The best tip anyone could bestow upon those interested inThe Outbound Ghostis to avoid the Switch version. It’s a shame to say that because RPGs feel at home on a portable device. There’s nothing like multitasking with an RPG and catching up on shows.
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There are a litany of problems withThe Outbound Ghoston Switch though. It’s far from unplayable, but the launch version feels more like a prototype. The frame rate is all over the place, some buttons don’t work as they should, and the load times are incredibly slow. Besides fixing technical issues, the next patch for The Outbound Ghost should aim to incorporate some of these gameplay-improving ideas.
1Create Suspend Saves
The save system is not great inThe Outbound Ghost. Players have three save files that they can play around with which is already not the best thing to see in an RPG. The worst aspect is that there are dedicated save points and they are few and far between.
It would have been better if players were allowed to save whenever they wanted permanently. As that might be tricky to patch into the game now, the developers could instead create a way to suspend progress temporarily like ina tactical RPGakin toFire Emblem.
2Remove The HUD
The HUD takes up a small portion of the screen which is both good and bad. The size is the good part, but what is displayed is the bad part. In the top right corner, players can see their level which increases as they progress through the game, as is the traditionin an RPG.
In the bottom left corner is a radar that shows information about nearby enemies. It would be nice if there could be an option in the menu to remove these two things from the HUD. Without anything on the screen, players could take more breathtaking screenshots of the beautiful environment.
3Upgrade The Mini-Map
If the developers decide they don’t want to remove the HUD permanently or even put in an option to remove it, then they should upgrade the HUD with more information. For example, the aforementioned radar will display enemies as red dots and other curiosities with random colors.
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There is no map on this screen, leaving a lot up to interpretation. This is fine at first, but more branching paths will reveal themselves the further players get. Turning this radar into a mini-map would be great to help with navigation.
4Upgrade The Dash
Even though this game is trying to be an old-schoolRPG from the 90s,The Outbound Ghosthas a big world to explore. Because getting around can be a hassle, it would be good to speed up Mystic’s party. Right now the little ghost can dash. If players keep hitting the B button, on the Switch controller as an example, they can keep jutting forward.
However, this dash ability is a clumsy way to run in the game and an actual run button would be better. Between the slow speed and the lack of a good mini-map, trudging through the game can feel like a chore.
5Battle Upgrades
The combat does not have the worst turn-based system inan indie RPG. It’s a fun homage toPaper Mariowith its art style and the active button presses. However, a few things could be patched in to make battles better such as an increased fast-forward feature.
The one present barely intensifies at all. Adding in an auto-battle system would be a good accompaniment to a fast-forward boost as well. Finally, being able to use the D-Pad would be a huge step. It can be used now but only if players awkwardly use it diagonally which may be a glitch.
6Add More Monsters
Some mechanics feel out of place in the game such as the ability to hide in bushes. The idea here is to hide from monsters so that players can safely pass without detecting the player. However, since monsters litter the map in small numbers, it is recommended to fight every foe players come across for that sweet sweet experience.
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Perhaps the bushes and stealth gameplay would make more sense if the developers added more monsters into the game. Alternatively, the developers could allow monsters to respawn after players rest at a fire similar tomany Soulslike RPGs.
7Add More Voices
The sound design is a bit uneven in this game. The soundtrack is similar to thePokemonseries and it’s great. The opening to the game is voiced, also great, but the rest of the narrative is not voiced.
This is an indie game at its core, meaning that it doesn’t have the budget of a AAA gamelikeTriangle Strategy, another old-school-inspired RPG from 2022. It’s hard to faultThe Outbound Ghostfor not having more voices in its narrative, but it’s also fine to wish for things even if it seems impossible for a free patch.
8Skip Lockpicks
One of the best aspects of the game isits assist options, which rival those of some of 2022’s most accessible games. Players can increase how much experience they gain or how much damage they receive on a sliding scale. With all of the assist features present though, it’s wild that some offerings are missing.
For example, there are some puzzles like the lockpick mini-games. Players have to move blocks around and they aren’t challenging so much as they are tedious. An option to automatically solve these puzzles would be appreciated like the automatic solve button inGotham Knights.
The Outbound Ghostwas released on June 22, 2025, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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