The Ghost Cage

About

"The Ghost Cage" is a light-hearted adventure game where you help Isabel navigate her new haunted house. Your choices and items found will determine one of the multiple endings, which can be happy, sad, heartwarming, or amusing. This game is not a horror experience, but features a ghost and allusions to violence and death. Playtime is approximately 20-30 minutes, with an updated version adding achievements released in October 2021.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 119 reviews

story11 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style and well-written dialogue, making it a delightful experience.
There are multiple endings to explore, providing good replayability and fun for achievement hunters.
It's a short, free game that offers a light-hearted and enjoyable adventure, perfect for casual gaming sessions.

The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
Some players found the endings to be abrupt and lacking in character development.
The music can become repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.

story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
48%
11%
The story aspect of the game is generally well-received, characterized by its charm, sweetness, and emotional depth, with many players appreciating the multiple endings influenced by their choices. While some found the narrative to be simple or not particularly special, others highlighted its ability to evoke laughter and convey a heartwarming experience. Overall, the game is praised for its polished storytelling, likable characters, and engaging plot, making it a delightful short experience.
- “Your choices matter, the story is really sweet, and the art is adorable!”
- “It has such a cute little story with so many different endings!”
- “Honestly, it's a simple short RPG Maker game, but the characters are all likable and the story, while a bit melancholic, is heartwarming.”
- “Story was fine, nothing special.”
- “So let’s get the story out of the way.”
- “Honestly it's a simple short RPG Maker game, but the characters are all likable and the story, while a bit melancholic, is heartwarming.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its ability to change according to different endings and moods, enhancing the overall experience. While many find the soundtracks enjoyable and fitting, some note that the variety is limited and can become repetitive. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though opinions on its depth and diversity vary.
- “Audio: the game sounds good and has different music for different parts and moods of the game.”
- “A very pleasing game, the music makes it even better.”
- “The music changed depending on the current route for your ending too, so that does help to know where you are sitting at for one of the better, or worse, endings.”
- “The music is the only thing I wasn’t impressed by.”
- “Music is very repetitive but not long enough to be catchy.”
- “It wasn’t bad by any means, and I liked how there were different tracks that changed according to your mood; it’s just that there wasn’t a lot of different music.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the art style and pixel art quality. While some noted a lack of effects and additional graphical elements, the overall aesthetic is considered appealing, earning a score of 7/10 for its charm and character portrait design.
- “Loved the art style, story, and dialogue.”
- “Lovely graphics.”
- “The graphics feel like they were made with RPG Maker.”
- “Aesthetic-wise, the game looks just fine, if not amazing.”
- “The art style for the character portraits is quite nice, but overall the graphics are lacking.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The gameplay features a puzzle and multiple-choice format, allowing for approximately 30 minutes of initial playtime, but longer if players aim to achieve all seven endings. While some users appreciate the quality of life improvements, such as adjustable walking speed and clearer mechanics, others find the experience somewhat mechanical and inconsistent, with ratings ranging from 4/10 to 10/10.
- “Gameplay is a puzzle with multiple choices.”
- “30 minutes of gameplay, but to get all 7 endings, it would take longer (achievements will be earned during the journey).”
- “It also felt a little too mechanical.”
- “Gameplay: 4/10”
- “The other bit of gameplay comes from catching wind of opportunities to interact with the ghost, as he’ll pop in to try and scare you off each night.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the well-written dialogue and quirky, expressive character portraits that contribute to its charm. While some found it genuinely funny and cute, others felt it lacked standout moments of humor. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience with a wholesome touch that resonates with many players.
- “The art for the character portraits is very nice and expressive, and the dialogue is well-written and at times funny.”
- “Definitely made me laugh a few times, too, with its quirky humor.”
- “The dialogue and humor in this game is quite good, with some moments that made me laugh.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-crafted characters and story, which blend humor and wholesomeness with a touch of melancholy. Players report feeling a strong emotional connection, with some experiencing guilt while unlocking various endings, indicating a deep engagement with the narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its heartwarming qualities despite its simplicity.
- “Honestly, it's a simple short RPG Maker game, but the characters are all likable and the story, while a bit melancholic, is heartwarming.”
- “You can make a very brief game out of it (as I did), or keep playing to reach all the endings, but nonetheless it's nice looking. The texts and story are very well written, and there is a funny/wholesome touch to it that I really enjoyed.”
- “I don't think any game has made me feel as mean as this game did unlocking all the endings...”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers solid replayability, rated 7/10, thanks to its multiple endings—seven in total—and a variety of achievements to discover, encouraging players to revisit the experience.
- “It has a few different endings, so there's even some replay value.”
- “Very fun game with lots of achievements to find; great replayability!”
- “It has a few different endings, so there's some replay value.”
- “There are seven endings, so there's definitely replayability!”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”