- The Buzz: A hand-drawn supernatural adventure set in a modern Chinese metropolis is taking social media by storm.
- The Duo: Players control a pair of “Spirit Agents” with contrasting personalities and unique investigative skills.
- The World: Explore “Riverrun,” a city where spirits who refuse to move on—known as “Soul Squatters”—live among humans.
- The Demo: A free playable demo is currently available on Steam, offering a glimpse into its blend of humor and horror.
In the bustling, neon-lit streets of a modern metropolis, not every resident has a heartbeat. Spicy Games and publisher Okasan’s Recipe have officially pulled back the curtain on Ghost Hunting Journal, a narrative-driven supernatural mystery that has quickly become a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) thanks to its stunning hand-drawn animation style.
Welcome to Riverrun: A City of Lingering Souls
The game takes place in Riverrun, a fictional Chinese mega-city where the boundary between the living and the dead is dangerously thin. While most souls move on to reincarnation, some stay behind. These “Soul Squatters” or “Spirit Permanent Residents” (SPR) range from harmless pranksters to malevolent threats.
Players step into the shoes of two Spirit Agents. Despite their polar-opposite personalities, this duo must navigate urban legends and paranormal disturbances to maintain the city’s fragile balance. The “chemistry” between the two leads is a central pillar of the story, blending witty banter with genuine emotional stakes.
Crafting, Tracking, and Light-Rail Commuting
Ghost Hunting Journal differentiates itself from typical horror titles by focusing on the “process” of the hunt.
- Dual-Protagonist System: Switch between the two agents to utilize their specific supernatural detection and combat abilities.
- Custom Tool Crafting: Instead of simple combat, players must gather components to build specialized tools designed to track and neutralize specific types of ghosts.
- Urban Exploration: Navigate the sprawling mountain city of Riverrun using its light-rail system, interacting with quirky NPCs and uncovering hidden urban legends.
An Indie Darling in the Making
The viral success of Ghost Hunting Journal stems largely from its visual identity. Its expressive, comic-book-inspired animation style captures the vibrant yet eerie atmosphere of a Chinese mountain city. Early feedback from the Steam demo has praised the game for its ability to pivot seamlessly from lighthearted humor to bone-chilling suspense.
“We wanted to capture the feeling of modern urban legends—stories that feel like they could happen in your own neighborhood,” said a representative from Spicy Games, the two-person studio behind the project.
Quick Specification: Ghost Hunting Journal
| Category | Details |
| Developer | Spicy Games (2-person Indie Team) |
| Publisher | Okasan’s Recipe |
| Genre | Narrative Adventure / Supernatural Mystery |
| Setting | Riverrun (Fictional Modern Chinese City) |
| Visual Style | Hand-drawn Animation / Dynamic Comic Panels |
| Platform | PC (Steam) |
| Status | Free Demo Available Now |
The Verdict So Far
For fans of investigative adventures like Phoenix Wright or the atmosphere of Ghostwire: Tokyo, Ghost Hunting Journal offers a fresh, culturally rich perspective on the supernatural. By mixing the mundane (taking the train to work) with the macabre (trapping a soul in an alleyway), Spicy Games is crafting an experience that feels both relatable and otherworldly.
Steam Store Page: Ghost Hunting Journal on Steam
