"In my dreams, I can get out. In my dreams, I can fit in." 'ghostpia' mixes the adorable art style of an illustrated book with glitches-and-noise effects. There are no choices to be made. There's only a lonely girl in a ghost town and her story full of mystery, friendhood...and a bit of violence.
The developers have blended the visual novel format with elements of motion comics and animated films to create a highly cinematic presentation. Players progress the story by clicking or pressing a button to advance the dialogue, but the experience goes beyond the traditional static character portraits and backgrounds.
Throughout the game, players will encounter animated CG scenes that shift between various camera angles, creating a movie-like feel. The developers have also implemented VHS-style effects, such as scan lines and glitches, to further immerse players in the nostalgic atmosphere. Additionally, players can slightly manipulate certain CG illustrations using their mouse, adding a layer of interactivity to the visual experience.
Unlike many visual novels that offer branching paths and player agency, this title presents a completely linear narrative across five "episodes." Players are observers to the story, as there are no opportunities to make choices that alter the course of events. While this lack of player agency may not appeal to all fans of the genre, the developers have focused on delivering a curated, cinematic experience.
To aid players in revisiting previous sections of the story, the developers have included rewind and fast-forward functionality, which is presented as simulating the controls of a VCR or media player. This allows players to easily navigate the linear narrative and revisit content they've already experienced.