Ghostrunner

Lore & Background

Ghostrunner is set after an unspecified global cataclysm known as the Burst, with humanity housed in Dharma Tower, a vast skyscraper-like arcology. The player controls Jack the Ghostrunner, a technologically enhanced superhuman who awakens with no recollection. He is ordered by the Architect, Adam's preserved consciousness, to defeat Mara the Keymaster, who betrayed the Architect in a coup that destroyed most Ghostrunner units. The Ghostrunner is assisted by Zoe, a surviving member of the rebel group the Climbers, who gives him the moniker 'Jack.' Throughout the story, the Ghostrunner navigates dangerous environments, defeats enemies, and uncovers the Architect's true intentions of complete subjugation of humanity. The Ghostrunner ultimately destroys the Architect and frees humanity from both the Architect's and Mara's tyranny.

Reader's Guide

Ghostrunner is notable for its fast-paced, one-hit-kill gameplay that combines parkour movement with combat. Players must dash, jump, wall-run, grapple, and slide through levels while using a Sensory Boost mechanic to slow time and deflect bullets. The game's difficulty and precision-based design drew comparisons to titles such as Titanfall, Dishonored, Superhot, and Mirror's Edge. Developed by Polish studio One More Level with Unreal Engine 4 and Nvidia RTX support, Ghostrunner was announced at Gamescom 2019 and received positive pre-release comments. Its critical reception was generally favorable across platforms, though the Nintendo Switch version received mixed or average reviews. The game's commercial success, with over 2.5 million units sold, led to a sequel, Ghostrunner 2, released in October 2023. A story expansion, Ghostrunner: Project Hel, was released on 3 March 2022.

Did You Know?

• Ghostrunner sold over 600,000 units by May 2021 and over 2.5 million units by September 2023.
• The sequel, Ghostrunner 2, was officially revealed during the PlayStation Showcase on May 24, 2023.