Phasmophobia

Overview and Introduction

Phasmophobia is an online cooperative psychological horror game developed and published by independent British studio Kinetic Games. The game originally debuted in Early Access on PC on September 18, 2020, followed by a dedicated console launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on October 29, 2024.

Up to four players take on the role of paranormal investigators hired to enter haunted locations, such as suburban houses, campsites, prisons, and abandoned psychiatric facilities. Rather than fighting supernatural entities, players use specialized investigative tools to gather three specific types of evidence, identify the ghost species, and exit before being hunted.

• Core Pillars of Phasmophobia:
  • 1–4 Player Cooperative Gameplay: Emphasizes team communication, role division, and resource sharing across varied contract sizes.
  • Distinct Ghost Types: Features 30 unique ghost entities, each characterized by specific evidence combinations, behavioral traits, and hunt speed modifiers.
  • VR and Non-VR Parity: Offers complete virtual reality support on PC and PlayStation VR2, allowing seamless multiplayer with traditional screen users.
  • Cross-Platform Play: Full crossplay support connecting players on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Top 3 Reasons to Play Phasmophobia

Phasmophobia offers an evidence-driven investigative approach to the multiplayer horror genre.

• Microphone Integration and Voice Recognition: Ghosts actively listen to player communication through microphones, reacting to specific trigger phrases, names, and queries spoken through the Spirit Box.
• Tense Sanity and Hunt Mechanics: As the investigative team spends time in the dark, sanity levels decrease, raising ghost hostility and triggering life-threatening hunting phases.
• High-Risk Cursed Possessions: Standard contracts feature interactive cursed artifacts that grant valuable investigative information in exchange for unique sanity risks or potential cursed hunts.

Investigation, Ghost Types, and Evidence

The core loop of each contract requires players to deduce the ghost type by identifying three primary pieces of evidence.

Evidence Types and Detection Tools

• EMF Level 5: Detected using the EMF Reader when the entity emits strong electromagnetic signatures during interactions.
• Ultraviolet: Uncovered using UV flashlights or glowsticks to reveal glowing fingerprints on doors, light switches, and windows, or footprints in salt.
• Ghost Writing: Obtained by leaving a Ghost Writing Book in the ghost room for the entity to write or draw inside.
• Freezing Temperatures: Confirmed strictly using a Thermometer when temperature readings reach 0°C (32°F) or below; visible breath indicates cold air, but does not confirm freezing evidence on its own.
• Spirit Box: Triggered by asking questions into an AM radio device near the ghost in a dark room.
• Ghost Orb: Visible as floating spheres of light through video cameras operating in night-vision mode.
• D.O.T.S. Projector: Displays a matrix of laser dots capable of revealing the ghost's silhouette as it passes through the field.

Full Ghost Roster (30 Types)

The complete list of entities comprises: Spirit, Wraith, Phantom, Poltergeist, Banshee, Jinn, Mare, Revenant, Shade, Demon, Yurei, Oni, Yokai, Hantu, Goryo, Myling, Onryo, The Twins, Raiju, Obake, The Mimic, Moroi, Deogen, Thaye, Aswang, Dayan, Gallu, Kormos, Obambo, and Deildegast.

Cursed Possessions

On default contract settings, one cursed possession spawns per map, offering distinct risk-reward mechanics:

• Tarot Cards: A 10-card deck with varied outcomes, ranging from full sanity restoration or revives (The High Priestess) to immediate death or hunts.
• Ouija Board: Allows questions regarding the ghost's favorite room or bone location in exchange for sanity.
• Haunted Mirror: Provides a real-time visual glimpse into the ghost's current location.
• Music Box: Plays a melody that prompts the ghost to sing and reveal its position.
• Summoning Circle: Traps the ghost temporarily for photos before initiating a hunt.
• Tortured Voodoo Doll: Forces interactions by inserting pins into the doll, with a heart pin triggering an immediate attack.
• Monkey Paw: Grants specific player wishes with severe negative environmental tradeoffs.

Gameplay, Equipment, and Hunt Mechanics

Matches transition between preparation in the investigation truck and dangerous exploration inside the structure.

Mechanics and Survival

• Sanity Management: Average team sanity dictates ghost activity thresholds. Taking Sanity Medication, staying in lit areas, and utilizing candles slows sanity loss.
• Standard Hunts: When sanity drops low enough, the ghost enters a hunt, locking exit doors and pursuing investigators. Flashlights flicker and local electronic devices malfunction.
• Cursed Hunts: Triggered by breaking or misusing cursed items. These hunts feature shorter grace periods and extended durations; while standard Crucifixes (Tier I and II) cannot prevent them, an unused Tier III Crucifix can stop a cursed hunt by consuming both charges.
• Hiding and Line of Sight: Players survive hunts by breaking line of sight, turning off all handheld electronics, staying silent, and hiding inside closets, lockers, or behind furniture.

Platforms, Release Dates, and Crossplay

Phasmophobia supports cross-generational platform play with consistent updates across hardware.

Platform Availability & Format Support

• PC
  • Release Date: September 18, 2020 (Early Access)
  • Format: Digital
  • VR Compatibility: SteamVR, Meta Quest (via Link), Valve Index, HTC Vive
• PlayStation 5
  • Release Date: October 29, 2024
  • Format: Digital 
  • VR Compatibility: Native PlayStation VR2 support
• Xbox Series X|S
  • Release Date: October 29, 2024
  • Format: Digital
  • VR Compatibility: Not supported
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Full crossplay enabled across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Cross-progression between different platforms is not supported.