When comparing Ghost of a Tale vs Shelter, the Slant community recommends Ghost of a Tale for most people. In the question“What are the best indie games on Steam?” Ghost of a Tale is ranked 68th while Shelter is ranked 79th. The most important reason people chose Ghost of a Tale is:
Even though the game world isn't huge, the game does do a good job of keeping you busy. There's a lot of collectibles to search and find. In doing so, you'll need to pass by enemies. The game gives you the option to either knock them out, distract them & slip by, simply try to sneak by them, hoping they don't turn around and see you... or you can just run straight past them since you're faster and try to hide in a barrel or cupboard when they briefly lose sight of you. You can also make enemies follow you inside a room with a lever controlled door, run outside and close the door with the enemies trapped inside.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Exploration and tactical gameplay
Even though the game world isn't huge, the game does do a good job of keeping you busy. There's a lot of collectibles to search and find. In doing so, you'll need to pass by enemies. The game gives you the option to either knock them out, distract them & slip by, simply try to sneak by them, hoping they don't turn around and see you... or you can just run straight past them since you're faster and try to hide in a barrel or cupboard when they briefly lose sight of you. You can also make enemies follow you inside a room with a lever controlled door, run outside and close the door with the enemies trapped inside.
Pro Adorable story-based game
You play as a mouse who needs to escape jail and venture into the world to try and find your wife and son. The mouse, Tilo, is a minstrel who wears a little lute on his back and has a little hat with a bell on. You meet a lot of interesting characters along the way with their own stories. This game was made by a former Dreamworks animator and the level of detail is one of the game's biggest strengths. This translates into a well done animations, including idle, and overall high standard of graphics in the game that are spot-on in terms of creating the right atmosphere.
Pro Sense of loss and failure
By tugging at the players heartstrings when a child is lost due to elements in the game, the player ultimately feels a sense of loss and failure.
Pro Interesting use of design to communicate danger
A shadow of a looming bird or the sound and look of rushing water signals looming danger for the mother badger and her young offspring.
Pro Suspenseful
Knowing your children may be taken at any time gives you a sense of danger/suspense not typically found in non-military games.
Pro Absolutely fantastic and original art style
Hands down one of the most original and interesting graphic art styles used in a modern game.
Cons
Con Not a lot of action
This game does not have a combat system, so you can't kill any enemies. It's about not getting caught as you try to collect things and progress to find your family (as well as the atmosphere and story). So if you really hate sneaking, running away and hiding, then it's probably not for you.
Con Food is too plentiful
As long as the player takes advantage of every piece of food they run across there will be no feeling of impending urgency to feed the cubs.
Con Short
The full game is only about 90 minutes long.