Described as its “most robust, dynamic and terrifying multiplayer offering yet,” Halloween is an asymmetrical title where one player controls Myers. Four others embody his soon-to-be victims, but his killing spree isn’t chaotic. By slaughtering specific residents before the time is up, Michael can accrue better rewards.

Killer Sense is one of his core abilities. It shifts to first-person, where longer observation will result in more resources for better tracking and wilder kills. He can also use Shape Jump to quickly move through environments, phasing through solid objects without being detected, reappearing when least expected. If you need even more speed, Shape Dash is on hand.

The downside is that you need to be in the darkness or outside of a target’s line of sight. Naturally, that leads to the killer’s other play – destroying any light sources or cutting power to the town. Another twist is that players can actually use weapons and pursue other residents of Haddonfield to help them escape from Michael’s clutches. And if you die, it’s possible to return as a deputy or the iconic Dr Loomis.

IllFonic will reveal even more details for Halloween in the coming months, including character progression, traits and customization. Proximity chat is also confirmed, which should make for even more terrifying experiences (depending on which side of the mask you’re on).

In Halloween, one player takes on the role of Michael Myers and stalks the streets of Haddonfield, executing citizens one by one. Four other players take on the role of these citizens and must strive to alert the rest of the town about the impending danger of Myers’ bloodlust. In the process, the citizen players must find weapons, both real and makeshift, as they figure out ways to slow Myers down while also alerting the rest of the town.

While Michael Myers is a nigh-unstoppable force, players taking on the role of citizens also have the ability to command NPCs and equip them with weapons to help outsmart the threat. The title has been described by the studio as an “immersive horror sandbox”, and has confirmed that there will also be a standalone single-player story mode where players explore the events surrounding “The Night He Came Home” from the perspective of Michael Myers.

Halloween is being developed using Unreal Engine 5 and is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026.

Predator: Hunting Grounds will launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on October 1, a week from now. Three versions of the game will be available for purchase, including a standard edition, a Jungle Edition that will also feature four additional Predators with unique equipment, and a Yautja Edition, which will also include all DLC for the title.

A physical edition of the game will also release for PS5 on November 12, with pre-orders for the same set to kick off tomorrow, on September 24. Sadly, it doesn’t seem like Xbox players will the option to purchase the game physically.

In a press release, IllFonic CEO Charles Brungardt said, “This game has a strong, enthusiastic player base and a vocal community that wants to see the game updated and supported. Now that IllFonic is publishing games, we knew we had to get Predator: Hunting Grounds back. We knew we needed to get back to the Chopper!”

Before its launch for current-gen consoles, Patch 2.49 will go live in April for PS4 and PC. It will include a rework and balance changes for fireteam weapons and the Predator’s weapons, alongside improvements for the UX and playability. Player movement is also getting some changes.

After its release for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions offered, IllFonic will add new Predators this Winter and in Spring 2025. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about improvements to the current-gen versions sooner than later. Stay tuned for updates, and check out our review for Predator: Hunting Grounds here.

Developed by Illfonic of Friday The 13th: The Game fame, Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed is also a similarly asymmetric multiplayer game that sees a team of Ghostbusters storming various locations in order to curb any and all paranormal activity from that place. Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed is a tie-in release for Ghostbusters: Afterlife – but both properties have different and unconnected storylines.

"Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed has finally come to the rescue of these starved fans, though the game isn’t without its fair share of shortcomings and design frustrations that can come in the way of its chaotic multiplayer mayhem."

The game sees you assuming the role of a rookie Ghostbuster, who has just joined this anti-paranormal organization that has set up shop in a rusty, old Firehouse. You get to choose the looks, voice, and body type for your character by selecting from various options in the character creator.

Upon doing so, you will be greeted by the founder Ray – who will show you the ropes but not before boring you with his endless dialogues. You also get to meet Catt who is the operations manager, Winston who is responsible for finances, and Eddie who is the brains behind most of your equipment. These characters are all pretty distinct in their personality; complete with their many quirks.

Once you are through with your creations, a short tutorial takes you through the basics of ghost-catching. Firstly, you get a P.K.E. meter which changes reading as you get closer to a ghostly presence – and performing a blast move with the device will cause the ghost to appear from any possessed object. You also get a Proton Blaster, which can be shot to bind a ghost to a tether, and you need to pull that tether to a previously laid-out Ghost Trap – which will ultimately trap the ghost. There are some nuances to these activities as well, such as the Proton Blaster overheating with repeated use or trap battery depleting rapidly once opened – but for the most part, it’s easy to understand and execute.

"Your multiplayer adventures aren’t meaningfully related to the story, and both remain mostly separate affairs."

Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed also features a storyline that blends into the multiplayer aspect of the experience. While that certainly sounds like an enchanting premise, it’s anything but. As you complete a set number of jobs, you will be greeted with a narrative-related cutscene that moves the plot forward. Your multiplayer adventures aren’t meaningfully related to the story, and both remain mostly separate affairs.

The Firehouse is the hub of operations, where you can talk to characters, upgrade your equipment and take up jobs. Your standard ghostbusting operation will pit a group of 4 Ghostbusters against a Ghost as it tries to completely haunt the place. A Haunt meter dictates the progress of the match, and as a Ghostbuster – you need to catch the ghost before the meter reaches 100% progress. The ghost can place three rifts anywhere on the map, which needs to be tracked down and destroyed first since trapping a ghost with any active rifts will cause it to respawn. The ghost will also cause other nuisances to further its haunting rate, such as scaring civilians who need to be calmed down or throwing slime spits that can knock your character down. If the map reaches a 100% haunting rate, a short endgame phase starts where all rifts are automatically destroyed – and the ghost needs to survive for that final minute in order to win the game. But if the ghostbusters manage to catch the ghost within that short time frame, they can get themselves a last-ditch victory.

Teamwork is the name of the game here, and you need to work as a team if you wish to catch the ghost. The ghost is a nimble creature, and can quickly cover distances and break tethers – so it becomes essential to lure it into a trap where multiple ghostbusters and traps can easily nip the nuisance in the bud. Splitting responsibilities like finding rifts and calming down civilians also have to be done in a timely fashion to avoid frustrations and quick defeats. Thankfully, Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed features cross-platform support which means you can play with your friends regardless of any platform restrictions.

"The ghost is a nimble creature, and can quickly cover distances and break tethers – so it becomes essential to lure it into a trap where multiple ghostbusters and traps can easily nip the nuisance in the bud. "

But if you want to go solo, you could try playing as a ghost that flips the tables on its head. As the ghost, you must choose the perfect spots for hiding your rifts. And once the match starts, you need to haunt and scare off civilians to increase the haunt percentage of the map. You also have special attacks to damage your opponents, each of which consumes some energy from a common pool. Once that depletes, you need to take possession of any object to restore that energy. You can also sabotage a ghostbuster’s proton pack, or pass through certain walls – and it’s equally fun and chaotic.

While the game is pretty balanced for the most part, there are some frustrations that can get in the way of fun. The biggest is undoubtedly the absence of a mini-map, which can make navigating through spaces an exercise in pain at times. Without any information about the level geometry, it can become frustrating to track down the ghost and search every nook and cranny for rifts – especially the first few times in a level. Also, playing with randoms can significantly put the odds in favor of the ghost – though that’s something that could vary with every individual. Furthermore, I also experienced many glitches during my time with the game. My character would randomly fall to the ground or glitch out while climbing up or down stairs – which made a few level runs pretty frustrating.

Upon completing your ghostbusting jobs, you are awarded XP and other rewards which help in progressing your character. You can also take on side hustles which are basically challenges that reward you with additional XP and rewards upon completion – making them a great way to level up your character. On the gear side of things, your equipment level increases depending on your usage of that gadget, and you can unlock better parts for that equipment once you level up. Besides this and cosmetic upgrades, there isn’t much variety within the tools that you can use for your business – ultimately resulting in a rather thin progression loop.

"It would have been great if there was some more variety in terms of game modes or at least some mini-games spread throughout the Firehouse, and it’s easy for a sense of monotony to kick in after some time given the current status of the game. "

While Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed features more than a handful of varied map locations ranging from museums to restaurants and warehouses, they are home to the sole game mode that is ghostbusters versus ghosts. You can collect news scrapings scattered across each level to learn more about the location and its significance, but apart from that – there’s little that you can do with the game. It would have been great if there was some more variety in terms of game modes or at least some mini-games spread throughout the Firehouse, and it’s easy for a sense of monotony to kick in after some time given the current status of the game.

In conclusion, Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed can make for some great chaotic fun with friends. The core gameplay loop is simple yet enjoyable, and Illfonic has made a game that’s pretty balanced on both ends. Mixing the single-player narrative with the PvP multiplayer is an interesting prospect, but it ends up being a gimmick more than anything else. Furthermore, some annoying design oversights such as the lack of mini-maps and additional game modes can make the game frustrating at times. All in all, it’s a decent experience that might be worth looking into for Ghostbusters fans, but it could have been a lot better had it spent more time in the oven.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Premise

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed doesn’t seem to tie into any of the movie storylines (whether old or new), instead relying on a more freeform premise. You’re a Ghostbuster, part of a crew of four. There are Spirits and they have been unleashed. Go catch them. It’s easier said than done though because the Spirit or Ghost is controlled by another player with all kinds of tricks up their sleeve.

Ghostbusters

If it weren’t obvious by now, this is a 4v1 asymmetrical multiplayer title. Four Ghostbusters must hunt down a Ghost through any means necessary. This is done from the first-person perspective, as you locate the Ghost, bust them, and destroy any of their rifts in the process. You also need to calm down any bystanders, reducing their fear. Once a map has been fully haunted, the Ghostbusters have a limited window to capture the Ghost before it’s game over. While finding and capturing the Ghost is priority one, you also feel like a Ghostbuster that’s investigating the paranormal phenomenon while preventing any further catastrophe.

Gear and Gadgets

You’ll have all of the familiar Ghostbusting equipment to accomplish this goal. Use the PKE Meter to track the Ghost, then whip out the Particle Thrower to weaken them. Deploy a Ghost Trap for capturing…and then do that a few more times to succeed. Be careful, though – the Ghost can struggle against a Trap’s pull and eventually get loose. Equipment can be leveled up as you use it and slotted with multiple upgrades.

Ghosts

As a Ghost, your objectives involve haunting a building, inducing fear and panic into various NPCs and evading capture by the Ghostbusters. Played from a third-person perspective, the Ghost can create loud noises, possess objects (which is also good for hiding) and unleash slime. As you level up, new upgrades become available, though they’ve yet to be fully showcased.

Maps

There’s quite the array of locations for players to hunt Ghosts through, including a Prison, Hotel, Aquarium, and so on. Each has different sections, which the Ghost must haunt, and unique objects that can be possessed. The maps appear fairly complex, so knowing the best hiding places and the largest concentration of civilians will be key, both for the Ghostbusters and Ghost.

The Firehouse

When starting the game, the Firehouse serves as the main hub for the busters. You can customize your character, indulge in some target practice, choose missions, and so on. And yes, the Basement Containment Unit is present, along with the ability to slide down the firepoles. Ray’s Occult Books is also confirmed, though it plays a different role (more on that shortly).

Character Customization

A myriad of options are available for customizing your Ghostbuster’s appearance, including Physique, Face and Hairstyles. Physique allows for customizing one’s body type, voice, height, and so on. Face provides multiple different heads, skin colors, eyes, ears, and whatnot to customize, along with more nuanced options like brow height, ear width, etc. There’s a pretty decent range of hairstyles to choose from along with multiple colors, as well. You can also customize different Outfits with various tops and pants, and Accessories, including eyewear, gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, footwear and headwear.

Ghost Customization

Of course, your Ghost is also customizable by accessing Tobin’s Spirit Guide in Ray’s Occult Books. How extensive this customization will be, and whether it’s on the same level as the Ghostbusters, is unknown. With the number of nods and references to the series, expect some classic Ghost types to appear.

Co-op

If you’re not confident about your Ghostbusting skills, then you can team up with four players in co-op and take on an AI-controlled Ghost. Whether you can set the difficulty levels, or obtain the same amount of XP and rewards from the same is unknown. However, the option is there if you want a crash course in mechanics and gameplay.

Offline Play

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a multiplayer-focused title, first and foremost, and should be purchased with that in mind. However, offline play is also supported, allowing one to play solo with AI teammates. You can even play as the Ghost against a team of Ghostbuster bots. It’s far from the ideal experience, but serves as another great way to familiarize yourself with the maps, abilities and mechanics.

Iconic Characters

What would a Ghostbusters title be without the actors from the original films showing up in their iconic roles? Along with Ernie Hudson returning to voice Winston Zeddlemore, Dan Aykroyd voices Raymond “Ray” Stantz. Of course, you won’t be able to play as them but knowing the original crew is around can be somewhat comforting. There are also some “new faces” promised and hopefully they’ll offer the same level of charm.

4K Ultra HD, 60 FPS+ and Ray Tracing

In terms of resolution and frame rate, Xbox Series X (and by extension, PS5) players have quite a bit to look forward to with 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, and 60 FPS+ support. Ray tracing is also confirmed, along with Spatial Sound support. The Xbox version supports Smart Delivery, which means you can buy the game on Xbox One and access the fully optimized version on Xbox Series X/S. On the PlayStation Store, purchasing the game provides access to the PS4 and PS5 versions.

Crossplay

Along with cross-gen multiplayer, allowing players on previous-gen consoles to matchmake with current gen, there’s full crossplay support for all platforms. Xbox players can thus team with those on PlayStation and PC. Whether there’s an option to turn off crossplay is unconfirmed, but given that Spirits Unleashed isn’t too heavy on the competitive aspect, it’s unlikely.

PC Requirements

The minimum PC requirements for Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed are pretty forgiving. According to the Epic Games Store (to which the PC version is exclusive, for now), all you need is an Intel GPU (or an equivalent AMD CPU) with at least four threads running at 2.3 GHz or higher, 8 GB of RAM, and a GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7970. The recommended requirements are also pretty manageable and include an Intel Core i7-5820K or similar AMD CPU, 16 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 970. Those interested in ray tracing will at least need an RTX 2070. Fortunately, only 15 GB of installation space is required.

Pre-order Bonuses

The Standard version costs $40 – no Deluxe Edition here. However, there are incentives for pre-ordering, like advance access to the iconic ghost Slimer. Players also receive a custom Particle Thrower and Proton Pack, along with special clothing colorways (which have yet to be revealed).

Illfonic has announced that Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed will launch on October 18, in time for Halloween. The game will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PV (exclusively via the Epic Games Store). Pre-orders are also now open, and those who pre-order the game digitally will get “advanced access” to a number of in-game items, including the Slimer, a Custom Particle Thrower, a Proton Pack, and special clothing colorways.

“The reaction from fans of Ghostbusters has blown us away,” said IllFonic CEO Charles Brungardt. “Putting a date on and opening up preorders for Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed feels like an out of body experience, and we cannot wait for everyone to feel the same sensation on Tuesday, October 18.”

A couple of months ago, we also got a brief gameplay showing of the title, showing off its Prison level. Check that out through here.

Meanwhile, nDreams has also announced Ghostbusters VR in partnership with Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and Ghost Corpos. it is in development for Meta Quest 2 and PSVR2.

The slightly long-winded tutorial phase aside, Arcadegeddon seems intent on keeping you in the action as much as possible with a contracted hub world and efficient system of accepting multiple challenges at once and diving into the game’s levels to start chipping away at them. At its core, you have a fairly standard third person multiplayer shooter. The PvE wing of the game is an adventure mode that has you going up against the corrupted beings that are infesting Gilly’s game throughout several levels while accomplishing different challenges from the folks hanging around the arcade. This mode is the bread and butter of the experience with fast and kinetic combat and amusing weapons to toy around with. It plays a lot like most rogue-lites you’ll find out there, with different runs randomizing locations of things like chests as well as what’s in them, and starting you over when you die, but Arcadegeddon does have a level of polish and style that you don’t normally see at the 20-dollar price point.

"It plays a lot like most rogue-lites you’ll find out there, with different runs randomizing locations of things like chests as well as what’s in them, and starting you over when you die, but Arcadegeddon does have a level of polish and style that you don’t normally see at the 20-dollar price point."

Enemy, weapon, and level layout variety do stop short of being amazing, but they are quite good and kept me engaged pretty consistently during my sessions with the game, which always seemed to last a little longer than I was planning. Shooting feels great and compliments the snappy movement well. Different weapons definitely work better against different enemy types, and you will get plenty of chances to experiment with higher level weapons and elemental infusions, but overall, you can’t really go wrong in the arsenal. The weapon types themselves bring little to the table that you haven’t seen before, but the variety within those conventional restraints is fine. It gets better after you pick up a few powerups like increased blast damage for rockets or quicker firing rate for sniper rifles, though.

I quickly found my favorites, but I can’t say I ever discovered anything that I didn’t like at all. This combined with the snappy mobility makes a very kinetic, well-rounded and satisfying combat experience that is perhaps the brightest point of the entire game. Even if the average enemy variety or contrived mission objectives don’t blow you away, the shooting itself will always keep things reasonably fun. I can’t say much about the PvP mode other than it seems to exist. PC players have been enjoying a variety of modes within the PvP wing of the game for a while, so it’s probably safe to say that those experiences will translate well over on the PS5.

The presentation of Arcadegeddon is a familiar look, especially in the rogue-lite multiplayer space, but it does have its own twist that might remind one of Osmosis Jones or even the old TV show Reboot before it reminds you of its competitors in the genre, which, as far as this genre goes, is pretty refreshing. I found the character designs as well as the general aesthetic of the game to be really likable, especially with how well it’s used in the game’s customization store and with the handful of characters hanging around the arcade that you will inevitably get to know better as you play. It’s also mixed up nicely by the level variety, which, again, isn’t outstanding but more than gets the job done with different level styles, color pallets, and just enough wackiness to feel like your video game character is in a video game of their own.

"The presentation of Arcadegeddon is a familiar look, especially in the rogue-lite multiplayer space, but it does have its own twist that might remind one of Osmosis Jones or even the old TV show Reboot before it reminds you of its competitors in the genre, which, as far as this genre goes, is pretty refreshing."

The motif of being two layers deep in a video game is played up a little bit in some ways, like using continues and how different characters acknowledge the progression systems of the game itself like it’s a part of their lives, too. I would have liked to see a little more of that given the setting of the game, as just passingly acknowledging it feels like a missed opportunity to really get as much out of that as the experience could’ve.

I also would have appreciated a bit more movement with the central plot, as the game does go through all the effort of setting up a cool world with an engaging conflict between the little guy and a massive corporation – but then kind of just sidelines that and focuses on standard multiplayer gameplay mechanics. Those mechanics work fine for what the game is, and the gameplay itself is good, so it’s not a huge blunder, but a more well-paced unfolding of the narrative would have really sealed the deal for me.

Along with cool graphics is some truly outstanding music. I’m not sure what you would call it, but it mixes in some fundamentals from different branches of pop and electronica with lo-fi beats, dreamy shoegaze, and heavily processed staccato synth parts that form a energetic sound that, while not quite my personal cup of tea, does undeniably elevate the vibe of the game in an authentic way. Some may find themselves turning it down after a while as it can be quite a lot to process, but I ultimately ended up enjoying what the soundtrack does for the overall tone of the game.

"In a space as crowded as the multiplayer rogue-lite shooter genre, you better come correct if you’re going to take a stab at carving out your own audience. Thankfully, Arcadegeddon mostly does just that."

In a space as crowded as the multiplayer rogue-lite shooter genre, you better come correct if you’re going to take a stab at carving out your own audience. Thankfully, Arcadegeddon mostly does just that. While its central theme of standing up to modern sensibilities with creativity and uniqueness is somewhat undercut by the fact that Arcadegeddon’s own gameplay largely just ends up catering to modern multiplayer expectations, it’s something that is pretty easy to ignore most of the time. The combat comes in swinging with tight and speedy action. The cantankerous enemies and bosses are a blast to take on, and the perpetual loop of accomplishing newer and bigger challenges while improving on each and every run almost immediately falls into place.

On top of that, it runs like a dream on the PS5 and I encountered no notable stability issues that I can recall. For 20 bucks, it’s a pretty solid package. I wish there was perhaps a tad more meat on the bone with the narrative and more of a willingness to buck current trends with its conventional weapons, level layouts, and overall structure, but if you’re looking for a slightly different spin on this tried-and-true format, you could certainly do a lot worse than Arcadegeddon.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Toys for Bob and Activision’s 3D platformer Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Supermassive Games and Bandai Namco’s interactive horror adventure title The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, and Illfonic’s PvPvE shooter Arcadegeddon (which is a new launch) will be the free-to-claim games for subscribers in July. All three will become available on July 5. Members of all three PlayStation Plus subscription tiers will, of course, have access to this lineup.

That means you have just a few more days left to claim June’s free offerings– God of War, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is a 4-on-1 asymmetrical multiplayer game. Four players will play a group of Ghostbusters, going up against one player in the role of a ghost. The ghost will use their abilities to terrorise the Ghostbusters, who are in turn tasked with capturing the ghost.

The game was announced earlier this year, and is being developed by Illfonic, the studio that worked on Friday the 13th: The Game and Predator: Hunting Grounds.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed will feature multiple maps, as well as several ghosts with unique abilities to pick from. The ghost player will have access to abilities like possessing various objects to sneak by the Ghostbusters, scaring civilians, and summoning minions.

The studio has confirmed that Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed will feature full cross-play between all platforms, alongside with the ability for offline play for solo Ghostbusters and ghosts.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed will be coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC in Q4 2022.