In Echo Night you roam around a ship called the Orpheus, searching for items and releasing the souls of ghosts roaming the ship by helping them fill their final wishes so that they can find peace. Helping ghosts give you items that allow you to progress in the game, also in general adventure game fashion, there are puzzles you must complete to receive new items.
There are evil ghosts haunted by their memories that will attack you, preventing you from progressing in the game. You can temporarily banish the ghosts by putting on the lights in each room.