This might just be the most wholesome game I’ve played this year, and I’ve played a lot of them.
Love Ghostie is an adorable matchmaking game, where you play as a ghost who has dedicated their afterlife to creating the perfect matches.
In this article, we’ll be giving a full review of the game and ranking it from decaf to fully caffeinated.
Prefer to watch the video version? Check it out here
Story
Love Ghostie is full of heartwarming storylines. Each couple you pair has their own unique story, which unfolds as their relationship develops. With a variety of characters, there’s a plethora of tales to discover. The dialogue is well-written, adding humor and personality to the game. The characters are distinct and have engaging personalities that are beautifully conveyed.
Beyond the main couple stories, you’ll also experience the unique stories of each date scenario, which varies depending on who you send on the date. The theater setup for watching dates adds a charming touch.
Despite being story-driven, Love Ghostie doesn’t feel overly heavy on the story. The gameplay balances it well, creating a great pace. Each individual story is a delight, and the story definitely drives the gameplay as you’ll want to see what happens with the couples you’ve paired.
So, for story, I’m rating Love, Ghostie as Fully Caffeinated.
GAMEPLAY
The gameplay of Love Ghostie is simple and sweet. You’ll navigate a manor, where residents move in, stealing items from around the place. These items will be the backbone of your matchmaking operation. You’ll gift them to residents, pretend they’re from someone else, or sell them for coins to buy better things on the marketplace.
You’ll peek into residents’ diaries to understand their thoughts and observe interactions between different couples. Your bulletin board allows you to set up couples on dates, give them chores or self-care tasks, and boost their happiness if matched correctly.
Each resident has specific attributes that match with different items and tasks, so you’ll need to match them with gifts, tasks, and dates they’ll enjoy. Each day has a limited number of ghost points to spend, and once they’re out, it’s time to move to the next day.
At the end of each day, you’ll watch the date you’ve set up and see if it’s a success. You’ll also see how you did with your gifting and other tasks. Successful dates, gifts, or tasks will raise your residents’ happiness and build the relationship between your target pair. You’ll earn special points for your residents’ happiness and relationship progress.
As you progress, you can unlock Ghostie upgrades with these special points, allowing you to do more each day, play mini-games to boost relationships, or decorate the manor.
The gameplay is simple but impactful, highlighting the adorable story. The only downside is the limited number of characters, making the gameplay shorter and leaving you wanting more. So, for gameplay, I’m rating Love, Ghostie as Fully Caffeinated.
DESIGN
Love Ghostie fits perfectly into the cozy genre. The art style is colorful and conveys the characters’ personalities well. I loved the variety in items and room themes, which create a cute and homely atmosphere. The soundtrack perfectly complements the cozy vibe, adding atmosphere to the story without overshadowing anything.
While the design isn’t groundbreaking, it’s executed well and creates a great game environment. So, for design, I’m rating Love, Ghostie as Buzzed.
ORIGINALITY
Love Ghostie is unlike anything I’ve played before. We’ve seen dating sims, but matchmakers are few and far between, especially those that are so cozy and wholesome. I appreciated the game’s PG approach, focusing on creating heartwarming love stories. It’s a refreshing change from many other games I’ve played.
So, for originality, I’m rating Love, Ghostie as Fully Caffeinated.
THE FINAL BREW
Love Ghostie is a delightful matchmaker game that’s perfect for a relaxing afternoon. It leaves you wanting more while also feeling fulfilled and has a fantastic story.
We’ve ground the beans, weighed and pressed the grinds, and brewed this game down. Now it’s time for a taste test… Love, Ghostie is Fully Caffeinated.
Love, Ghostie is available on Steam for Windows and Mac now. You can check it out here.
Until next time, stay caffeinated!
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