Game Review: Paper Ghost Stories: 7PM (Xbox Series X)

A narrative-driven horror game, Paper Ghost Stories: 7PM is the first, bite-sized instalment of an anthology horror series by Cellar Vault Games.

More of a prologue than anything else, the 30-odd minute experience oozes dread and is steeped in Malaysian, Buddhist and Taoist lore. Telling a short ghost story based around Ghost Month. When ghosts roam the world of the living and deceased family members pay a visit to their relatives.

Three young children, Wen, Ming, and Lun, living in an apartment block, are about to find out that there’s so much more to the stories that Aunty Fung likes to tell. Exploring the small location, speaking to characters, and completing simple tasks will result in the children having their own strange and ghostly experiences.

There’s not a lot to Paper Ghost Stories: 7PM, but what it does offer is substantial. It’s a compelling narrative that brilliantly captures the feeling of the world and mythology. Helped by the paper art visual style and effective soundtrack. For a brief while, players will find themselves well and truly immersed within this world.

Alas, actual gameplay is less impressive. Walk around the small location and speak with characters, some of which start mini-stories and mini-games. Sometimes, what you need to do to complete one or to progress the story isn’t made clear, and some of the tasks are monotonous.

Thankfully, Paper Ghost Stories: 7PM is so short, it doesn’t overstay its welcome. There’s nothing particularly fresh going on here, but Cellar Vault Games have worked hard to make it an experience you remember. A lot of which coming from the brief, but very effective horror segments. It’s here that the paper art visuals really stand out, with one particular chase sequence getting the heart-racing.

As far as a short, inexpensive, atmospheric-laden, and straight-forward experience goes, it’s one well worth playing. It certainly suggests that a longer and more in-depth game experience would be something quite special.