| The Commodore 64 version was out by December 1984, when Computer Entertainer's list of the ten best-selling computer entertainment programs included it. Crash said the C64 release was timed to be on sale before the film opened in December. | p. 110, Ghostbusters | Magazine |
| The ZX Spectrum version was out by February 1985: Crash reviewed it in its February 1985 issue, for the 48K Spectrum at £9.99. An Activision advertisement in Sinclair User that month had the game running on Commodore 64 cassette and disk and on the Spectrum, with other systems to come, and a retailer's list in the same issue had it in stock at £10.00. | p. 110, Ghostbusters, header | Magazine |
| David Crane designed Ghostbusters for Activision, originally for the Commodore 64; Crash credits the Spectrum version to Activision as producer and to Crane as author. | p. 110, Ghostbusters, header | Magazine |
| The player starts a Ghostbusters franchise, entering a name and, if they have one, an account number from an earlier game, which brings its balance; without one, the computer gives $10,000 to start. The first purchase is one of four cars: a compact ($2,000, 5 items of cargo, 75 mph), a 1963 hearse ($4,800, 9 items, 90 mph), a station wagon ($6,000, 11 items, 110 mph), or a high-performance car ($15,000, 7 items, 160 mph). | p. 110, Ghostbusters | Manual |
| The manual lists three ways the game ends: the Gatekeeper and Keymaster join forces at the Temple of Zuul when the player hasn't earned more money than the starting sum; the player can't sneak two of the three Ghostbusters into Zuul's entrance; or the player sneaks two in and reaches the top of the temple. | p. 110, Ghostbusters | Manual |
| Crash gave the Spectrum version 60% overall, with 78% for use of computer, 72% for graphics, 60% for playability, 69% for getting started, 48% for addictive qualities, and 31% for value for money. | p. 111, Ghostbusters, ratings | Magazine |
| Crash's general rating called the Spectrum game "average quality but boring and poor value for money", and the review called it more of a strategy game than an arcade game. Two of its reviewers missed the C64 version's soundtrack, and the comments call the game "a disappointment" and, at the price, "a total rip-off". Two reviewers could not go on after catching a Slimer, and one wondered whether the review copy was bugged. | p. 111, Ghostbusters, commentsp. 110, Ghostbustersp. 111, Ghostbusters, criticismp. 111, Ghostbusters, criticismp. 111, Ghostbusters, criticismp. 111, Ghostbusters, criticismp. 111, Ghostbusters, criticismp. 111, Ghostbusters, criticism | Magazine |