Hotel Galactic Review: Between Ghibli Vibes and the Challenges of Early Access

Hotel Galactic is a management simulator where players are tasked with restoring an old space hotel. Instead of controlling a character directly, you take on the role of a guiding spirit who oversees everything from above, directing workers, constructing new rooms, and welcoming guests from across the universe.

The game blends narrative, management, and a touch of magic, with a visual style heavily inspired by Studio Ghibli’s animations.

Check out the official trailer:

Note: Special thanks to the developers for providing the review key. This support is essential for our work!

The game is being developed and published by Ancient Forge Studio and is currently in Early Access on Steam. The full release is planned for late 2026.

The current price is about £29.50, which has sparked debate since it is still an in-progress version.

Two modes are available: Story Mode, which follows the main narrative, and Sandbox Mode, for players who want to experiment without focusing on objectives.

The story is one of the game’s highlights. From the start, a beautiful anime-style introduction sets your place in the universe and the tone for the journey. As the game unfolds, players learn more about the hotel’s past and its characters, especially Gustav, who hides secrets revealed little by little. Other recurring visitors such as Silver, Mogumo, Gulliver, and the cheerful Pouncy Paw help set the pace of daily life and keep the experience fresh.

The characters are full of charm, and the fact that they are all voiced (in their own whimsical language) makes interactions feel alive. The voices carry emotion, and even details like colorful text or animated letters make conversations playful.

The overall feeling is of a warm yet mysterious world, always suggesting there is something greater behind what you are slowly building.

Visually, Hotel Galactic is stunning. The hand-painted 2.5D style creates environments that look like they were lifted from an illustrated book. The soft colors, cozy lighting, and attention to detail (whether in oversized furniture or magical creatures crossing the scene) showcase the care put into the art. It is reminiscent of games like Spiritfarer and The Last Campfire, but with a more dreamlike, fantastical touch.

The soundtrack, composed by Zofia Dormaradzka, is equally memorable. Rather than fading into the background, the music enhances the calm and nostalgic tone, with key moments such as the arrival of new guests. It is the kind of soundtrack that blends so naturally with the experience that you barely notice it, until you realize you would miss it if it were gone.

Together with the expressive and endearing voice acting, the audiovisual experience delivers exactly what the game promises: comfort and magic.

My gameplay experience was a mix of highs and lows. The early game feels slow, as it introduces concepts gradually. This is great for players who like to take their time, but I found myself eager to see the hotel come to life. Only later did I feel like I was truly managing a bustling place filled with guests.

Once the pace picks up, the management side becomes very rewarding. Assigning tasks to workers is all it takes, and they handle the rest: collecting resources, building structures, crafting items, and preparing daily meals for guests.

A very useful feature is the option to fast-forward time up to 2x or 3x, which makes repetitive moments much less tedious and avoids the feeling of simply waiting for characters to finish tasks.

On the downside, some parts still need work. The tutorial could be clearer, as I sometimes felt lost on how to progress. The camera system is also clunky: zooming in feels too close, while zooming out makes you lose the details. The cooking system is also overly basic, despite the importance of the kitchen in the hotel.

Even with these issues, once the game flows, it is easy to get absorbed. Watching the hotel expand and welcoming guests creates a sense of progress that fits the game perfectly.

Like many Early Access titles, Hotel Galactic still has technical issues. Some are minor, such as icons getting stuck on the screen until a restart, or characters ignoring task priorities. Others are more serious, like the “eternal night” bug that may appear after a meteor shower, requiring players to reload and fast-forward time to fix it.

There are also some translation errors in non-English versions, and at times save files may become corrupted.

Despite these issues, the development team has been quick to respond. Shortly after Early Access launched, they released a patch with several fixes and improvements. There is still a lot to refine, but progress is visible.

Ancient Forge Background

Ancient Forge has released other projects before, some with limited support, which left part of the community cautious. However, Hotel Galactic is different as it is their first large-scale project developed with full team dedication.

The developers have also maintained steady communication with players, both in forums and on Discord, which gives a good impression of commitment.

Price

The price of around £29.50 has divided opinions. Some feel it is expensive for a game still in development. Others argue it is fair, especially considering that many larger games launch in worse condition and cost twice as much.

- Cozy atmosphere with clear Ghibli inspiration.

- Hand-painted visuals full of personality.

- Memorable soundtrack and full character voice acting.

- Simple but rewarding management gameplay.

- Time acceleration feature to avoid excessive repetition.

- Active community and responsive developers.

- Recurring bugs, some quite serious.

- The tutorial can feel unclear at the beginning.

- Awkward camera system.

- Cooking mechanic too simplistic, with occasional bugs.

- Price may feel high for an Early Access game.

Hotel Galactic is clearly being made with care. Its visuals are delightful, the music sets the right tone, and the characters are full of charm. At the same time, it remains a work in progress with bugs, unpolished systems, and a slow start that may test some players’ patience.

In its current state, I would recommend Hotel Galactic to players who enjoy following the development of a game and don’t mind some technical hiccups. Watching the hotel grow and welcome guests already feels rewarding.

If, however, you want a polished and stable experience without frustrations from bugs or unfinished mechanics, it may be better to wait a little longer since the full release is not expected until late 2026.

Even so, it is a worthwhile experience. I recommend it!