.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
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30%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered moderate; while it is relatively short and primarily driven by its story, players may find themselves revisiting it for the enjoyable experience and to unlock achievements. The non-linear narrative adds some value, but many feel that the main draw for replaying lies in the desire to relive the story rather than extensive gameplay variations.
“While the game is short and many will finish it within a few hours of play, it's such an enjoyable experience that it should be very replayable.”
“The overarching story kept me playing through it for longer stretches than I'd usually allocate to a puzzle/physics game; the non-linear narrative contributes to its replay value.”
“Replayability is somewhat limited to just achievements, but I personally was immersed enough to know I will be revisiting this hidden gem from time to time.”
“If you're looking for replay value, it mostly lies in the achievements, but you may also find yourself wanting to experience something from the story once more as well.”
“Replayability isn't super high and that's probably the only bad thing I'll ever say about this game, and it's not even that bad, especially for a game where a lot of its impact comes from the story.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's optimization is lacking, with no significant graphics options, leading to stuttering and occasional frame drops. While the voice acting quality varies, with some standout performances, the overall sound quality is inconsistent. The soundtrack, however, is praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the experience despite the technical shortcomings.
“Ben Prunty's soundtrack provides a wonderful counterpoint, feeling spacey and grand without feeling too isolated, and the voice acting is solid across the board, particularly Ashly Burch's performances.”
“The script doesn't really lend itself to standout voice performances, but they're quite solid.”
“No real graphics options, some stuttering, and occasional frame drops.”
“No real graphics options, some stuttering, and occasional frame drops.”
“The voice acting is also hit or miss: some performances shine including the main character, Iona, while others have sound quality issues and just don't sound quite right.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is highly praised, as it fosters a strong emotional connection with the characters, enhanced by the game's beautiful art and sound design. The creative and uniquely designed extraterrestrial characters contribute to an engaging and endearing experience.
“The character development has kept me caring for everyone on screen, and the art and sound tie it together nicely.”
“You could play it because it’s beautiful and inspired, bursting with creativity and this sort of creepy but endearing sensibility to its extraterrestrial character designs.”