Spirit Hunter: NG

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 78 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Spirit Hunter: NG Game Cover
If you enjoy visual novels and are looking for a horror experience that isn't just brainless jump scares, this is something you need to play.
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In Spirit Hunter: NG, players assume the role of a young man with the ability to see spirits, tasked with uncovering the truth behind a series of supernatural occurrences in his city. The game is a visual novel adventure, with point-and-click exploration and multiple endings based on player choices. Players must balance their time between building relationships with other characters and investigating the paranormal, while also surviving encounters with hostile spirits.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 78 reviews
story16 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling story with well-developed characters that enhance player investment.
  • The visuals and sound design are exceptional, creating a haunting atmosphere that effectively contributes to the horror experience.
  • Gameplay improvements, such as a more streamlined navigation system and the introduction of a relationship mechanic, make for a more engaging experience compared to its predecessor.
  • The trial-and-error nature of some gameplay mechanics can be frustrating, leading to repeated failures without clear guidance on correct choices.
  • The horror elements, particularly the jump scares, are often seen as cheap and do not effectively build tension compared to the first game.
  • Limited save slots and the lack of a chapter select feature can make replaying for different endings tedious and time-consuming.
  • story74 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-crafted and engaging, featuring a more cohesive narrative with intertwined chapters and a compelling antagonist, though some character deaths feel more shock-driven than meaningful. While the writing quality has been critiqued as weaker compared to its predecessor, "Death Mark," the character development and emotional investment are notably improved, making the experience captivating for players. Overall, the game offers a solid blend of horror and storytelling, with beautiful artwork enhancing the narrative experience.

    • “The story is well crafted, with plenty of twists, turns, and deductions you have to make to understand the game, although thanks to the multiple choice nature of the game you can just as easily get through by blindly spamming options and savescumming until you get the good ending.”
    • “I loved the way they did the characters this time; I felt more invested and cared about all the characters, and I'm glad there wasn't any amnesia plot going on this time with the main character so we get to see and understand how he is.”
    • “One of the best horror visual novels I've played, has fantastic art, the story is very interesting, fun to follow and figure out, and all the characters are interesting and fun to interact with.”
    • “The death(s) that take place seemed more for shock value rather than adding to the story.”
    • “Quite a few events feel a bit too coincidental or convenient beyond the realm of spirits, which harms the plot development.”
    • “The story itself I really love too and was always on the edge of my seat wanting to play more and more to reveal the story, and the ghosts especially, man I'll be honest at first I thought it was gonna be pretty cliché horror stuff but I found myself really caring about the ghosts even more than in Death Mark and I must say things did really get satisfying.”
  • gameplay15 mentions

    The gameplay has seen significant improvements over its predecessor, with enhanced mechanics such as the new judge system that fosters character relationships and streamlined exploration and puzzle-solving elements. While some players find the battle mechanics lacking and the complexity reduced, the overall experience remains engaging, blending visual novel elements with life-or-death choices. However, frustrations with certain gameplay aspects and reliance on guides for optimal endings have been noted, leading to mixed feelings among players.

    • “Using the new judge mechanic, you can react appropriately to things your partners say to raise their friendship.”
    • “For the gameplay, it takes the core gameplay of the first game (moving around dungeons, collecting items, walking into danger and having to quickly choose correct answers to make an escape, and 'boss fights' where you need to cleverly use items) and vastly improves on it.”
    • “The gameplay side is in itself a visual novel combined with puzzles, exploration, and life or death choices.”
    • “The battle mechanics were sad in comparison to the first game.”
    • “But I couldn't bear to continue the story with how frustrating the gameplay is.”
    • “The complexity of gameplay might be toned down and has some design flaws, but it still delivers a strong and unique experience that you rarely see from horror visual novels.”
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics in this game are praised for their beautiful semi-realistic art style, effectively creating a spooky and immersive atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. While some users note that the character designs and UI may be slightly inferior to its predecessor, the overall visual design, including the artwork and sound, contributes to a gripping and unsettling ambiance. The game successfully captures a sense of eeriness in mundane environments, making it a standout in the horror visual novel genre.

    • “The strength of its storytelling and artwork make this a truly unsettling experience for any horror fan.”
    • “The artwork effectively captures the feel of being alone at night in a seemingly familiar place and having the unsettling feeling that something is 'off'.”
    • “The first volume of this horror visual novel had impressed me with its astonishingly beautiful graphical art and spine-chilling storytelling.”
    • “Compared to the prequel Death Mark, this game has better movement/navigation and combat system, just as good or sometimes slightly worse CG, but aesthetically inferior UI.”
    • “Most of the environments you explore are relatively mundane places, but the artwork effectively captures the feel of being alone at night in a seemingly familiar place and having the unsettling feeling that something is 'off'.”
    • “Ng has less sexually/fan service graphics, but focuses on uncensored gore and disturbing scenes that suit the backstory.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to set the right mood, with standout tracks like Kaguya's theme and original songs performed by characters. However, some users noted issues with limited variety and instances of music clashing during transitions. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience, the addition of a chapter select and downloadable soundtrack could further elevate it.

    • “Music is right on the spot, and I really like Kaguya's theme song.”
    • “The art combined with the eerie sound and the soundtracks in general work really well together.”
    • “Ng did a great job on sound design and soundtracks, even though there are some reused tracks from previous games.”
    • “I have a problem where the music keeps clashing with each other when a scene ends and the music just keeps playing.”
    • “The only draw for audiophiles may be the original song mentioned above.”
    • “The soundtracks feel less gloomy and more chilling during normal conversations, or more exciting during spirit encounters.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, enhanced by striking artwork and effective sound design that evoke a strong emotional response. While some players find certain elements, like the UI, less appealing, the overall ambiance successfully creates tension and a memorable horror experience. However, a few critiques mention that some scares may feel cheap or unintentionally humorous, slightly undermining the otherwise masterful atmosphere.

    • “It could get me emotionally involved with its characters and storyline, the ghosts were genuinely scary, and the whole game had one of the most memorable atmospheres in any game I’ve played.”
    • “As with Death Mark, the real standouts here are the artwork and sound design, which give this game one of the most unsettling atmospheres I have ever experienced in a game.”
    • “The game uses environmental sounds such as wind gusts, dog barking, cracking metal, and bushes, which are just a few examples of what you hear during investigation, creating a strong and unsettling atmosphere.”
    • “Tldr: a respectable horror visual novel that is carried by its likable cast and incredibly effective atmosphere.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Overall, the character development in this game is viewed positively, with players appreciating the deeper exploration of NPCs compared to the previous installment, where characters were often short-lived. While some critiques exist regarding character design, the enhanced focus on character arcs is seen as a significant improvement, contributing to a more engaging narrative experience. Players are still evaluating whether this direction is ultimately beneficial for the series.

    • “Instead of the constant switching in death mark, this change makes us see more character development and is definitely something I consider a plus.”
    • “Have not finished the game yet, it has more character development than its predecessor and at this current stage similar but less atmospheric sequences.”
    • “I'm not a huge fan of Kakuya's design; the character design is too anime-style and doesn't match up with the art.”
    • “That allows for much better character development of the NPCs, unlike the first game where characters (mostly) stayed with you for one chapter and did not repeat.”
    • “Have not finished the game yet; it has more character development than its predecessor, and at this current stage, similar but less atmospheric sequences.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its flexibility in player interactions, allowing for a range of responses from jerkish to neutral, which can unlock extra scenes. However, some players feel that the humor undermines the game's tense atmosphere, often resulting in moments that are unintentionally funny or annoying rather than genuinely scary. Overall, the additional conversational choices provide varied character reactions, from amusing compliments to angry retorts.

    • “You can act like a jerk or completely neutral to everyone if you want without affecting which of the 7 endings you can get, and it's not anything even approaching a dating sim, but being nice to them unlocks some extra scenes and a cute/funny bonus.”
    • “Basically, additional choices in conversation that result in different character reactions, from funny compliments to angry faces.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be less tedious than its predecessor, but still lengthy and often requiring guides to achieve optimal outcomes. Despite the inclusion of a speed-up button, many still describe the experience as tedious.

    • “Even using the speed-up button, it is tedious!”
    • “Oh my god, it is... long and tedious sometimes.”
    • “The gameplay seems less tedious than in the first one, but getting the good ending would have been impossible for me without a guide.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its branching endings and the impact of player decisions on the story, character fates, and dialogue, encouraging players to explore different outcomes and experiences in subsequent playthroughs.

    • “The ending changes based on who is alive and dead, and other factors, giving the game significant replay value.”
    • “This is where replayability shines, as your decisions can affect the overall story, the fate of your partners, dialogue, and special events between chapters.”
    • “The ending changes based on who is alive and dead, and some other factors change, giving the game some replay value.”
    • “This is where replayability comes in, as your decisions can affect the overall story, your partner's fate, dialogue, and special events between chapters.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Users report that the game's optimization is generally solid, with one user noting good performance on an older Windows 7 build, indicating that the game runs well even on less modern systems.

    • “I have solid performance on Windows 7 with a very old build.”
    • “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
    • “Despite having a high-end system, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the game deeply engaging, highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotional connections through its characters and storyline. The haunting atmosphere and genuinely scary ghosts contribute to a memorable experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.

    • “It could get me emotionally involved with its characters and storyline; the ghosts were genuinely scary, and the whole game had one of the most memorable atmospheres in any game I've played.”
    • “The game masterfully weaves an emotional narrative that resonates deeply, making every character's journey feel personal and impactful.”
    • “I found myself genuinely moved by the story and the characters' struggles, which made the gameplay experience unforgettable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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