The Ghost Train

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 610 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • graphics
The Ghost Train Game Cover
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"The Ghost Train" is a first-person horror adventure game set in an abandoned railway station. Players must uncover the mystery behind the ghostly apparitions and supernatural events while avoiding dangerous enemies. With a focus on exploration and puzzle-solving, the game offers a tense and immersive atmosphere, perfect for horror fans.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 610 reviews
story86 positive mentions
gameplay10 negative mentions
  • The game features a visually stunning atmosphere that effectively enhances the psychological horror experience.
  • It offers a unique story based on Japanese urban legends, providing depth and intrigue.
  • The gameplay is simple yet engaging, with light puzzle-solving that complements the eerie narrative.
  • The pacing can be slow and repetitive, leading to moments of boredom during gameplay.
  • Some players found the story confusing and lacking in clarity, with unresolved plot points.
  • There are technical issues, including bugs and performance problems that can detract from the overall experience.
  • story210 mentions

    The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it captivating and well-executed, while others criticize it as confusing or lacking depth. Many appreciate the atmospheric elements and the incorporation of urban legends, but some feel the narrative is poorly conveyed or riddled with plot holes. Overall, the story is seen as a blend of intriguing concepts and frustrating execution, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.

    • “The story itself is captivating and well written.”
    • “What a fantastic ride this story is.”
    • “The game's story may be simple, but its fragmented narration works very well, and the good ending can be pretty moving.”
    • “This game kept alluding to a story, but there is not one!”
    • “The story itself is very boring and uninteresting.”
    • “The biggest issue with this game is the story doesn't seem to make much sense.”
  • atmosphere142 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively blending mundane settings with unsettling elements that evoke a sense of tension and mystery. Players appreciate the strong visual design, sound techniques, and the absence of jump scares, which contribute to a chilling experience that keeps them engaged. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to create a captivating and atmospheric environment that enhances the storytelling and gameplay.

    • “Like other Chilla's Art titles, the game emphasizes atmosphere through its eerie environments and unsettling tone.”
    • “The game is really good at mixing mundane day-to-day situations with surreal, atmospheric horror, and its aesthetic manages to be familiar, creepy, and pretty at the same time.”
    • “The game uses impressive lighting and sound techniques to create a really tense and eerie atmosphere.”
    • “The ghost train is unable to create a scary atmosphere, unlike the other games like the convenience store and the missing children.”
    • “It has the atmosphere/aesthetic of something scary, but it fails to properly execute this horror; it's the scary-game equivalent of walking into a Spirit Halloween.”
    • “I didn't find the atmosphere/setting/aesthetic quite as strong in this one and I've narrowed it down to two reasons:”
  • graphics84 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive visuals, crisp environments, and effective lighting that contribute to a creepy atmosphere. However, some players criticize the departure from the traditional VHS aesthetic, noting issues like poor antialiasing and excessive reflections that can lead to discomfort. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered a step up from previous titles, opinions vary on their effectiveness in enhancing the horror experience.

    • “This game has really impressive graphics and reflection quality.”
    • “Graphically, it's very impressive and the environments are crisp.”
    • “Great visuals, creepy atmosphere, and even some replayability!”
    • “Aesthetically speaking, this is my least favorite Chilla's Art title.”
    • “It switches out the usual VHS filter for something more pixelated, but it just ends up looking like it’s got horrible antialiasing rather than a creepy retro aesthetic.”
    • “The story is fine (if a bit weirdly told) and the graphics are alright (even if the people are scary as hell), but the motion and walking makes you feel a bit sick after a while - not to mention the excessive reflections.”
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interactivity and light puzzles, which some players find repetitive and clunky. While the atmosphere and story progression are engaging, many reviewers note that the gameplay lacks depth and can feel tedious at times. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate immersive experiences over complex mechanics, though it may not satisfy players seeking more dynamic gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is relatively simple for an adventure game, but it's still rather effective, and its two main puzzles are pretty interesting, without disrupting the flow of the entire experience.”
    • “The graphics hold some of the best textures and models I've seen in one of these games, the methodical gameplay leaves you bewildered and jumping at the edge of your seat whenever something slightly deviates from the standard set.”
    • “It wears itself out a bit by overdoing those segments, but the denouement is possibly the cleverest thing Chilla's Art has produced -- Ghost Train takes place over four increasingly spooky nights as you ride a mostly empty train home from work, and that fourth and final night is haunting, and the gameplay solution for your survival is clever as hell.”
    • “It performs the same as every other Chilla’s Art title, and the gameplay is no different.”
    • “Storyline, gameplay, atmosphere, endings... everything was cheap and pointless.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, it's slow and sort of clunky - this might not be bad, especially for horror, but it's more tedious than scary at most times, and there are certain parts that might force you to restart the whole game/section if you overestimate the game's capabilities (as an example and a warning, items don't stack, and there is no inventory; what you pick up is what you are holding, and if you pick something up before putting the previous item down, that previous item enters the void and you won't be seeing it again).”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a poignant narrative that evokes a range of feelings, from heavy contemplation to tearful moments, depending on the chosen ending. While some players noted that certain design elements might limit the overall emotional impact, many found the story's slow burn approach and depth of humanity to be deeply touching and resonant. Overall, the game successfully balances spookiness with heartfelt storytelling, leaving a lasting emotional impression.

    • “Very touching indeed.”
    • “Everything in that final act had a purpose, and it made me feel some heavy things.”
    • “It is a slow burn tactic but underneath all the spook and angst is a touching story of humanity.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game effectively contributes to the atmosphere, with some players noting its ability to create an eerie vibe, particularly in locations like the train station. However, there are mixed reviews regarding its overall impact, as some feel the eerie music is lacking despite the strong sound effects that enhance the scary mood. Notably, certain puzzles require players to pay attention to the sounds, and there are moments of truly creepy chase music that stand out towards the end.

    • “Overall, amazing work of utilizing the atmosphere, music, lighting, and other aspects.”
    • “When I was in the train station, I got this eerie vibe from the music.”
    • “Sound and music: (6/10) the sound effects helped set the scary mood, but I feel like they were really lacking on the eerie music.”
    • “- some truly creepy chase music/ambient sounds [spoiler] near the end of the game [/spoiler]”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is highlighted through its unique and vibrant advertisements, which enhance the overall atmosphere and immersion. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the ads, particularly the colorful and creative designs, although some express a desire for translations to fully enjoy the content. Overall, the advertisements contribute positively to the game's experience, setting it apart from typical horror titles.

    • “You don't really see a lot of horror games with things like colorful advertising, and it was fun reading each of them and appreciating the details, instead of it just being carbon copy low blurry text everywhere.”
    • “Well that, and the abundance of anime girl advertisements on the train.”
    • “I wish there was a translation of all the Japanese ads.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as hilarious, with some players noting that the character designs contribute to its comedic style. While it features elements of horror, there are moments that evoke laughter instead of fear, particularly for fans of the creator's previous works. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its other gameplay elements.

    • “Hilarious.”
    • “Faces also look a bit funny, but from what I heard - that's a style of the creator.”
    • “If you've played Chilla's Art's other games, then you'll probably enjoy this one, although there were a few moments that made me laugh rather than scare me.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with slow and clunky gameplay that detracts from the horror experience. The lack of an inventory system leads to frustrating situations where players may lose items, further contributing to the overall sense of tedium. While the game avoids overly complex puzzles, the repetitive nature of tasks can make it feel more laborious than engaging.

    • “This game is horribly tedious.”
    • “Overall, decent game, but it gets a bit tedious for the time you spend playing it.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, it's slow and sort of clunky - this might not be bad, especially for horror, but it's more tedious than scary at most times, and there are certain parts that might force you to restart the whole game/section if you overestimate the game's capabilities (as an example and a warning, items don't stack, and there is no inventory; what you pick up is what you are holding, and if you pick something up before putting the previous item down, that previous item enters the void and you won't be seeing it again).”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most users reporting minimal bugs that are not game-breaking and can be easily overlooked. Players find it enjoyable, especially if they are fans of the developer's previous titles.

    • “Yet another Chilla's Art game; nothing wrong with this one. It's not really buggy and it is kind of creepy at times. Definitely worth a play if you already enjoy other games by the dev group.”
    • “It's buggy to a degree, nothing that I couldn't ignore anyway and that wasn't game-breaking.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “I experienced several glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    While the game features multiple endings that enhance its replayability, the slow pacing detracts from the overall experience, making it less appealing to revisit. However, the impressive visuals and eerie atmosphere contribute positively to the game's replay value.

    • “Despite the multiple endings, its snail-like pacing isn't conducive to replayability.”
    • “Great visuals, creepy atmosphere, and even some replayability!”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, resulting in slow transitions and a gameplay experience that feels jammed. Users have reported issues with repetitive patterns and weird animations, contributing to an overall lack of fluidity and engagement.

    • “If you want to see for yourself, go ahead, but what awaits you is a slow game, slow transitions, repetitive patterns, a 'plot twist' that's so cliché that you'll probably know it from the beginning, weird animations, poor optimization, a gameplay that feels jammed, and a vague sense of terror.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

237hMedian play time
237hAverage play time
237-237hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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