Ghostbusters: Protect the Barrier is a cooperative Ghostbusters board game tied to the 2016 film. Players take control of the movie’s four Ghostbusters and race through the Mercado Building to get all 8 Paranormal Energy Devices out before the place is overwhelmed.
How the game works
The core pressure in this one is the haunting track inside the building. If too many ghosts pile up, rooms become haunted, and if six rooms are haunted at once, the players lose. If the whole team escapes with all eight PEDs before that happens, the players win.
Published by Mattel, the game is built for 2 to 4 players and has several rules modes, including basic and advanced versions plus Rowan variants. That makes it one of the more family-friendly Ghostbusters co-op boxes while still giving players a little room to scale the challenge.
What is in the box
- 1 game board
- 4 Ghostbusters movers: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan
- 20 cards
- 24 ghost figures
- 6 haunting figures
- 1 exclusive Rowan mini figure
- 1 movement die and 1 battle die
- 8 Paranormal Energy Devices
Some coverage of the game also notes that it is effectively a Ghostbusters reskin of Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters, with the Rowan material helping give this version its own twist.
Quick facts
- Players: 2-4
- Publisher: Mattel
- Designer: Brian Yu
- Age range: 8 and up
- Style: cooperative building-escape board game
Source note
Summary details on this page are based on coverage from One Board Family, Ghostbusters News, and catalog data surfaced through Board Game Oracle.