While at New Game Plus, I found a lonely little set up along the side showcasing There Are No Ghosts At The Grand. Something about it called me over, although I wasn’t sure exactly what at first. That changed within the first ten seconds.
In There Are No Ghosts At The Grand we take control of Chris David, an enterprising sarcastic young man who has just inherited a hotel and is taking to repair it himself. Immediately, my power tool started speaking to me in a very thick Scottish accent, with Chris replaying with his voice dripping with nerve and annoyance. The VA’s have done an absolutely fantastic job, and it’s not even been five minutes yet! We are introduced to our main mechanics, using different power tools to accomplish different jobs. They include a sand blaster from stripping paint, a magnet furniture tool to recover and more furniture over time, amongst a few others.
Midway through this job, we’re called outside to meet a young lady who believes that she has found the source of petulance and rot; oh yes, The Grand is not the only building based in this town that looks like it does. She tells us of an island that has survived an accident during WW2, leaking oil into the sea and forming a gunk that the town was theorising was extraterrestrial in nature. But, of course, as our NPC reminds us, There Are No Ghosts At The Grand.
Out to sea, you’re treated to a small sequence where you can enjoy the scenery, and I was doing just that when my companion suddenly broke out into song! It was easily the highlight of the experience for me, and took me entirely by surprise. The song is absolutely beautiful, once again, the VA’s did a phenomenal job! The demo ends with us shipwrecking on the island after a very sudden fog cuts off our vision, but I was prepared to keep going!
There Are No Ghosts At The Grand promises to be a fantastic musical mystery to solve and I look forward very much to playing it upon its full release!
There Are No Ghosts At The Grand is scheduled for a 2026 release, when it will release for PC & Xbox Series S/X.