The Outbound Ghost

The Outbound Ghost is a great turn-based RPG with fun characters and a heartfelt story. The unique game mechanics make the battles challenging and enjoyable as you progress through the story.

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In "The Outbound Ghost," players navigate a charming afterlife as they help troubled spirits move on from their unfinished business. Featuring strategic turn-based combat and puzzle-solving, this game offers a lighthearted take on the afterlife while inviting players to form connections with a host of memorable characters. With its captivating narrative and diverse gameplay, "The Outbound Ghost" is a delightful and engaging adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 399 reviews

story80 positive mentions

grinding30 negative mentions

Charming art style and visuals that evoke nostalgia for classic RPGs.
Engaging combat system that allows for strategic team-building with unique abilities.
Great music and sound design that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.

The story feels disjointed and leaves many plot threads unresolved, especially towards the end.
Exploration can be tedious due to large, empty maps with little incentive to revisit areas.
Combat can become repetitive and lacks variety in enemy design and attack mechanics.

story
464 mentions
17 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story of "The Outbound Ghost" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it disjointed and lacking resolution. While some appreciated the initial intrigue and character depth, most criticized the pacing, unresolved plot threads, and a lack of meaningful side quests, leading to a feeling of redundancy and confusion as the game progressed. Overall, the narrative is seen as a major flaw, detracting from an otherwise visually appealing and mechanically interesting game.
- “No spoilers: initially, the story has some intrigue as you explore a new world alongside your mute main character.”
- “The characters are cute and actually have depth to them, and the story is both heartwarming and sad.”
- “I personally loved the story of this game, it's cute yet dark at the same time and I really enjoy how everything was put together.”
- “The story and characters feel half-baked.”
- “The biggest disappointment for me was the execution of the story.”
- “The game ends abruptly with almost no explanation and countless open plot threads.”
gameplay
160 mentions
28 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of solid mechanics and repetitive elements, with many players appreciating the combat system and unique features like party-based battles and stealth mechanics. However, criticisms include a lack of depth in exploration, simplistic puzzles, and pacing issues, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness and a desire for more variety and customization. Overall, while the core gameplay is engaging and polished, it suffers from design inconsistencies and a lack of narrative clarity.
- “There are a few side roads here and there which lead to treasure, and a mechanic where you can hide in bushes to ambush enemies and get the upper hand in battle, which I liked.”
- “I felt that I became more proficient at combat the further into the game I got, since I gained new abilities and understood enemy mechanics better.”
- “The unique game mechanics make the battles challenging and enjoyable as you progress through the story.”
- “The mechanics aren't fully thought out, the pacing of the story (especially after chapter 2) sucks, and every puzzle is brain-dead easy.”
- “From a gameplay perspective, it feels like a real early alpha that should not have seen the light of day.”
- “The game doesn't set up any of the narrative or mechanics effectively; there's no explanation as to how or why we are partnering with these figments, why we're in combat with things, or how we got where we are.”
music
142 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "The Outbound Ghost" has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising it as one of the game's standout features. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as charming, well-composed, and capable of effectively capturing the game's mood, often noting that it enhances the overall experience. While some tracks are considered forgettable, the majority of players find the music enjoyable and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music is easily the best part about The Outbound Ghost.”
- “Every song slaps and encapsulates the mood very well.”
- “I found the music very charming and befitting a cute ghost game, and just when I would get tired of hearing a battle theme, the next chapter would hit and give me something fresh to listen to.”
- “Music is okay, but it's not winning any awards or wowing me like Bug Fables' track did.”
- “The music is pretty lackluster, and the fact it gets a filter every minute because you're walking through a bush does not help it in the slightest.”
- “The combat music is non-existent.”
graphics
134 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received praise for their beautiful, paper cut-out aesthetic reminiscent of the Paper Mario series, with many reviewers highlighting the charming art style and polished visuals. However, criticisms include a lack of thematic consistency and a world that feels empty or lifeless, detracting from the overall experience. While the visuals are a standout feature, they are often seen as the game's primary strength amidst other shortcomings in gameplay and level design.
- “The graphics and assets are also really well made and quite beautiful.”
- “The visuals are honestly where I can give the game the most praise.”
- “The overall aesthetics and visuals of the game are really its main selling point; it has a unique charm to it and most of the characters are really charming and full of personality.”
- “Even though the graphical capability of this game is quite high, the level design is something left to be desired.”
- “The charm in this game is purely in the aesthetics; otherwise, the game is extremely lackluster in every front.”
- “Honestly, no disrespect to the devs, but the first impression this game left on me, outside of the aesthetics was kinda weak and the world feeling not very alive as a result.”
grinding
32 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, with players noting that both exploration and combat feel repetitive and uninspired. Many reviewers expressed frustration over the lack of effective grinding zones and the necessity of backtracking, which detracts from the overall experience. While some found satisfaction in overpowering enemies through grinding, the general consensus is that the grind becomes a chore rather than an engaging part of gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There are no good grinding zones and I wasn't sure if enemies respawned at all until I got to the end of the game (they do).”
- “The combat scratches the surface of depth with a few interesting buffs and debuffs, but ends up more tedious than anything, especially by using exactly one reaction command for all attacks.”
- “Exploration and combat are both incredibly tedious, and the story meanders for about six hours until it ends with nothing resolved.”
humor
24 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players found the character interactions and dialogue charming and occasionally funny, many felt it fell short of the comedic standards set by games like Paper Mario. Despite a few laugh-out-loud moments, the overall humor was seen as lacking depth and engagement, with some players wishing for a more substantial comedic experience. However, the game's visuals, battle system, and charming characters were praised, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate its unique style.
- “The character interactions were charming, and I found myself chuckling and giggling at some of the dialogues that occurred from time to time.”
- “Being separated into 4 chapters (main story), it features beautiful visuals and environments, charming characters, a great soundtrack, and hilarious dialogue.”
- “Overall, despite the story mishaps towards the end, this game is well worth your money if you are looking for a well-crafted, funny, and beautiful RPG which will make you feel like you are a kid again.”
emotional
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players feeling both deeply invested in its heartwarming yet somber narrative and critiquing its surface-level storytelling. While the characters are described as cute and possessing depth, some reviewers note that the emotional impact can feel forced or underdeveloped at times. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging story, beautiful music, and art, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of RPGs, particularly those who enjoy the Paper Mario series.
- “Emotionally invested in this since my first minutes of playing, and I think any fan of older Paper Marios and RPGs in general should give it a shot.”
- “It's a very bouncy and pleasing game at its core, but it's wrapped in a somber shell of death and emotional trauma.”
- “The characters are cute and actually have depth to them, and the story is both heartwarming and sad.”
replayability
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability; while some players appreciate the game's depth, mechanics, and built-in features like randomizers and difficulty levels that enhance replay value, others feel it lacks sufficient incentive to revisit after completion. Overall, the potential for replayability is acknowledged, but individual experiences vary significantly.
- “Built-in randomizer and several difficulty levels promise lots of replay value for those looking for it.”
- “The mechanics feel very in-depth and well designed, making it incredibly fun to learn and play, with plenty of room for replayability.”
- “There is definitely no replay value for me in this game, so this is probably just going to sit in my Steam library untouched indefinitely.”
- “Maybe remove these functions until after the game is beaten to add replayability.”
- “This game has a classic feel to it with what could be so much replay value to it.”
stability
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report encountering numerous bugs and glitches, others have experienced minimal issues during their playtime. Overall, there is a consensus that the game is buggy, with concerns about the likelihood of future patches to address these problems.
- “Game is buggy, and will probably never get a patch.”
- “I love bugs and stupid glitches that let me experience silly fun for no reason... but there are way too many bugs in this game.”
- “I do have to admit though that I have encountered some minor bugs and glitches, but nothing game breaking.”
character development
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and unresolved, leaving many characters feeling underdeveloped and lacking depth. Reviewers note that the character designs are often bland and uninteresting, contributing to a sense of disconnection and frustration regarding the overall narrative and character arcs.
- “Any character development for your first set of characters gets stunted, pushed aside, or hinted at with no real resolution.”
- “No background, lots of unanswered questions, no character development.”
- “The character designs range from average to fairly bland, most just being this blobby/floating head/boo-esque shape.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the inclusion of grass enhances the immersive experience. The well-composed and atmospheric music complements the beautiful environments, making it particularly enjoyable during the autumn months. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly enriches the gameplay experience.
- “The music, while mostly atmospheric, was still well composed and pleasant to listen to.”
- “Definitely recommended, perfect atmosphere for the autumn months!”
- “The OST is fantastic and really complements the atmosphere of the beautiful environments well.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, with users reporting notable performance issues that affect gameplay.
- “Also rather notably, there seem to be issues with the game's performance.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game appears to be influenced by modern titles rather than its advertised inspirations, leading to a mixed reception among users. While some appreciate the contemporary design elements, others feel the marketing may mislead players regarding the game's true nature.