Ghostrunner: Complete Guide

A player's guide to Ghostrunner: movement and combat fundamentals, Sensory Boost, the four special abilities, the upgrade grid, enemy-by-enemy tactics, bosses, collectibles and the tricky achievements, plus the Project_Hel DLC and extra modes.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC version with the Project_Hel DLC, Wave Mode and Assist Mode. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

1. One hit kills you, and one hit kills most enemies. Every fight is a puzzle of angles and timing. Dying is normal; checkpoints are frequent.
2. Never stop moving. Standing still in view of a gunner is death. Wallrun, slide and dash constantly.
3. Dash in mid-air to trigger Sensory Boost. Time slows and you can sidestep bullets. It's the core combat tool.
4. Plan your route before engaging. Pause at the edge of an arena, look at the enemy positions, and decide the order you'll kill them in.
5. Kill the ranged enemies first. Melee enemies can be dodged; gunners in the back shoot you while you deal with them.
6. Block bullets once you can. Holding block at the right time deflects projectiles, and it can send them back into enemies.
7. Use your special ability meter. It fills as you kill. Blink, Surge, Tempest and Overlord each solve different problems.
8. Tune the upgrade grid often. Your upgrades are pieces that must fit a grid, and different layouts suit different levels.
9. Assist Mode exists. If a section is blocking you, the added accessibility options let you keep going without giving up.

Movement

Movement tips:

• Slide down slopes to pick up speed.
• Wallrun, jump, wallrun to cross large gaps.
• Grapple into an arena from above so you land among enemies before they react.
• Use Sensory Boost mid-air to change direction and dodge bullets.
• The Running Wild achievement asks you to dash, wallrun, slide and use the gap jammer within one second, so learn to chain them fast.

Combat

• Attack with the katana. Most enemies die in a single slash.
• Block to deflect melee attacks and, with the right timing, bullets. Blocking 5 projectiles in a row with your sword unlocks I Call It Luck.
• Deflected projectiles kill enemies. Thirty kills with reflected projectiles unlocks Sword To A Gunfight.
• Sensory Boost is the key to reaching gunners. Jump, dash in the air and sidestep incoming shots.

Special Abilities

Special abilities cost your ability meter, which fills as you fight.

Upgrades

• Upgrades are tetromino-like pieces on a grid. Each upgrade has a shape, and the grid has limited space.
• As you progress, the grid expands with more rows.
• Filling every slot unlocks Push It To The Limit.
• Rebuild your grid between levels. Combat-heavy levels want different upgrades than platforming-heavy ones.

Enemies

Tips:

• Kill order: snipers and gunners first, then melee, then support.
• Beacon shields make nearby enemies immune to normal attacks. Target the Beacon.
• Use enemies' friendly fire. Overlord and reflected projectiles let them do the work.

How to Clear an Arena, Step by Step

Most deaths come from entering a room without a plan. A repeatable approach:

1. Stop at the entrance. Checkpoints usually sit right before an arena, so a few seconds of scouting costs nothing.
2. Count the enemies and find the gunners. Snipers and gunners on high platforms are the priority.
3. Find your route. Look for wallrun surfaces, grapple points and cover that let you reach the first gunner without a long exposed run.
4. Pick an opening kill. Ideally a gunner you can reach before anyone reacts.
5. Chain kills along your route. Each kill should put you next to the next target. Air dash (Sensory Boost) to dodge anything shot at you between kills.
6. Save your ability for the ugly part. If there's a Beacon-shielded group or a line of enemies, that's where Blink, Surge or Tempest goes.
7. After a death, change one thing. A different first target or a different wall usually solves it.

Settings and Comfort

• Raise the field of view if fast first-person movement makes you queasy, and consider reducing motion blur and camera shake.
• Mouse sensitivity: you'll be turning quickly mid-air. A sensitivity where you can do a fast 180 without lifting the mouse helps a lot.
• Controller play works, but mouse aim makes Sensory Boost redirects and quick target switching easier.
• Assist Mode lets you tune the challenge if a section stops being fun.

Bosses

General boss tips:

• Patterns are fixed. Each attempt should teach you one more piece of the fight.
• Checkpoints within fights are generous. Don't rush.
• Parry timing (blocking at the right moment) matters more in boss fights.

Collectibles

• Swords: hidden throughout levels. Completing your sword collection unlocks Fine Addition.
• Audiologs: collect all for About Adam.
• Story items: collect all for One Man's Trash.
• Every single collectible in the base game unlocks Junkrunner.
• Hel levels (Project_Hel DLC): collect all for Everyone Needs A Hobby.

Tips:

• Collectibles are often off the main path in side rooms, on high ledges and behind grates.
• Level select lets you replay levels for missing collectibles.
• Look for unusual wallrun or grapple opportunities; they often lead to collectibles.

Achievements Worth Planning For

Project_Hel DLC

• Released March 3, 2022 (per Wikipedia). You play as Hel, a different cybernetic warrior with a more aggressive, combat-focused kit.
• Rage is Hel's key resource: fill the bar and stay Enraged for extra power (One Of Those Days, Sticks And Stones).
• Surge is part of her toolkit (Strafing Run is killing three enemies with Surge in a single jump).
• The DLC has its own collectibles (Everyone Needs A Hobby).

Extra Modes

• Wave Mode: a roguelike survival challenge where you survive 20 waves of increasingly tough enemies. Good for practice and for Where Are My Keys.
• Assist Mode: accessibility options that make the game more approachable for newcomers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Charging straight at gunners. Use Sensory Boost and cover.
• Standing still. Movement is your defence.
• Ignoring the upgrade grid. A tuned grid makes hard sections much easier.
• Using abilities too early. Save them for groups or awkward targets.
• Rushing boss fights. Patterns reward patience.
• Forgetting to look up. Many routes and collectibles are above you.

Advanced Tips

• Chain wallruns and dashes to keep speed through whole arenas.
• Use Blink on lines of enemies to clear several at once.
• Deflect shots back at snipers from safety.
• Use grapple points for fast approaches that skip the gunners' sight lines.
• Use Overlord in crowded arenas to let enemies fight each other.
• Speedrunning: skip optional fights where you can, and memorise routes.

FAQ

How long is Ghostrunner? Around 7 to 10 hours for the story; longer with collectibles and achievements.

Is Ghostrunner hard? Yes, it's a one-hit-kill game. Frequent checkpoints keep it fair, and Assist Mode is there if you need it.

What's in Project_Hel? A DLC campaign as Hel, with an aggressive combat-focused kit, Rage and new levels.

Is there a sequel? Yes. Ghostrunner 2 released on October 26, 2023, expanding beyond Dharma Tower with new environments and a motorcycle.

What does Sensory Boost do? It slows time mid-air when you dash, letting you dodge bullets and reposition.

Can I replay levels? Yes, via level select, which is how you clean up collectibles and level-specific achievements.

Sources

• Ghostrunner on Steam
• Ghostrunner Steam news (Wave Mode, Assist Mode, Project_Hel)
• Ghostrunner Steam achievements
• Ghostrunner on Wikipedia