ghostpia Season One | Switch Review

June 5, 2023 Alyssa White

Visual novels are becoming more prevalent in the gaming industry at a quick rate. The allure of a compelling narrative that you’re able to enjoy at your own pace and control the outcome of is a quality that I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated. What about a game that doesn’t have the typical mechanics of a visual novel, though? This is where ghostpia Season One differentiates itself from the ever-increasing catalogue of titles in this genre. Chosuido has crafted a game that isn’t really a game; it’s a movie that you have minimal interactions with. This gameplay element (or lack of one, to be precise) will probably inform you from the off if this is a title you want to sink five hours into.

Everything is Fine

Ghostpia places you in the shoes of a girl named Sayoko. She suffers from amnesia and has no idea how she has ended up in this strange ghost town that she lives in. She aimlessly wanders the streets every night and hangs out with her friends Pacifica and Anya. Everything sounds pretty normal, right? Well, this is a literal ghost town, inhabited only by spirits who have already passed away. Of course, this means Sayoko and her friends are dead as well. She struggles to recall how they died and ponders if she was the cause of their untimely demise. There’s a darkness to Sayoko that is shocking, and it comes out at random moments. She transforms from an insecure young woman into a cold, brutal soul in the span of seconds.

That’s all I can say about the story without risking going into spoiler territory. I was fascinated by Sayoko’s duality, as well as her friends’ flippant responses to her cruelty. This won’t be an experience for everyone due to its depictions of extreme violence, but if you’re fascinated by human psychology and don’t have a squeamish stomach, the whiplash caused by the abrupt tonal shifts is an odd pleasure to experience.

Child’s Play

The graphical style of ghostpia is absolutely stunning. Reminiscent of an illustrated children’s book or a comic strip, the visuals are in sharp contrast to the more mature elements of the narrative. It lulls your mind into a false sense of security, making the more horrific story beats stand out even further. The soundtrack is composed of pleasing lo-fi beats and cheery electronic music, punctuating each scene with the emotion that is intended to accompany it.

Another intriguing aspect is the fact that there is zero voice-acting in this title. Instead, every character sounds like the adults from Charlie Brown, their voices a mixture of garbled chirps and beeps. This proves especially effective when reading dialogue that’s full of violence and curse words. The voices are in such stark contrast to the nature of certain scenarios that it caused me to chuckle at the disparate tones.

The Final Verdict

Ghostpia is a unique experience that has to be watched to be believed. Its intriguing story, mysterious main character, and shocking tonal shifts are worth the price of admission alone. Add in the bright, cheerful visuals and score and it becomes even more tempting to dive into. Your level of enjoyment will ultimately be determined by both your desire to watch a five hour movie that you can only influence by rewinding/fast-forwarding it, and your tolerance of violent content. I can’t wait for the already confirmed Season Two to drop, and I hope this gem of a title finds its niche.

To hear me talk more about ghostpia Season One, be sure to listen to the May 31, 2023 episode of the Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 43:41 time stamp.

This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of ghostpia Season One provided by PQube for coverage purposes. It will be available at a later date on Mac and PC via Steam.