Hunt: Showdown 1896's Ghost Face Rampage DLC has arrived in time for Halloween 2024, and it puts a brand-new spin on Ghost Face, giving the Hunter a new look to fit the game’s 19th century aesthetic. The release has coincided with Harvest of Ghosts, Hunt: Showdown 1896's new in-game event which will run until November 25. The FPS extraction shooter sees players having to claim the bounties of mythical monsters, and it has had a dedicated player base since its 2018 launch.

The Best War Games recently caught up with developer Crytek's narrative director, Richard Dansky. He discussed how the Ghost Face mask has been incorporated into Hunt: Showdown 1896's lore. Additionally, Dansky explained the importance of ensuring that it fits as naturally as possible into the game's world and setting.

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Bringing Ghost Face's Mask into the World of Hunt: Showdown 1896

Some crossovers fit together more naturally than others, and the idea of Hunt: Showdown 1896 collaborating with Ghost Face isn't one that necessarily springs immediately to mind, not least because the two are approximately 100 years apart in terms of setting. Crytek is always looking for ways to introduce new players to Hunt's world, though, so the prospect of collaborating with a popular horror franchise was obviously appealing to the developer. Dansky explained how it needed to be done in a way that felt natural to Hunt: Showdown 1896's world:

''When we were presented with the challenge of bringing the Ghost Face Hunter into the world of Hunt, we knew we had to do it in a way that was appropriate for the mood and tone of our setting. We focused on a story where the iconic mask is passed from killer to killer, corrupting its wearer from generation to generation.''

How The Ghost Face Mask Fits into Hunt: Showdown 1896's Lore

The concept of the Ghost Face mask being a mythical item that moves through generations of killers opens up plenty of narrative possibilities for building on Hunt: Showdown 1896's lore. Dansky elaborated further on this and talked about how it actually fits perfectly with several themes and concepts the FPS extraction shooter has already established:

''We extended that logic, and asked, what if the mask had been handed down through the centuries, bearing with it an ever-increasing legacy of murder and madness? What if it fell into the hands of a Hunter in the Bayou in the 1890s? Just as other Sculptor artifacts like the Murmurstone had their own powerful effects, we see the mask as another artifact spreading madness and foul deeds. From that premise, we put together a story that grounded the notion of the Ghost Face Hunter within our setting and time-period.''

This gives the Ghost Face mask some real weight in terms of the game's narrative, and it's encouraging to see it isn't just being used as a throwaway piece of equipment with no real explanation as to how it arrived in the world. The same care has been put into the Ghost Face Hunter's weapons, too, each of which has been carefully selected and designed with the character and the world's aesthetic in mind. Dansky also teased another collab on the horizon, which he described as ''something very different'', and he encouraged fans to keep an eye on social media for more news soon.

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Hunt Showdown 1896 Tag Page Cover Art

Hunt: Showdown 1896
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First-Person Shooter
Extraction
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
February 22, 2018
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
Developer(s)
Crytek
Publisher(s)
Crytek
Engine
CryEngine 5.11
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Steam Deck Compatibility
Playable
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Hunt: Showdown 1896 is a new era of the addictively unforgiving extraction shooter. In corrupted backwaters lost to history, fight back alone – or with friends – against timeless evil. Twisted monsters and other ruthless Hunters stand between you and your Bounty. Risk everything as Hunt consumes you.

BOUNTY HUNT
Take rich bounties and kill anyone that tries to stop you – and they will try. Race competing Hunters to track down bosses, send them to hell, claim their bounty, and fight your way to extract. If others only slow you down, go alone. If you find strength in numbers, take up to two teammates along.

PROGRESSION
Risk everything to unlock dark powers and forbidden wealth. Every bullet counts. Every wound hurts. And every death is permanent. But if you succeed, every victory will be unforgettable.

ATMOSPHERE
Hear footsteps squelch in the mud as you wait with bated breath to strike. The world speaks. Every gunshot is a message; every howling dog a klaxon. Gramophones murmur with the haunting melodies of Port Sulphur Band. Listen, and you might live to die another day.

EVOLVING GAME
Keep striving for more, the world is always growing. Frequent updates challenge you with new Events, expand your arsenal of weapons, introduce new characters, and offer the chance to get ornate rewards. Join the thriving Hunt community, stay informed, and get an edge over the Corruption.

Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter, Extraction
OpenCritic Rating
Strong