Review: Ghost Town
Puzzle games are particularly well-suited for virtual reality, and Ghost Town is the latest offering from Fireproof Games, known for their impressive title The Room VR: A Dark Matter. With such a strong reputation, the anticipation was palpable. But did they succeed in delivering another hit?
Release Date: April 24th 2025
Developer: Fireproof Games
Publisher: Fireproof Games
Price: £24.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
Find Your Brother
Edith’s life is thriving. The paranormal detective agency she operates with her roommate is busier than ever, she’s nearly caught up on her rent, and the spirits in her bathroom mirror have been relatively quiet. However, everything changes when her brother disappears. Will you harness your paranormal detective skills to rescue him?
Outstanding Puzzle Design
The primary attraction of Ghost Towns lies in the numerous puzzles you’ll face while searching for your brother. However, the team has placed a greater emphasis on narrative compared to The Room VR. Personally, I found this to be a refreshing enhancement, as a VR game truly shines when it weaves a compelling story with a well-crafted narrative. This approach allows the game to intersperse puzzles with storytelling, revealing more about the unfolding events and the environment you are exploring, ultimately enriching the overall experience.
While the game follows a mostly linear progression, there are rooms that offer limited exploration opportunities. It’s beneficial to thoroughly investigate these areas, as they contain more than just puzzle clues and essential items. Each location also features collectible magazines that provide headlines relevant to that area. I wish these magazines offered deeper lore about their locations, as this would encourage players to collect them beyond just for completion’s sake.
Fireproof Games has crafted a variety of puzzles that maintain your interest during the approximately five-hour campaign. Each location features a distinct theme for its puzzles, ensuring that while they share similarities, they are cleverly designed to feel unique and often more challenging than the last. Although seasoned puzzle game fans may find them somewhat straightforward, the enjoyment factor remains high.
In addition to solving puzzles, you’ll engage in exorcisms to liberate spirits trapped in this realm. This is where the crucial items come into play, easily identifiable by their ethereal glow. These exorcisms typically mark the end of a game segment, requiring you to encircle the ghost with light, hear their tale, and place the corresponding item on the podium before you. Next, you’ll trace a path with your hand to connect the dots, casting a spell to release them from this existence. These moments are truly captivating, showcasing stunning visual effects and beautifully rendered ghosts.
What Is This Witchcraft?
While you might think that Edith is the sole wielder of witchcraft, that’s not the case; the team at Fireproof Games must possess some magic of their own. This is evident in Ghost Town, which stands out as one of the most visually stunning games on the Meta Quest. Only a handful of other titles on the platform can match its graphics, which I would gladly compare to those on PCVR and PSVR2. From the moment you step into the theatre at the game’s outset, each level leaves you in awe, especially considering it’s all powered by a mobile chip on a standalone device. The lighting is expertly managed, and the attention to detail, along with the crystal-clear visuals, fully immerses you in every environment—all while maintaining a remarkably smooth performance.
This highlighted a small issue for me; everything looked so enticing that it’s a pity that objects not crucial for the puzzles can’t be interacted with – except for one level.. My desire to engage with more objects stemmed from their attractive design. However, this does not diminish the overall experience, and it makes sense to limit interactions to avoid confusion when determining which items are truly necessary for the puzzles.
The team didn’t just excel in visuals; the audio design is equally remarkable. The incorporation of 3D audio enhances every element of the environments, creating an immersive experience whether you’re indoors or outdoors. The captivating atmosphere is complemented by outstanding voice acting for each character and ghost you encounter, all seamlessly woven together.
With the games stunning visuals and sound, it gives it the potential to be a horror experience. However, it’s worth noting that it lacks jump scares. Although the atmosphere can evoke a sense of unease, it doesn’t quite reach the level of intensity found in traditional horror games, yet some players might still find it to be a formidable challenge.
Comfort
The Verdict
Ghost Town is poised to be the surprise hit for virtual reality in 2025, and it currently stands out as the top game released this year across all VR platforms. The developers have crafted a captivating story intertwined with fun and engaging puzzles, perfectly spaced out by the narative. The graphics are so stunning they seem to have been conjured by some of Edith’s witchcraft skills, and the audio and voice performances draw you further into the adventure. It’s remarkable that such stunning graphics are driven by a mobile chip, while keeping an impressively smooth performance. I will be recommending Ghost Town to everyone for years to come, so be sure to add it to your library as soon as you can.