The Best And Worst Ghostbusters Game Of All Time
Since the original movie hit theaters in 1984, "Ghostbusters" has been a beloved and iconic series. Now spanning four films, two cartoons, and countless video games and other media, the franchise continues to be a source of joy for its fans.
While the series has been a massive hit overall, that doesn't mean every entry has been well-received. Many fans think "Ghostbusters 2" is underrated, but it certainly didn't live up to the hype of the original. Meanwhile, the 2016 reboot of the franchise saw fans and critics divided, and "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" also experienced a mixed reception.
Likewise, the various "Ghostbusters" games that have released over the years have similarly been a grab bag. Some have been solid and true to the source material while others are best avoided. For those interested in the history of the franchise, it's worth exploring the best and worst games it has to offer.
The Best: Ghostbusters: the Video Game (2009)
While it may sport a generic title, 2009's "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" stands out as the best among "Ghostbusters" games. Allowing players to suit up as the newest member of the ghost hunting crew, the game features solid action, an entertaining narrative, and even the voices of the original cast.
Reviews of "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" may not have been stellar, but it consistently ranks as the best "Ghostbusters" game on sites like GameRant, The Gamer and Den of Geek. It also gets lots of love from fans after all these years, with some going so far as to declare it the true third movie in the series for its strong plot.
The story has the team facing off with the ghost of Ivo Shandor, the cult leader referenced in the original movie, as he attempts to take revenge on the Ghostbusters and destroy the word. To defeat Shandor, the player engages in third person battles with ghosts, catching them with the stream of their proton pack, slamming them against the ground and walls to weaken them, and then catching them in traps. With various upgrades, gadgets, and boss battles rounding out the mix, the gameplay was nothing particularly special, but it was still fun for fans.
It may not stand out among other third person action games today, but it does rise above the rest of the "Ghostbusters" pack for coming closest to capturing the magic of the movies, and making players feel like they're living their own supernatural adventure. Further, the game earns a special place in the history of the franchise for being the last time Harold Ramis would play Egon Spengler before his death in 2014.
The Worst: Ghostbusters (2016)
The history of "Ghostbusters" games may span the entire history of the larger franchise, from the first game in 1984 to "Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed" in 2022, but the best and worst are only separated by seven years. In 2016, the also generically titled "Ghostbusters" launched for the PS4 and the Xbox One. Reviews of the game are, to say the least, not kind.
A tie-in to the 2016 film, this top-down co-op game had players taking over when the rest of the team leaves for Washington D.C. to stop a ghost from assassinating the president. This setup was far more interesting than anything gamers actually got to take part in, as the story and gameplay proved bereft of humor or excitement. Featuring lackluster boss encounters and gameplay that mostly copied other games like "Diablo 3," this title didn't offer much of anything to endear it to fans.
Polygon called it "a deplorable, cynical bit of licensed drivel," specifically criticizing its broken leveling system, and it was Metacritic's worst game of 2016. None of this is surprising as developer FireForge Games only took eight months to make it, and the company filed for bankruptcy right after its release (via IGN).
Mercifully, this game seems to have mostly been forgotten, making it easier for "Ghostbusters" fans to avoid it, which is what they most certainly should do.