Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a single-player action RPG set in 1695 colonial North America. Players take on the role of ghost hunters Red mac Raith and Antea Duarte as they work to lift a curse afflicting settler communities in the region known as New Eden. The game blends investigation, narrative choices, and combat against spectral enemies in a story focused on love, duty, and moral decisions.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on exploring settlements and wilderness areas while investigating supernatural disturbances. Players examine clues, interview residents, and perform rituals to uncover the origins of each haunting. These investigations often lead to pivotal choices about how to handle the living and the dead. Red handles physical tasks with weapons such as a sword and rifle, while Antea contributes spectral abilities once she becomes a spirit. Switching between the two characters happens seamlessly during both exploration and fights. Exploration rewards players with resources used to upgrade equipment and unlock new abilities through skill trees tied to each character. Combat involves light and heavy attacks, blocking, dodging, and building a gauge for powerful banishing strikes. As progress continues, additional manifestations and synergies become available to handle tougher enemies and bosses.
Game Modes
The game operates entirely in single-player. The main experience follows the central story of Red and Antea across the main campaign. Optional haunting cases scattered throughout the world provide additional narrative branches and decision points that influence the overall outcome. There are no separate multiplayer modes or competitive elements. All progression and content remain tied to the single campaign save file, with choices carrying forward to shape endings and the state of New Eden's inhabitants.
Narrative and Choices
Decisions made during investigations determine the fates of both living settlers and lingering spirits. Options include holding the living accountable through direct action, banishing souls to eternal unrest, or ascending them for peace. These choices affect relationships, available paths, and the final resolution for the protagonists. The story emphasizes the personal stakes between Red and Antea, with dialogue trees that lock in certain outcomes based on prior selections. Side cases expand on the world's lore without requiring completion for the main plot.
Exploration and Progression
New Eden features connected regions with secrets, collectibles, and upgrade materials. Players return to earlier areas after gaining new abilities to access previously blocked paths, adding a light layer of progression gating. Gear found or crafted improves combat effectiveness, while skill points spent in Antea's manifestation trees expand her powers and combo options. The system encourages experimentation with different weapon and ability combinations rather than deep grinding.
Is It Worth Playing?
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden suits players who prioritize narrative-driven experiences and meaningful choices over fast-paced action. The investigation mechanics and character switching provide a distinctive hook, while the story delivers emotional weight through its central relationship. Combat receives mixed feedback for feeling repetitive after the initial hours, though upgrades help maintain interest. The game launched in February 2024 with a free demo available on major platforms and continues to receive support through patches. Those drawn to single-player action RPGs with strong writing and moral dilemmas will find the most value here, particularly if they enjoy revisiting areas with new tools or exploring side stories that alter the world state.
