With movie-based asymmetrical games taking over the co-op gaming market, it was only a matter of time before the Ghostbusters franchise got in on the action with Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. Bringing a bit of fun to the asymmetrical genre, the newest Ghostbusters game is another in a long line of nostalgia-inducing titles.
From Nintendo mainstays such as Luigi's Mansion 3 to internet sensations like Among Us, Ghostbusters isn't the only title to combine thrills and chills effectively. Though plenty of co-op and asymmetrical games are flooding the market, only a select few capture the same exciting and nostalgic vibe as Illfonic's newest hit.
Ghostbusters: Sanctum Of Slime (2011)
Though it failed to move the needle when it was released, Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime was the first attempt at a co-op title for the franchise. With a story featuring characters from the films, the players take control of four new Ghostbusters as they have to work together to trap each level's specter.
Perfect for the die-hard Ghostbusters fan, Sanctum of Slime is similar to Spirits Unleashed in that it has a simple gameplay style that is accentuated by the franchise's familiar imagery. Though it was disappointing not being able to play as the main 'Busters, it is still a fun co-op game that requires very little time investment to play.
Video Horror Society (2022)
With '80s nostalgia at an all-time high, it seems fitting that a new Ghostbusters game and Video Horror Society would come out in the same year. The asymmetrical horror title casts the players as teens in a video store who must survive an attack from the creatures brought to life from the tapes.
Drenched in neon and cheesy in a good way, Video Horror Society is like a love letter to the decade that inspired it. It has a similar asymmetrical style as Spirits Unleashed, but it lacks the fun gameplay mechanics that allow the users to be professional ghost hunters. Spooky, but not too spooky, Video Horror Society is a great first step for the burgeoning survival horror gamer.
Last Year: The Nightmare (2018)
Trying '90s nostalgia out for a change, Last Year: The Nightmare is a significantly scarier experience for the brave Ghostbusters fans out there. Set in a high school, the game tasks players with escaping before they are murdered by a shape-shifting fiend.
While it is still somewhat cartoonish, The Nightmare is one of the scariest survival horror games in recent memory. The high school setting only helps to add to the creepy factor, and it has a nice dose of '90s nostalgia without going overboard. Every iteration of the Fiend is scarier than the last, and the game is specifically tailored to prey on everyone's fears.
Among Us (2018)
Like Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed the secret to the success of Among Us has been its simple yet addictive gameplay that is elevated by a strong experience from other users. Similar to the classic party game Mafia, Among Us puts a traitor in the midst of the players as they attempt to complete tasks without being sabotaged.
While Spirits Unleashed relies primarily on action, Among Us is entirely dependent on strategy and clever deduction. The simplicity of the game allows for it to be infinitely replayable, and its colorful design scheme is like a smokescreen for what can be an extremely suspenseful playing experience.
Friday The 13th: The Game (2017)
One of the first classic franchises to jump on the asymmetrical action game format, Friday the 13th blended nostalgia and horror perfectly. Set at Camp Crystal Lake, the game challenges players to either escape as counselors or slay all the victims as Jason Vorhees.
The simple objectives proved to be a perfect use of the franchise's I.P. and there is no doubt that games like Spirits Unleashed wouldn't exist without Friday the 13th. Though it is much scarier than the Ghostbusters game, its '80s nostalgia is just as potent. The game may have been plagued by legal troubles at the beginning, but the game certainly got itself going after its initial stumbling blocks.
Evil Dead: The Game (2022)
More of a cult classic than a full-blown '80s juggernaut, the Evil Dead franchise has nevertheless produced a gem of an asymmetrical horror experience. Playing as familiar characters from the movies and TV show, players must survive an onslaught of deadites.
Unlike most asymmetrical games which offer very little in terms of depth, the skill tree system in the game is utterly unique to the genre. Aside from the nostalgic connection, the over-the-top and silly nature of the Evil Dead franchise is the perfect companion piece to Ghostbusters' not-so-serious spooky tone.
Secret Neighbor (2018)
Spinning off from the wildly successful Hello Neighbor game, Secret Neighbor brings the chills of the original to a multiplayer setting. Playing as children, the users must enter the house from Hello Neighbor in order to rescue a friend trapped in the basement. The twist is that one of the kids is actually the Neighbor in disguise.
Unlike Spirits Unleashed which has an action-based objective, Secret Neighbor is all about stealth and deduction. Nevertheless, the brightly colored look of the game hearkens back to video games of old, and the children characters allow the players to step back to simpler times when everything was much spookier.
Luigi's Mansion 3 (2019)
Finally granting Luigi a franchise of his own, Luigi's Mansion 3 is the spiritual successor to Nintendo's most haunting video games. The game sees players lead Luigi through a haunted hotel in order to rescue his friends from the clutches of King Boo.
Along with the exciting ghost-catching mechanics and spooky atmosphere, the game has a fair amount of puzzles to keep players guessing as well. Like Spirits Unleashed, the game puts ghosts to the forefront, but Luigi's Mansion 3 has so much more depth than a simple asymmetrical co-op. Aside from that, the game has several multiplayer modes to make it a party experience.
Midnight Ghost Hunt (2022)
Obviously inspired by the Ghostbusters films, Midnight Ghost Hunt follows in the franchise's footsteps but blazes its own trail as well. The asymmetrical co-op is set in several spooky locations and allows players to play as ghosts attempting to possess inanimate objects, or ghost hunters trying to capture the spirits.
Done with a ghoulish amount of tongue-in-cheek campiness, the game has engaging mechanics and a well-designed atmosphere that really sells the tone that the developers were going for. Matching Spirits Unleashed to the letter in terms of quality, Midnight Ghost Hunt also embodies its fun and eerie vibe as well.
Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009)
After decades of games based on the movies that failed to live up to expectations, Ghostbusters: The Video Game burst onto the scene and was every '80s kid's dream come true. Playing as a new recruit, the player joins the Ghostbusters as they blast their way through familiar ghouls from the movie and new ghosts that threaten New York City.
Hitting the perfect blend of old and new, the game was imaginative with the lore from the movies without completely alienating what came before. With an impressive voice cast featuring the entire Ghostbuster lineup, the game was like a third movie that never came. Similar to Spirits Unleashed, the proton pack takes center stage and the action is fast and furious as the player really gets the sense that they have stepped into the jumpsuit of a Ghostbuster.