In Japan, Data East released it as a non-Ghostbusters arcade game under the title Meikyuu Hunter G.[a][1] In 1989, Activision published The Real Ghostbusters for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

In 1989, Activision published conversions of The Real Ghostbusters for various computer platforms in Europe,[1] including Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 (C64), and ZX Spectrum.

[2][4][17][21] Andy Smith of ACE reviewed the Atari ST and ZX Spectrum versions and considered them to be an accurate reproduction of the arcade game, but he criticized the graphics, the collision detection, the gameplay, and the "confusing" perspective.

The ST version was criticized for its animation, "crude" music and sound, and jerky movements, with the conclusion that it would only appeal to Real Ghostbusters fans.

[18] Gordon Hamlett of Your Amiga considered the graphics to be adequate, but criticized the presence of a loading sequence that occurs in order to restart each level whenever the player is killed.

Hamlett considered it an average shoot 'em up game stated that the screen does not scroll unless the player is at the edge of it, with the result being that "you are frequently getting shot at, and killed, by creatures that you can't actually see!

[17] CVG's Richard Leadbetter, reviewing the Amstrad CPC re-release, criticized the game's jerky scrolling, repetitive gameplay, and its color scheme.

[15] In 2014, Robert Workman of Shacknews ranked it among the top three best Ghostbusters games, calling it a classic and a delight, but thought that the main theme song is over-used.

[25] In 2016, Luke McKinney of Den of Geek also ranked it among the series' best, writing that it delivered the chunky pixel graphics and action that fans had wanted.