The Ghost is the ultimate danger in Spelunky. It is invulnerable, it can not be deterred, and one touch is guaranteed death. Fortunately, however, it is possible to make it through the entire game without ever seeing it. Unlike many enemies in the game, the Ghost is more of a disincentive than an obstacle. It exists to prevent loitering by greedy treasure hunters, and 'turtling' by overly trepidatious delvers. By putting pressure on players to improve, the Ghost ensures that the only way to be successful is to hone your skills and play well.