

As you find these little mementos, Riley will fill out her journal by sketching in what she sees and writing small notes around the drawings. You’ll discover letters to friends and loved ones, photographs, drawings, knick-knacks, recordings, and more on your journey from island to island. Exploration is key, obviously, as you’ll need to examine the vestiges of the lives that came before.

The game is seen through Rory’s eyes in first-person, which helps you immerse yourself in the game’s environment quite nicely. Ghost on the Shore is essentially a walking sim with a generous helping of dialogue. The surprisingly intimate, beautifully brief glimpses into both the mundane and the deeply personal were reflective of the very lives they represented: no matter how humdrum or remarkable, all lives are just a flicker against the backdrop of time. It’s oddly compelling and addicting, and I found myself probing quite literally every nook and cranny in every abandoned house, shed, and church. The story is largely told in two ways: your conversations with Josh, who begins regaining some of his memories of the island the more you explore, and by examining the bits of bobbles of the islanders’ lives. Along the way, if you can piece the clues together, you may just find out what happened on these forlorn islands so many years ago.īecause the game is on the short side, I don’t want to give away too much of the story.
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You’re not alone, however: accompanied by the disembodied voice of the ghost Josh, you’ll set off across the series of small islands, exploring the abandoned homes of the people who used to call the islands their home. Ghost on the Shore puts players in the role of Riley, a woman out exploring the sea in her boat only to find herself stranded on an island dotted with the remnants of a once-thriving community. So I was quite excited to give Ghost on the Shore from Like Charlie a try.Ī Look into What Remains After We’re Gone Having gone through the trauma of losing several loved ones in a relatively short period of time, games that tackle the very subject of death and dying are surprisingly therapeutic. Which is strange, when you consider how very natural death is. When it comes to death and dying, our culture is one of denial and silence like politics and religion, it’s considered impolite to talk about. It’s an uncomfortable topic for a lot of people, and Americans in particular. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed an interesting trend in gaming, one that I think has been largely overlooked: The development of games that broach the subject of death and dying.

There are four branches with a different ending for each.Ghost on the Shore Review: An Emotional Journey that Transcends Death Branching NarrativeThe relationship you choose to build with the ghost defines the narrative branch you get to explore. Irrevocable ChoicesEvery dialogue option is shown only once, which makes your choices definite. Just like in real life, things can become fun, exciting or plain awkward. You don't always know how your words will affect the other. Immersive DialogueA unique feature that allows the player to make choices in a subtle immersive way. Which creates a specific sense of what life was like on these islands before people started leaving. As you do, you talk to Josh about the history of the islands, his memories, his feelings, but also about Riley’s dreams and goals, and why she’s running from her old life.Īs a team, you and Josh discover the old islanders’ belongings and uncover the stories behind them. As you make irrevocable choices in dialogue you shape the bond with him, which ultimately influences the outcome of the game.Īs Riley puts it all together, she comes to understand how an island's history has led to Josh' death.Įxploration and Environmental StorytellingYou explore the beautiful scenery of The Rogue Islands on foot. You play as Riley, a young woman who finds herself stranded on a desolate island with a headstrong ghost, dead for as long as he can remember.Īs you explore the crumbling homes of the vanished islanders and discover their belongings, you get to know the ghost Josh. About This Game Ghost on the Shore is a story exploration game about emotional ties that transcend even death.
