OFF | Switch Review
Some games are immediately iconic. Others take their time to build up a cult following. Mortis Ghost’s OFF feels like it encapsulates both of these directions. It’s been available to play for free online for over a decade. The inspiration is clearly felt in titles such as Undertale, but the game is just now coming to consoles and PC to reach a wider audience. Does it deserve its hype? After my playthrough of seven hours, I can safely say this is a one-of-a-kind experience that lives up to its status.
Swing, Batter, Batter!
You are The Batter. Really. At the start of OFF, you take possession of his body. Your task? To purify the world of specters. It sounds like a noble quest, but things seem, well…off. As your adventure continues, that unsettling feeling never abates. To reveal any more of the story would be to spoil it. You just need to experience this unique tale for yourself. I do have to warn that if you like clear-cut answers and narratives, this game won’t be for you. It leaves its themes and subjects up for interpretation and trusts the player to come to their own conclusions.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
OFF plays like an old-school JRPG. It’s chock-full of random battles, it doesn’t hold your hand when it comes to exploration, and combat is turn-based. One thing that distinguishes it from classic titles is the use of a gauge in battle. You can only take your turn once your gauge is full. This also applies to enemies. It’s both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes you’re able to get in multiple hits with your party; other times the enemy receives several chances to put a hurting on your group and dishes out tons of damage. It really makes you strategize and think about whether to attack, defend, use an item, or utilize a competence (your special attack).
Home Run!
The graphics of OFF are also evocative of RPGs from yesteryear. The simple pixel art and use of only a handful of colors made me nostalgic. It also allows the game to really pop. Each zone has its own color scheme, and it’s drenched in this hue. The score is also eerie and suits the uncomfortable narrative excellently. Sound effects are also top-notch, with enemies creepily moaning and attacks making fleshy splats.
A Swing and a Miss
I mostly loved OFF, but I did have a couple of gripes. The difficulty felt uneven for most of the game, with some normal enemies being tougher than the main bosses. I also had a glitch on Switch where if I tried to use a certain item, it would cause my game to crash and lose all my progress from the last checkpoint. Since these save points are sparse, I would lose thirty minutes or more of progression. It was frustrating, and hadn’t been patched at the time of my finishing OFF. Hopefully this is rectified soon.
The Final Verdict
OFF is an uncomfortable, eerie game that shows how it’s become an influence on modern titles. It’s a unique experience that begs to be played if you love old-school JRPGs and don’t mind a narrative that doesn’t spoon feed you its main messages. The combat requires strategy and keeps things fresh, even if difficulty spikes can be frustrating at points. The pixel art visuals and unsettling score and sound effects are excellent, and really evokes a sense of nostalgia and unease in equal measure. If you’ve been interested in playing OFF and seeing if it’s worth the hype, now is the perfect time to dive into this twisted world.
To hear me talk more about OFF, be sure to listen to the August 20, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 44:04 time stamp.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of OFF provided by Pirate PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC via Steam.
OFF
$14.99
Pros
- Unsettling Narrative
- Combat Requires Some Strategy
- Excellent Visuals and Sound
Cons
- Difficulty Spikes
- Glitch Tied to a Certain Item if Playing on Switch
