Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden – The Haunting Love Story That Will Break Your Heart
Let me be honest with you. When I first heard about Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, I thought it was just another action RPG. You know the type. Big world, lots of monsters, some skill trees, forgettable story. But then I actually played it.
And I realised something. This game is not about combat. It is not about loot. It is about love, loss, and the impossible choices you make when the person you love becomes the very thing you swore to destroy.
The game comes from DON’T NOD, the same studio that brought us Life is Strange and Jusant. So you already know the writing is going to be good. But this time, they have mixed their signature storytelling with proper action combat. And the result is something special.
Let me tell you everything you need to know before you step into the haunted wilds of New Eden.
Quick Info Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Focus Entertainment |
| Developer | DON’T NOD |
| Release Date | February 13, 2024 |
| Genre | Action RPG / Adventure |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
Detailed Game Description
Let me start with the most important thing you need to understand about Banishers. This is not a game where you mindlessly kill ghosts for 30 hours. This is a game about stories. Specifically, the stories of the people trapped in New Eden, both living and dead .
And the central story? It is one of the most heartbreaking setups I have seen in a long time.
The Story: A Lover’s Curse
The year is 1695. The place is New Eden, a haunted settlement in the wilds of North America .
You play as Red mac Raith and Antea Duarte. They are lovers. They are also Banishers, which means they hunt ghosts and protect the living from supernatural threats . Think of them as supernatural detectives crossed with exorcists. They travel from settlement to settlement, solving “haunting cases” and banishing the spirits that torment the living.
But here is where things go wrong.
During their last mission before arriving in New Eden, something terrible happens. Antea is fatally wounded. And instead of passing on, she becomes what she hates most. A ghost. A spirit. A wandering soul trapped between worlds .
Now Red is faced with an impossible situation. He still loves Antea. But she is now technically a spirit that he is supposed to banish. And Antea? She is trapped in a form she despises, watching her lover struggle with the weight of what happened.
The main story is simple but powerful. Find a way to liberate Antea from her ghostly form. But the path is not straightforward. And the choices you make along the way will determine not just your fate, but the fate of everyone in New Eden.
Dual Protagonists: Red and Antea
This is where Banishers really shines. You control both characters, and they play completely differently.
Red is the living Banisher. He carries a sword, a rifle, and various other weapons. His combat style is grounded and physical. He dodges, he blocks, he swings his blade. He is your frontline fighter .
Antea is the ghost. She cannot be seen by ordinary people. She can phase through objects, possess certain creatures, and use powerful spiritual attacks. Her combat style is ethereal and magical .
In combat, you can switch between them instantly. Use Red to break an enemy’s physical defences, then switch to Antea to finish them off with spiritual damage. Or use Antea to stagger a crowd of enemies, then bring in Red to clean up. The synergy between the two characters is the heart of the combat system.
Outside of combat, both characters have unique abilities. Antea can reveal hidden objects and interact with the spirit world. Red can break physical barriers and talk to the living. You need both to solve the game’s many mysteries.
The Haunting Cases
This is the best part of Banishers. And it is what sets it apart from other action RPGs.
New Eden is filled with wandering spirits. But not all of them are evil. Some are confused. Some are angry. Some are just sad. As a Banisher, your job is to investigate these “haunting cases” and decide what to do with the spirit .
Each case is a mini-investigation. You talk to the living people affected by the haunting. You search for clues. You examine the spirit’s personal belongings. You piece together what happened. And then, you make a decision.
You have three options for each spirit:
- Ascend: Help the spirit resolve its unfinished business so it can move on peacefully.
- Banish: Destroy the spirit violently because it is too dangerous to leave alone.
- Do Nothing: Leave the spirit as it is and walk away.
The choice is yours. And your choices have consequences . A spirit you spare might help you later. A spirit you banish might have been protecting someone, and now that protection is gone. The game tracks your decisions and the world reacts.
This is classic DON’T NOD storytelling. Meaningful choices, moral ambiguity, and consequences that are not always immediately clear.
The Setting: New Eden
The game takes place in a mystical, lore-rich world inspired by colonial-era North America . But this is not a happy pioneer story. This is a dark, oppressive, haunted wilderness.
The environment is bleak. There is a constant sense of dread. The forest is filled with supernatural creatures. The settlements are struggling to survive. And everywhere you go, you feel the weight of the dead.
One review described the world as feeling “oppressive rather than immersive” . And I understand that criticism. The game is not bright and cheerful. It is grim. It is sad. It is meant to make you feel the isolation and desperation of the settlers.
That said, the world is beautiful in its own way. The lighting is atmospheric. The forests are dense and mysterious. The abandoned buildings tell stories of the people who used to live there.
The Combat: Love It or Hate It
Let me be honest about the combat. It is not the best part of the game.
The combat system works. You have light attacks, heavy attacks, dodge rolls, parries, and special abilities. Switching between Red and Antea mid-combo feels satisfying. The enemy variety is decent. The boss fights are memorable.
But the combat is not deep. It is not as polished as something like God of War or Dark Souls. The animations can feel stiff. The hitboxes can be inconsistent. And after a while, the encounters start to feel repetitive .
Here is what one reviewer said: “Combat is boring. Half of the play time is spent running” . Another called the combat “simplistic” and said the game lacks mechanical depth .
But here is the thing. Combat is not the focus of Banishers. The focus is the story. The investigation. The choices. The combat exists to break up the exploration and give you something to do between cases. If you go in expecting deep, challenging combat, you will be disappointed. If you accept the combat as functional and move on, you will have a good time.
The DON’T NOD Touch
If you have played Life is Strange or Tell Me Why, you know what to expect from DON’T NOD. They are storytellers first and game developers second.
Banishers has all the hallmarks of their style:
- Meaningful choices: Your decisions affect the story, the world, and the fate of characters .
- Moral ambiguity: There is no clear “good” or “evil” path. Every choice has trade-offs.
- Character-driven narrative: The relationship between Red and Antea is the heart of the game.
- Slow pacing: The game takes its time. You talk to NPCs. You investigate. You explore. It is not a sprint.
One player summed it up perfectly: “The main goal of Banishers is to tell a story or more accurately, stories. The limit between characters and NPCs is blurry, many settlers have a rich and cohesive background, the more time you spend with them the more you understand them” .
Another player said: “I’ve reached a point in my life where super fast games are just stressing me out and I want to play games for fun, this one fits that bill well giving me enough action to be satisfying while having an interesting story and dialogue” .
The Map and Exploration
Here is something that frustrates some players. The game is not fully open world. It has a connected map, but movement is restricted.
There are invisible walls everywhere. You cannot climb over certain rocks. You cannot explore off the beaten path. The game funnels you along designated routes .
This is a deliberate design choice. DON’T NOD wanted to control the pacing and ensure you experience the story in the intended order. But it can feel limiting, especially if you are used to games like Elden Ring or Breath of the Wild.
That said, the areas you can explore are detailed and filled with secrets. There are hidden chests, lore documents, and optional spirits to find. The map is not huge, but it is dense.
How Long Is the Game?
A normal playthrough focusing on the main story takes about 25 to 30 hours. If you do all the haunting cases and side content, expect 35 to 40 hours. Completionists will spend around 45 hours.
That is a solid length. Long enough to feel like a journey. Not so long that it overstays its welcome.
The Critical Reception
Banishers has received generally positive reviews. On Metacritic, the game has scores ranging from 8.0 to 8.6 across platforms .
Players praise:
- The emotional story and character writing
- The meaningful choices and consequences
- The unique dual-protagonist mechanics
- The haunting case investigations
Players criticise:
- The repetitive combat
- The restrictive exploration with invisible walls
- The bleak, oppressive tone
- The occasional performance issues
One player called it “a touching and heartfelt story” but said the “gameplay falters with repetitive mechanics” . Another gave it a 9/10 and said “all the bad or mid reviews don’t take the game for what it is and miss the point” .
The truth lies somewhere in the middle. If you value story over combat, you will love Banishers. If you need deep, challenging gameplay, you might be disappointed.
Who Is This Game For?
Let me make this simple.
Play Banishers if:
- You love story-driven games like Life is Strange, The Witcher 3, or God of War (2018)
- You enjoy investigating mysteries and solving cases
- You like making meaningful choices that affect the story
- You do not mind combat that is functional rather than revolutionary
Skip Banishers if:
- You only play games for deep, challenging combat
- You cannot stand invisible walls or restricted exploration
- You need a bright, cheerful tone in your games
- You have no patience for slow-paced storytelling
What is the System Requirement for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden?
Now let me talk about the technical side. The good news is that Banishers is not very demanding. You do not need a super expensive PC to run this game.
The game requires 52 GB of storage space . That is reasonable by modern standards. An SSD is recommended for faster loading, but the game will run on a traditional hard drive.
Minimum System Requirements (For 1080p / Low Settings / 30-60 FPS)
If you just want to play the game on lower settings, here is what you need :
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 or higher (64-bit) |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i3-8300 3.7 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 2200G 3.5 GHz |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB |
| Storage | 52 GB available space |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
My advice: The GTX 1050 Ti is a card from 2016. The i3-8300 is a processor from 2017. If you have a gaming PC from the last seven to eight years, you can run this game on minimum settings. The 8 GB of RAM is also very achievable.
Recommended System Requirements (For 1080p / High Settings / 60 FPS)
For a smoother experience with higher graphics settings, aim for this configuration :
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 or higher (64-bit) |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i5-10600K 4.1 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 6GB |
| Storage | 52 GB available space |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
Can My PC Run Banishers?
The honest answer is yes, probably. The minimum requirements are very reasonable. Even the recommended specs are not crazy. An RTX 2060 is a card from 2019. Most gaming PCs from the last five to six years will exceed these requirements.
The real question is whether you have 52 GB of free space. That is not huge, but it is not nothing either. Make sure you have room before you hit that download button.
Console Performance
Banishers runs well on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game is optimised for both platforms with:
- 4K Ultra HD resolution
- 60+ frames per second
- Variable refresh rate support
- Optimised for Xbox Series X|S
The game is also available on Xbox Cloud Gaming, so you can stream it to your phone, tablet, or handheld device if you have a Game Pass subscription .
Note that the game is not available on PS4 or Xbox One. It is current-gen only.
Steam Deck and Handheld
The game is playable on Windows handheld devices. Xbox Cloud Gaming also lets you stream the game to compatible handhelds .
The game is not officially Steam Deck Verified, but some players have reported that it runs acceptably on low settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These are the questions people ask most often about Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. I have gathered them from forums, reviews, and community discussions.
1. Is Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden a sequel?
No. It is a completely new IP. You do not need to have played any previous DON’T NOD games to understand this story.
2. How long does it take to beat Banishers?
About 25 to 30 hours for the main story. 35 to 40 hours for completionists.
3. Is the game open world?
No. It is a connected world with restricted movement. There are invisible walls that prevent you from exploring off the beaten path .
4. Is the combat good?
The combat is functional but not great. It can feel repetitive and simplistic . The game’s strengths are the story and the investigation mechanics, not the combat.
5. Does the game have multiple endings?
Yes. Your choices throughout the game affect the ending. There are multiple possible outcomes for Red and Antea.
6. Is Banishers like God of War or The Witcher 3?
In terms of storytelling and tone, yes. The game focuses heavily on character relationships and meaningful choices. In terms of combat depth, no. Banishers is simpler and less polished.
7. Can you play as both characters?
Yes. You can switch between Red and Antea instantly, both in combat and in exploration . They have different abilities and playstyles.
8. Is the game scary?
It is dark and atmospheric, but not full horror. There are supernatural elements, ghosts, and creepy environments. But there are no jump scares designed to make you scream.
9. How much does Banishers cost?
The standard edition is around $59.99 USD . It is also included in Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate subscriptions .
10. Is Banishers on Game Pass?
Yes. The game is included with Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate. You can play it on console, PC, or via cloud streaming .
11. Is Banishers on PS4 or Xbox One?
No. The game is only on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is current-gen only.
12. What are Haunting Cases?
Haunting Cases are the game’s side missions. You investigate the story of a wandering spirit, then decide whether to ascend them (help them move on), banish them (destroy them), or leave them alone .
13. Do my choices matter?
Yes, very much. Your decisions affect the story, the world, and the fate of characters . The game tracks your choices and the consequences play out over time.
14. Is the game worth buying?
If you love story-driven games with meaningful choices and do not mind combat that is just okay, yes. If you need deep, challenging gameplay, probably not.
15. My game is stuttering. What should I do?
Banishers is generally well-optimised, but some players report issues. Try these fixes:
- Update your graphics drivers
- Lower graphics settings, especially shadows and effects
- Make sure the game is installed on an SSD if possible
- Close background applications
- Verify game files on Steam
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden?
Let me be direct with you. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is not a game for everyone.
If you need deep, challenging combat, skip it. You will get bored.
If you hate slow-paced storytelling and long conversations with NPCs, skip it. That is half the game.
If you cannot stand invisible walls and restricted exploration, skip it. You will get frustrated.
BUT.
If you love a good story. If you enjoy making difficult choices with real consequences. If you appreciate well-written characters and emotional relationships. If you want a game that respects your time and focuses on narrative. Then buy Banishers.
The relationship between Red and Antea is beautifully written. One player said: “It’s been a long time since I last saw a couple being that healthy in their relationship, their struggles only strengthen their bond” .
The haunting cases are genuinely interesting. You feel like a detective, piecing together clues and making moral judgments.
The world is oppressive and bleak, but it is supposed to be. New Eden is a place of grief and loss. And the game does not shy away from that.
For $59.99, or included with Game Pass, you are getting a 30 to 40 hour story-driven RPG. That is fair value.
This is not God of War. This is not Dark Souls. This is DON’T NOD doing what they do best. Telling a story that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
Play it for the love story. Play it for the choices. Play it for the moments when you have to decide the fate of a ghost, knowing that there is no right answer.
Just do not play it for the combat. That is not the point.
