Ghost at Dawn investigates empathy, hard choices

Ghost at Dawn places players in 1947 Seattle as private investigator Ben O’Hara searching the abandoned Pines Hotel for Emi Kosuke. Developed by Blue and Red Games, the title is due on Xbox Play Anywhere on June 24. The game combines room-by-room investigation, evidence collection and combat against undead enemies while tying story outcomes to clues the player finds.

Players examine rooms, gather documents and piece together leads to determine what happened to Emi. The narrative identifies postwar hostility toward Japanese Americans as a factor in the case: Emi’s legal status is uncertain and local authorities show little interest in the disappearance. Emi’s sister, Yuhiko, hires the investigator because she appears to be the only person actively searching.

The playable character is introduced as Ben O’Hara and is later revealed to be Benjiro Ohara. The character is described in-game as a veteran who returned from service in Germany and is affected by shellshock. The setting includes noir elements such as a rundown hotel, bars and a reluctant investigator taking an unwelcome assignment.

The game’s ending depends on which clues the player uncovers. Players may choose when Ben leaves the hotel; the ending cutscene reflects the evidence collected during the investigation. Ghost at Dawn also uses a permadeath mechanic: the protagonist has a limited number of lives, and if those lives are exhausted the game deletes the player’s save file, requiring a new playthrough from the start. Players must manage limited resources while deciding how far to press into the building.

The title has been nominated for Horror Game Awards Player’s Choice and Best Indie Game Award. The game’s content carries an age rating that notes graphic violence. Blue and Red Games describes Ghost at Dawn as a survival horror title with detective elements; the developer has released information on gameplay systems and the release date ahead of launch.