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Ghostrunner
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Ghostrunner
DevelopersOne More Level
Slipgate Ironworks
Publishers505 Games
All in! Games
Producer3D Realms
ComposerDaniel Deluxe
EngineUnreal Engine 4[1]
Platforms
ReleasePlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
27 October 2020
Nintendo Switch
10 November 2020
Amazon Luna
6 April 2021
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
28 September 2021
GenresAction, platform
ModeSingle-player

Ghostrunner is a 2020 action platform video game co-developed by One more Level and Slipgate Ironworks, produced by 3D Realms, and co-published by 505 Games and All in! Games. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One in October 2020, and Nintendo Switch in November 2020, followed by a next gen release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in September 2021. A version for Amazon Luna was made available in April 2021. A story expansion, titled Ghostrunner: Project Hel, was released on 3 March 2022.

Ghostrunner received positive reviews from critics and has sold over 2.5 million units as of September 2023. A sequel, Ghostrunner 2, released on 26 October 2023.

Gameplay

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Played from a first person perspective as Jack the Ghostrunner, the player must traverse dangerous environments by dashing, jumping, wall-running, grappling, and sliding. The player will also encounter enemies, which must be handled carefully, as both enemies and the player can be killed in one hit. Jack can use a mechanic called Sensory Boost, allowing him to slow down time and dodge and deflect bullets in midair. As the player progresses through the story, they will unlock new abilities and upgrades, which they can apply using tetromino-like pieces on a grid system.[2]

Plot

[edit]

After an unspecified global cataclysm known as the Burst, mankind is housed in Dharma Tower, a vast skyscraper-like arcology sheltering the rest of humanity. The Ghostrunner awakens with no recollection, but is ordered to free the Architect, Adam's preserved consciousness who established and ruled Dharma Tower and designed the Ghostrunners, technologically enhanced super humans that served as a peacekeeping and policing force. Mara, the Architect's confidant, betrayed him in a coup that destroyed most of the Ghostrunner units, and now she is known as the Keymaster. The Ghostrunner was discovered for repairs by a group of rebels known as the Climbers, though the uprising was put down just before the Ghostrunner was reactivated. The Architect assigns the mission of defeating the Keymaster to the Ghostrunner.

The remaining Cybervoid systems, the digital network connecting Dharma Tower, and the basis upon which the Architect's intelligence is based are all accessible to the Ghostrunner. As a result, the Architect is able to repair damage to the Ghostrunner's coding. Zoe, a surviving Climber, gets contacted by the Ghostrunner when trying to call for help. She offers him assistance in his quest to defeat the Keymaster. Zoe also gives him the moniker 'Jack,' which was a pseudonym the Climbers used when attempting to repair him. Mara disables the air filtering systems in the district where the uprising took place, potentially causing all of the district's residents to die from the radioactive dust in the outside atmosphere. To the Architect's dismay, the Ghostrunner agrees to reinitialize the turbines at Zoe's request.

To go to Dharma City, the Tower's elite sector, the Ghostrunner takes the Amida elevator. The Ghostrunner proceeds on to the Repository, a protected Cybervoid server that has pre-Burst data as well as certain Project Ghostrunner knowledge. Zoe sees a distortion in the monitoring systems, which turns out to be a replica of the Ghostrunners constructed by Mara, with whom she worked on their design. The unit takes the data, forcing the Ghostrunner to defeat it in order to obtain access to the data's enhancements. The Keymaster tells the Architect and his "puppet" that once the Ghostrunner is beaten, she will destroy all surviving Cybervoid systems, wiping out the Architect's intelligence. The Ghostrunner then moves on to the Keymaster's power center, the Core. The Architect is always dismissive of the Ghostrunner's friendship with Zoe, and views the Ghostrunner's willfulness to be a flaw in the Architect's perfect weapon.

Zoe receives a distress signal while the Ghostrunner traverses the Core, prompting her to leave her safe location in the hopes of rescuing a fellow Climber, despite the Ghostrunner's warning that it could be a trap. Regardless, she bids him farewell. The Keymaster speaks directly to the citizens of the Tower, outlining her ultimate goal: invasively changing the human body to allow humanity to depart by allowing it to survive the conditions of the Outside. The products of her research are capable of doing so, but the nature of the augments would harm their minds, leaving them with little that could be called human. The Ghostrunner discovers a last Cybervoid server and acquires the ability to hack his opponents' ubiquitous 'Atma' neural implants. The Ghostrunner realizes the Architect has the ability to manipulate individuals as a result of this skill, and remarks that the Architect is worse than Mara. Mara recognizes that the only reason the Ghostrunner would have preserved the sector from earlier rather than continuing his journey to confront her is because he wasn't totally obedient, and she tries to persuade him that the Architect is nothing more than a mad machine. The Ghostrunner realizes the Architect has been lying about his capabilities within the Tower when he silences her.

After defeating Mara, the Architect drives the Ghostrunner into Cybervoid since the Architect's strength increased when the Ghostrunner connected with the Cybervoid servers, with the Architect aiming to entirely absorb the Ghostrunner into itself because the Ghostrunner is now independent and sentient. As the objective of both the original Adam and the Architect is revealed to be complete subjugation of humanity, the Ghostrunner resists and traverses the landscape. The Architect sees this as a win-win situation, whereas the Ghostrunner believes Mara's first coup was correct. The Ghostrunner arrives at the Architect's manifestation, who informs him that without him, Cybervoid would cease to exist, effectively killing the Ghostrunner. Regardless, the Ghostrunner destroys the Architect and reintroduces himself as Jack. The epilogue is narrated by Zoe, who claims that mankind is now free to choose its own destiny, free of the delusional Architect and Mara's tyranny. She conveys her thankfulness to Jack, who appears to have been reactivated.

Development

[edit]

Polish developer One More Level worked with 3D Realms to create the game. The game was made using Unreal Engine 4 and supports Nvidia's RTX technology. Ghostrunner was announced during Gamescom 2019.[3] A demo was available 6–13 May 2020 on Steam.[4] The game received positive comments prior to its release. Forbes called the game a mix of Titanfall, Dishonored and Superhot.[5] Andy Chalk from PC Gamer called the game a mix between Mirror's Edge and Dishonored.[6] The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on 27 October 2020 by All In! Games and 505 Games,[7] with a Nintendo Switch version launching on 10 November 2020[8][9] and versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S releasing on 28 September 2021.[10] A version for Amazon Luna was also made available on 6 April 2021.[11]

Reception

[edit]

Ghostrunner received "generally favorable" reviews for all platforms, except for Nintendo Switch which received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic.[12][13][16][14][15] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 82% of critics.[17]

Sales

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Ghostrunner had sold over 600,000 units by May 2021.[25] The game has sold over 2.5 million units as of September 2023.[26]

Sequel

[edit]
Main article: Ghostrunner 2

On 13 May 2021, 505 Games parent company Digital Bros announced that Ghostrunner 2 was in development for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.[25] Teasers for Ghostrunner 2 were released in the second anniversary stream and in the steam feed on November 4, 2022. On May 24, 2023, it was officially revealed during the PlayStation Showcase event, and was released on October 26, 2023.[27] received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[28]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ghostrunner

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ghostrunner is a cyberpunk-themed action-platformer released in 2020, developed primarily by Polish studio One More Level in collaboration with , produced by , and co-published by and . Set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future, the game follows Jack, the last of the Ghostrunners—a elite class of cybernetically augmented warriors—as he ascends the towering known as Dharma Tower, humanity's final refuge, to confront the tyrannical Keymaster and restore balance to a society on the brink of extinction. Featuring fast-paced first-person that emphasizes precision , one-hit-kill melee combat with a monomolecular , and environmental navigation, Ghostrunner blends elements of slasher action, platforming, and aesthetics in a single-player experience devoid of checkpoints or second chances. The plot unfolds in a world ravaged by cataclysm, where the remnants of humanity huddle at the base of Tower under the oppressive rule of Mara, the Keymaster, who controls access to the upper levels and hoards resources. Awakened by a mysterious ally, Jack embarks on a vertical journey through the tower's layered sectors, battling enforcers, drones, and other Ghostrunners while uncovering the Architect's legacy and the truth behind the tower's creation. The narrative explores themes of survival, rebellion, and technological overreach, delivered through environmental storytelling, holographic messages, and sparse voiceovers, culminating in revelations about Jack's own origins as a prototype warrior. Gameplay centers on fluid, momentum-based movement mechanics, including wall-running, grappling hooks, sliding, and mid-air dashes, which players must master to traverse intricate levels filled with lethal obstacles and instant-death pitfalls. Combat is equally unforgiving, requiring strategic dismemberment of enemies—human and robotic alike—using Jack's katana, with abilities like sensory boosts and time-slowing upgrades unlocked progressively to enhance mobility and combat prowess. Levels are designed as self-contained challenges that encourage speedrunning and replayability, rewarding precise execution over brute force, though the high difficulty curve demands repeated attempts to learn enemy patterns and optimal paths. Development of Ghostrunner began in 2018 under One More Level, drawing inspiration from games like for its movement elements. The game launched on October 27, 2020, for Microsoft Windows, , and , followed by a port in late 2020 and next-generation upgrades for and Xbox Series X/S. Post-launch support included the Winter Pack DLC with new cosmetics and the Project_Hel expansion in 2022, which reimagines a boss character as a playable anti-hero. In 2021, acquired full ownership of the Ghostrunner intellectual property from for €5 million, paving the way for the 2023 sequel, _*. Upon release, Ghostrunner received generally favorable reviews, earning a score of 81/100 based on 65 critic reviews, praised for its exhilarating gameplay, stylish visuals, and atmosphere, though some criticized its steep and lack of narrative depth. It garnered positive mentions from outlets like (8/10) for its "satisfying" combat and traversal. The game sold over one million copies within months of launch and has since sold over 2.5 million copies as of 2023, solidifying its cult status among fans of high-octane platformers.

Gameplay

Core Mechanics

Ghostrunner is a first-person action-platformer that emphasizes fluid, high-speed traversal and precise combat in a environment. The core mechanics revolve around parkour-inspired movement, melee-based combat, and time-manipulation abilities, all integrated into levels designed for vertical exploration and rhythmic execution. Players control Jack, a cybernetically enhanced assassin, navigating a dystopian through acrobatic maneuvers and strategic engagements that demand mastery of timing and positioning. The game's movement system is built on kinetic parkour elements, allowing players to wall-run along surfaces, slide under obstacles, dash for quick bursts of speed, and use a to swing across gaps or pull toward distant points. These abilities enable seamless of the environment, maintaining as players climb, leap, and redirect mid-air to traverse complex structures. For instance, wall-running can be initiated by approaching a surface at speed, while the targets specific anchors to propel the player forward or upward, fostering a of exhilarating flow. This first-person perspective heightens immersion, making environmental interactions feel immediate and responsive. Combat adheres to a strict one-hit-kill rule, where both the player and enemies perish from a single strike or projectile, shifting focus from attrition-based health management to precision dodging, positioning, and counterattacks. Players wield a for close-range strikes, requiring them to close distances rapidly using movement tools while evading fire through slides or dashes. Encounters are structured as puzzle-like sequences, where players must analyze patterns—such as ranged shooters or shielded foes—and execute flawless paths to eliminate threats without error. This mechanic encourages trial-and-error learning, with instant respawns at checkpoints to reinforce iterative refinement. A key ability, Sensory Boost, permits players to temporarily slow time, providing a window to dodge incoming projectiles, plan trajectories, or line up precise strikes amid chaos. Activated on cooldown, it integrates with and combat by allowing heightened awareness during intense moments, such as bullet-hell sequences or multi-enemy ambushes. Levels amplify these systems through verticality in the cyberpunk , featuring towering spires, precarious ledges, and holographic platforms that blend platforming challenges with embedded puzzles, like redirecting lasers or timing grapples to access new routes. Controls are mapped for intuitive execution across platforms, with defaults optimized for precision. On PC keyboard, jump is bound to Space, dash to Left Shift, grapple to E, slide/crouch to Ctrl, attack to left mouse button, and Sensory Boost to Q. For Xbox controllers, these correspond to A (jump), B (dash), Y (grapple), right stick click (slide/crouch), right trigger (attack), and left bumper (Sensory Boost); PlayStation mappings use Cross (jump), Circle (dash), Triangle (grapple), R3 (slide/crouch), R2 (attack), and L1 (Sensory Boost) respectively. These inputs support the game's demand for simultaneous movement and combat, though customization is available for player preference.

Progression and Upgrades

In Ghostrunner, players advance through 17 levels by mastering precise platforming and combat sequences, with progression tied to completing main objectives and optional Cybervoid challenges that unlock new booster modules. These modules are tetromino-shaped pieces placed on a limited grid in the Calibration Panel, accessed between levels, requiring strategic rotation and fitting to activate enhancements without overlapping. Booster modules are earned automatically upon finishing Cybervoid sections, which appear after certain levels and involve puzzle-solving to hone abilities like time-slowing or throws. The upgrade system categorizes booster modules by ability type, emphasizing customization for offensive, defensive, or playstyles. Offensive upgrades include enhancements like Surge's increased size for wider electrical bursts or Tempest's multikill refund to restore focus after chain kills, boosting damage output against groups. Defensive options, such as Deflect's boost for faster projectile reflection or extra charges for and Blink to evade attacks, improve survivability in bullet-heavy encounters. upgrades extend functionality, like Blink's range for longer grapples or Map's sensory boost to highlight hidden paths and enemies, aiding navigation in complex environments. With grid space constrained to about 10-12 slots by endgame, players must prioritize based on their approach, often favoring movement-focused builds for speedruns. The game's mechanic enforces instant restarts at the last checkpoint upon any damage, eliminating traditional health bars or manual saves to heighten tension and encourage flawless execution. No resources are collected from defeated enemies or hidden areas specifically for upgrades; instead, all modules unlock via story progression, though optional collectibles like swords, artifacts, and audiologs provide lore and cosmetic rewards without impacting abilities. Upon completing the campaign, New Game+ is not a separate mode but enables replayability through level select, retaining all unlocked booster modules and grid expansions for harder runs or collectible hunting. This allows experimentation with full upgrade sets against familiar challenges, extending playtime without resetting progress. Additionally, a free update in December 2020 introduced Hardcore mode, unlocked after finishing the game, which remixes levels with increased difficulty, tougher enemy placements, and the removal of checkpoints to provide a more punishing replay experience. For accessibility, an August 2021 free update introduced Assist Mode, which adds a shield absorbing one hit before checkpoint reset and reduces enemy damage output, while also offering options like slowed and faster ability cooldowns to ease the one-hit-death difficulty. These toggles can be enabled per level without altering core mechanics.

Story

Setting

Ghostrunner is set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a cataclysmic event known as the Burst, which has left the surface of the uninhabitable and confined the remnants of humanity to the towering called Dharma Tower. This vertical serves as humanity's last sanctuary, a self-contained city rising thousands of stories into the sky, where survival hinges on the fragile systems within its walls. Society inside Dharma Tower is rigidly hierarchical, with a stark divide between the opulent elites who dwell in the upper levels amid luxury and privilege, and the impoverished masses crammed into the decaying lower sectors plagued by , violence, and chaos. This stratified structure is overseen by the , a powerful AI entity who designed the tower as a of , and the Keymaster, a tyrannical figure enforcing control from the pinnacle. The breakdown of the tower's original systems long ago has fostered a broken, fragmented marked by creeping decay rather than corporate dominance typical of narratives. Integral to the lore are advanced technological elements, including the Cybervoid—a digital network interconnecting the tower's infrastructure—and widespread cybernetic enhancements that blur the lines between human and machine, exploring themes of trans-humanism and . AI entities like the govern key functions, while elite warriors known as Ghostrunners—cybernetically augmented operatives created by the Architect—serve as enforcers in this high-tech ecosystem. The , Jack, is one such Ghostrunner, embodying the fusion of organic and synthetic capabilities. The atmosphere of Dharma Tower draws from classic cyberpunk tropes, featuring neon-lit corridors flickering with trashy, rugged aesthetics in the lower slums, rain-slicked industrial zones evoking desolation, and sterile, high-tech upper echelons that contrast sharply with the decay below. Inspired by works like Blade Runner and Akira, the visual design emphasizes a grim, futuristic decay where post-apocalyptic ruin intertwines with cybernetic gleam, creating an immersive sense of isolation and tension.

Plot Summary

In Ghostrunner, the is Jack, an amnesiac cybernetically enhanced operative known as a Ghostrunner, who is awakened from stasis by his hacker ally Zoe with the urgent mission to ascend the sprawling of Dharma Tower and confront the tyrannical Keymaster, Mara. Jack's journey begins at the tower's lower levels, where he must navigate a stratified society divided between the oppressed masses below and the elite ruling class above, driven by Zoe's guidance through direct neural communication. The central conflict revolves around a burgeoning against the oppressive regime established by the , a god-like creator figure who designed the tower as humanity's last refuge after a cataclysmic apocalypse, now perpetuated by Mara's iron-fisted control. This narrative explores profound themes of versus deterministic control, betrayal within alliances forged in desperation, and the essence of cybernetic identity in a world where humanity clings to survival through augmentation and subjugation. The communicates with Jack throughout the ascent, offering cryptic insights into the tower's origins and his own role as both savior and oppressor, while Mara's forces enforce her vision of order through brutality. The story unfolds across 17 distinct levels, each representing a floor or sector of Dharma Tower, blending high-stakes action with environmental storytelling that reveals fragments of the world's lore. Audio logs scattered throughout the levels, along with overheard dialogues and visual cues from the decaying architecture, gradually uncover the backstory of the , the Architect's experiments, and the motivations behind Zoe's alliance with Jack. These elements build toward culminating themes of sacrifice and the uncertain future of humanity, emphasizing the personal cost of challenging entrenched power in a post-apocalyptic .

Development and Release

Concept and Production

Ghostrunner was conceived in the late summer of 2018 by the Polish studio One More Level, initially as a prototype exploring fast-paced first-person melee combat and parkour in a cyberpunk setting. The concept drew inspiration from the fluid movement of Mirror's Edge and the intense, visceral combat of Doom, combined with cyberpunk aesthetics from films like Blade Runner, Dredd, and Snowpiercer, aiming to create a hardcore slasher emphasizing one-hit-kill mechanics and vertical exploration of a dystopian megastructure. One More Level, founded in 2014 and known for their earlier top-down action game God's Trigger, led the development with a core team of around 30 members in Kraków, Poland. Following the prototype's creation in the second half of 2018, One More Level secured funding and publishing support from later that year, which also acquired the as part of the agreement, enabling full production to ramp up with an expanded of approximately 40 people. The project was co-developed by for additional technical support and produced by , with and serving as co-publishers, contributing further resources ahead of the planned launch. The game was built using Unreal Engine 4, marking One More Level's first project with the engine, chosen for its visual fidelity, performance capabilities, and blueprint visual scripting system that aided the small team's workflow despite the transition challenges from their prior Unity experience. Development spanned roughly two years, with the team focusing on refining the core loop of precise platforming, sword-based combat, and abilities like wall-running and time-slowing to ensure fluid, replayable encounters. A key production challenge was balancing the unforgiving one-hit-kill mechanic, which applied to both the player and , requiring meticulous and enemy variety—such as shielded foes or projectile users—to maintain fairness without checkpoints, while avoiding frustration for players; this was particularly demanding for boss encounters that deviated from the standard rules to introduce new strategic layers. was handled by talents including Carl G. Brooks as the Jack and Lindsey as Zoe, with recording integrated into the production to enhance the narrative of cybernetic enhancement and class struggle atop the Dharma Tower. The game was publicly announced at 2019, showcasing early gameplay that highlighted its high-speed traversal and katana-wielding action. A playable demo featuring the first few levels was released on from May 6 to 13, 2020, allowing players to experience the core mechanics and receive feedback that informed final polish.

Marketing and Platforms

505 Games, as co-publisher, managed aspects of global distribution for Ghostrunner across multiple platforms. The game was initially revealed through trailers at 2019, which highlighted its high-speed action and mechanics. Ghostrunner launched on October 27, 2020, for , Windows via and , and . The port followed on November 10, 2020, with optimizations aimed at supporting handheld and docked play, targeting a stable 30 frames per second in portable mode despite graphical downgrades for performance. Enhanced versions arrived later, including support for in spring 2021 and free next-generation upgrades for and Xbox Series X/S on September 28, 2021. These upgrades featured support at up to 60 frames per second, ray tracing in a dedicated fidelity mode, post-processing HDR, 3D spatial audio, and faster load times. Marketing efforts included a free demo available on and , allowing players to experience the first two levels set in the game's industrial sector and segments, which helped build anticipation ahead of launch. The game supports localization in 14 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish-Spain, Spanish-Latin America, and Ukrainian, with full subtitles across all versions but full audio only in English.

Reception

Critical Response

Ghostrunner received generally favorable reviews from critics upon its release, earning aggregate scores of 81/100 on for the , PC, and versions, each based on over 60 critic reviews. The port, released in 2021, fared worse with a score of 73/100, primarily due to technical shortcomings. These scores reflect praise for the game's core mechanics while highlighting frustrations with its unforgiving design. Critics lauded Ghostrunner's innovative fusion of first-person platforming and one-hit-kill combat, which creates a sense of exhilarating momentum and precision. The aesthetic, featuring a towering dystopian and neon-drenched visuals, was frequently highlighted for its atmospheric immersion. Replayability was another strong point, driven by upgrade systems that encourage experimentation with abilities like wall-running and grappling hooks across multiple playthroughs. awarded it an 8/10, commending the "lightning-quick pace, skill-heavy gameplay, excellent platforming, and open-ended combat structure" that evokes a speedrunner's dream. Similarly, gave it a 7/10, noting that its high-risk challenges deliver a "thrill worth fighting for," especially with options that mitigate some difficulty spikes. However, the game's steep difficulty curve drew significant , with many reviewers describing its one-life-per-section as frustrating and punishing for casual players, leading to repeated failures in combat and platforming sequences. Some found the level design repetitive, relying on similar enemy encounters and environmental hazards that test over creativity. The Switch version faced additional backlash for issues, including frequent frame rate drops and visual downgrades that hampered the fluid movement essential to the experience. Ghostrunner earned no major awards but received nominations in "Best Action Game" categories at several 2020 events, including IGN's Game of the Year awards and Hooked Gamers' end-of-year honors, recognizing its contributions to the action-platformer genre. It also garnered nods from the of Video Game Trade Reviewers for Control Precision and Game, Original Action in 2021.

Commercial Performance

Ghostrunner achieved rapid commercial success following its October 27, 2020 launch, recouping its €2.5 million production budget on the first day through strong initial sales across platforms. By the end of 2020, the game had sold more than 500,000 units worldwide on PC, , , and . Sales continued to grow, surpassing 600,000 units by May 2021. As of September 2023, total exceeded 2.5 million units globally, with no additional milestones publicly reported through 2025. The game's revenue streams included the base title, various bundles, and the Complete Edition released in June 2022, which bundled the core game with the Project_Hel DLC and additional content like soundtracks and artbooks. On alone, Ghostrunner generated an estimated $37.7 million in gross revenue from approximately 1.9 million units sold, highlighting its robust performance on PC. Console sales contributed the remaining units, with solid uptake on PlayStation and platforms, though the version faced initial challenges due to technical limitations and performance issues that impacted its reception and . Several factors supported Ghostrunner's sales trajectory, including frequent discount promotions on that sustained long-term purchases, word-of-mouth buzz from Twitch streamers showcasing its demanding , and the broader surge in genre interest following the December 2020 release of Cyberpunk 2077. Positive also drove additional buys by attracting players seeking high-skill action experiences. In the long term, the game's inclusion in enhanced its accessibility, fostering sustained player engagement and community growth beyond initial sales peaks.

Expansions and Media

Project Hel DLC

Project Hel is a standalone expansion for Ghostrunner, released on March 3, 2022, across , , , Xbox Series X/S, , and PC platforms. Priced at $14.99, it shifts the player's role from the original protagonist to Hel, a female Ghostrunner who serves as the second boss in the base game, offering a narrative set shortly before the main events. This alternate take explores Hel's origins as a creation of the , delving into her programmed loyalty and emerging autonomy within the oppressive regime of Dharma Tower, while connecting to broader lore elements like the conflict between human remnants and machine enforcers. The storyline unfolds across seven meticulously designed levels, depicting Hel's descent through fiery, infernal sectors of Tower—a stark contrast to the base game's vertical ascent—filled with molten hazards, crumbling infernal structures, and dynamic environmental threats like erupting lava and collapsing platforms. These stages introduce new enemy archetypes, ranging from agile drone swarms to heavily armored sentinels, culminating in intense boss encounters that demand precise timing and adaptation. The narrative emphasizes Hel's and quest for vengeance against dissenting forces, providing deeper insight into the Architect's manipulative designs without advancing or spoiling the core plot. Mechanically, Project Hel expands on the base game's fluid traversal with abilities customized for Hel's aggressive archetype, including dual-wielding katanas for rapid multi-target slashes and a longer, more momentum-driven jump that enables bolder aerial maneuvers. Players can equip customizable loadouts via an upgrade system, selecting from perks like enhanced surge blasts for or rage modes that build from successful deflections, including a personal shield to survive one hit, allowing for personalized playstyles focused on retaliation. A key revenge mechanic enables Hel to block incoming projectiles with her blades and reflect them back at foes, adding a layer of defensive counterplay that rewards precise parrying amid chaotic skirmishes; this integrates seamlessly with retained core moves like wall-running and dashes, but shifts emphasis toward close-range fury over stealthy precision. Critically, the DLC received positive feedback for its innovative protagonist swap, which refreshes the high-stakes combat formula and enriches the world's mythology through Hel's viewpoint, though reviewers noted its runtime—approximately 3-4 hours—as a limitation for the $15 price. It earned a aggregate score of 76/100 from 11 critic reviews, with praise centered on the intensified violence and atmospheric hellscape, while user scores on reached 84% positive from over 570 reviews. Project Hel was later bundled into the Ghostrunner: Complete Edition, launched in June 2022, which compiles the base game, all cosmetic packs, and this expansion for a comprehensive package.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Ghostrunner was composed by Daniel Deluxe, the artistic alias of Daniel Alexandrovich, a Russian electronic known for his work in and darksynth genres. It features 20 tracks that blend retro-futuristic electronic sounds with intense atmospheres, evoking a dystopian future through pulsating basslines, soaring synth leads, and rhythmic percussion designed to underscore high-speed action. Notable tracks include "Air," which serves as an introductory theme with its atmospheric build-up, and "Factory," an ambient piece that builds tension through layered synth drones. The full has a total runtime of approximately 1 hour and 1 minute. The Project Hel DLC expands the soundtrack with six additional tracks by Daniel Deluxe, maintaining the core style but incorporating heavier, more infernal tones through distorted synths and aggressive rhythms to match the expansion's darker narrative elements. These tracks, such as "Overdrive" and "Horizon," emphasize escalating intensity and were released digitally in March 2022. The official soundtrack album became available digitally on platforms including , , and starting October 27, 2020, with a Steam-specific release following on September 9, 2021. A vinyl edition, pressed as a limited 2LP on Neuropa Records, was released on January 6, 2025. The music has been praised for its ability to enhance the game's sense of momentum, with critics highlighting its "synthwave bangers" as a standout feature that elevates the immersion. Daniel Deluxe drew influences from 1980s artists such as , integrating nostalgic electronic elements with dynamic cues that align the audio's retro-futuristic vibe to the game's fast-paced world.

Sequel

Overview and Development

is a direct to the 2020 action platformer Ghostrunner, developed by Polish studio One More Level and published by . Released on October 26, 2023, for , Windows, and , the game continues the narrative set one year after the events of the original, where protagonist Jack, the 74th Ghostrunner, emerges from the shadows of the fallen Tower to confront escalating threats to humanity. In a post-tower world plagued by violent gangs, cults, and indoctrinated AI constructs like the rogue Ghostrunner , Jack allies with the Interface Council and reunites with ally Bakunin to dismantle these dangers and restore order, delving deeper into the dystopian lore of loss, redemption, and cybernetic warfare. The game's development was announced in May 2021, following the commercial success of the first Ghostrunner, with an initial production budget of approximately $4.2 million. One More Level utilized to enhance graphical fidelity and world-building, enabling more expansive environments beyond the original's linear tower structure. Development spanned from 2021 to 2023, emphasizing the expansion of combat variety through new mechanics, such as vehicular segments on a customizable for high-speed battles against enemies and obstacles, while maintaining the core one-hit-death and swordplay. Drawing inspiration from player feedback gathered via forums, Discord, and other communities after the original game's launch, the team iterated on core elements like movement and encounters, introducing features such as blocking, stamina management, and specialized abilities to increase tactical depth without compromising the high-stakes challenge. The studio expanded its team to under 50 members, incorporating AAA-style hubs, NPC interactions, and cutscenes to enrich the . Returning voice actors, including Carl G. Brooks as Jack and Lindsey Vega as Zoe, contributed to the sequel's audio, with production culminating in a public demo in September 2023 to refine player experience ahead of launch.

Release and Reception

Ghostrunner 2 was released on October 26, 2023, for , Series X/S, and Windows via , , and GOG, with enhancements optimized for next-generation hardware including support, HDR, and up to 120 fps performance. The game was marketed through a series of trailers, including a gameplay teaser at the PlayStation Showcase in May 2023 and a release date announcement at in August 2023, alongside a free demo launched in September 2023 to build anticipation ahead of launch. It was priced at $39.99 for the standard edition, with pre-order bonuses such as the Traditional Katana Pack. Critically, Ghostrunner 2 received generally positive reviews, earning a score of 80/100 across platforms, with praise centered on its refined and combat mechanics that built upon the original game's strengths, as well as deeper narrative elements integrated into the setting. Reviewers highlighted the fluid movement system and boss fights as standout features, though some criticized occasional difficulty spikes in boss encounters that could feel unbalanced or frustrating without sufficient checkpoints. Commercially, the game generated $6.13 million in revenue from its base version within the first five days of release in late October 2023, successfully recouping its production budget of approximately $4 million. By 2025, estimates indicated over 500,000 units sold across platforms, driven by steady sales on and console storefronts. As of November 2025, no major new DLC has been announced for , though the game has received ongoing performance patches, with the most recent update in September 2025 addressing stability and optimization issues. Cosmetic DLC packs, such as the Heat Pack and Anniversary Pack, were released through 2024 as part of the Season Pass, but development focus has shifted away from significant expansions.

References

  1. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1139900/Ghostrunner/
  2. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ghostrunner/
  3. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/ghostrunner/
  4. https://www.ign.com/articles/cyberpunk-ninja-game-ghostrunner-gets-october-release-date
  5. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/505-games-acquires-i-ghostrunner-i-franchise-and-tech-licenses-for-5-8-million
  6. https://www.gematsu.com/companies/one-more-level
  7. https://www.gematsu.com/2023/09/ghostrunner-sales-top-2-5-million
  8. https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/developer-interviews/ghostrunner-is-one-of-the-best-looking-coolest-cyberpunk-games-on-the-market
  9. https://www.eurogamer.net/ghostrunner-review-an-exhilarating-display-of-acrobatic-first-person-platforming
  10. https://gamingbolt.com/ghostrunner-15-features-you-need-to-know
  11. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Ghostrunner
  12. https://www.reddit.com/r/GhostRunner/comments/r3ngnu/how_do_i_get_more_upgrades_and_upgrade_slots/
  13. https://www.gamepur.com/guides/how-does-the-upgrade-system-work-in-ghostrunner
  14. https://www.ign.com/wikis/ghostrunner/Abilities
  15. https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/663773-ghostrunner-mission-list-how-many-levels
  16. https://www.thegamer.com/ghostrunner-booster-module-upgrades-overpowered/
  17. https://www.gamepur.com/guides/best-booster-module-upgrades-in-ghostrunner
  18. https://www.ign.com/articles/ghostrunner-review
  19. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702155415
  20. https://steamcommunity.com/app/1139900/discussions/0/3103511914689002261/
  21. https://www.reddit.com/r/GhostRunner/comments/jlf5gr/new_game_plus/
  22. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1139900/view/2907600891045634178
  23. https://www.ign.com/articles/ghostrunner-roguelike-wave-mode-assist-mode
  24. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/08/31/new-ghostrunner-modes-and-neon-pack-dlc-now-live/
  25. https://kotaku.com/ghostrunner-is-actually-the-fall-s-sharpest-cyberpunk-g-1845917183
  26. https://checkpointgaming.net/features/2020/06/we-want-them-to-feel-the-rush-creating-the-intense-world-of-ghostrunner/
  27. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/10/26/beyond-dharma-tower-ghostrunner-2s-evolution-in-story-and-combat/
  28. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattpaprocki/2020/02/07/cyberpunk-ghostrunner/
  29. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55585/ghostrunner-switch-review
  30. https://omlgames.com/game/ghostrunner/
  31. https://www.gamerswithglasses.com/reviews/ghostrunner
  32. https://www.pcgamer.com/ghostrunner-review/
  33. https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2020/10/26/21531110/ghostrunner-review-pc-ps4-xbox-one-switch
  34. https://www.reddit.com/r/GhostRunner/comments/jzi3e3/one_more_levels_developer_ama/
  35. https://www.gamesradar.com/were-targeting-hardcore-players-ghostrunner-developer-one-more-level-on-the-inspiration-behind-its-cyberpunk-slasher/
  36. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/giving-up-the-ghostrunner
  37. https://popculturespectrum.com/all-in-games-and-one-more-level-partner-with-3d-realms-and-slipgate-ironworks-to-produce-and-distribute-ghostrunner/
  38. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Ghostrunner/
  39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvpRpABPreM
  40. https://www.ign.com/videos/ghostrunner-official-reveal-trailer
  41. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ghostrunner
  42. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cyberpunk-action-game-ghostrunner-launches-on-switch-this-month/1100-6484063/
  43. https://www.afroandtheeye.com/2020/12/03/maybe-skip-ghostrunner-on-nintendo-switch/
  44. https://www.psu.com/news/ghostrunner-roadmap-confirms-new-game-mode-and-free-next-gen-console-update/
  45. https://www.vg247.com/ghostrunner-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-s-release-date
  46. https://www.thegamer.com/ghostrunner-ps5-xbox-series-x-free-next-gen-upgrade/
  47. https://www.ign.com/articles/ghostrunner-ps5-xbox-series-x-version
  48. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ghostrunner--demo
  49. https://steamdb.info/app/1249200/info/
  50. https://steamdb.info/app/1139900/info/
  51. https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/ghostrunner
  52. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ghostrunner-review/1900-6417592/
  53. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ghostrunner/critic-reviews/
  54. https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/ghostrunner/critic-reviews/
  55. https://www.ign.com/articles/best-action-games-2020
  56. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12512900/awards/
  57. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/505-games-buys-ghostrunner-ip-for-5m
  58. https://www.vg247.com/ghostrunner-sequel-double-budget-pc-ps5-xbox-series-x
  59. https://app.sensortower.com/vgi/game/ghostrunner
  60. https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/ghostrunner
  61. https://steamdb.info/app/1139900/
  62. https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/ghostrunner/9pdgwzpkcbt6
  63. https://www.ign.com/articles/ghostrunner-ultimate-dlc-project-hel
  64. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1760190/Ghostrunner__Project_Hel/
  65. https://www.polygon.com/22955185/ghostrunner-project-hel-dlc-trailer-release-date/
  66. https://waytoomany.games/2022/03/16/dlc-review-ghostrunner-project_hel/
  67. https://screenrant.com/ghostrunner-project_hel-dlc-review/
  68. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ghostrunner-projecthel/
  69. https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/ghostrunner--complete-edition
  70. https://danieldeluxe.bandcamp.com/album/ghostrunner-original-soundtrack
  71. https://www.neuroparecords.com/en/product/ghostrunner-506
  72. https://music.apple.com/us/album/ghostrunner-original-soundtrack/1538078931
  73. https://danieldeluxe.bandcamp.com/album/ghostrunner-project-hel
  74. https://newretrowave.com/2022/03/11/daniel-deluxe-reveals-unreleased-ghostrunner-dlc-tracks/
  75. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1741240/Ghostrunner__Soundtrack/
  76. https://www.discogs.com/master/2409115-Daniel-Deluxe-Ghostrunner-Original-Soundtrack
  77. https://www.well-played.com.au/ghostrunners-soundtrack-is-pure-synthwave-fire/
  78. https://www.last.fm/music/Daniel%2BDeluxe/%2Bsimilar
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  81. https://support.505games.com/support/solutions/articles/150000150726-what-engine-was-used-to-create-ghostrunner-2-
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  88. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW-hUcPWcGU
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  92. https://www.pcgamesn.com/ghostrunner-2/review
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  94. https://80.lv/articles/ghostrunner-2-reached-usd6m-in-revenue
  95. https://gamalytic.com/game/2144740
  96. https://steamdb.info/app/2144740/patchnotes/
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  99. https://store.steampowered.com/dlc/2144740/Ghostrunner_2/
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