Phasmophobia Wiki - Complete Guide

Game Overview

Phasmophobia is a highly popular cooperative psychological horror game developed and published by Kinetic Games. Originally released into early access on Steam in September 2020, the game rapidly became a cultural phenomenon, largely driven by its massive presence on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. It officially launched its highly anticipated 1.0 version in September 2024, marking its transition from an early-access experiment to a fully realized horror title. The game is firmly rooted in the paranormal investigation genre, tasking players with identifying specific ghost types using a variety of fictional and realistic ghost-hunting equipment.

Available exclusively on PC (Steam) with full VR and non-VR crossplay support, Phasmophobia sets itself apart by relying heavily on procedural generation and systemic AI rather than scripted jump scares. The atmosphere is thick with dread, driven by dynamic audio design, realistic lighting, and the constant, lingering threat of a hostile entity. While the game is best experienced with a group of up to four players, it also features a robust single-player mode for those daring enough to investigate the dark alone.

Core Systems

The gameplay loop of Phasmophobia is built around three distinct pillars: investigation, survival, and progression. Understanding how these systems interact is essential for mastering the game and surviving its terrifying encounters.

Investigation and Identification

The primary objective of every mission in Phasmophobia is to identify the specific type of ghost haunting the location. Players must enter a dark, abandoned map, locate the "ghost room" (the specific room where the entity is most active), and use equipment to gather evidence. Each ghost type in the game has a unique combination of three "Core Evidence" types. By discovering these three pieces of evidence, players can confidently identify the ghost and complete the objective.

However, the game actively works against the player. The ghost will periodically exhibit "Ghost Events" to scare investigators, and if players push the entity too far by talking too loudly, using equipment improperly, or staying in the dark for too long, it will initiate a Hunt. During a Hunt, the ghost becomes physical, moves rapidly through the map, and will attempt to kill the players. Players must use hiding spots, such as lockers, closets, or beds, and utilize "Smudge Sticks" (incense) to temporarily blind the ghost and evade death. A failed investigation results in zero monetary rewards and a loss of sanity.

The Sanity System

Sanity is a critical survival mechanic that governs both the player's perception of the game and the ghost's aggressive behavior. Every player starts a mission with 100% sanity. Sanity drains passively while in the dark and rapidly when witnessing ghost events, hearing ghost sounds, or looking directly at the ghost. If a player dies, their sanity instantly drops to zero.

Low sanity has profound effects on gameplay. Visually, the screen may distort, and hallucinations—such as shadow figures, fake ghost sounds, or flickering lights—can trick players into thinking a Hunt is starting. Mechanically, low average sanity across the team increases the frequency of ghost events and allows the ghost to initiate Hunts even when the lights are turned on, which is normally a safe state. Managing sanity using Candles, Pills, and the Sanity Pills is crucial for surviving longer investigations on higher difficulties.

Economy and Progression

Phasmophobia features a metagame progression system tied to an in-game economy. Players earn money and experience points (XP) based on their performance during a mission. The payout is calculated using a multiplier system: players earn money for identifying the ghost correctly, finding optional "Secondary Evidence" like bone fragments or ghost writing, surviving the mission, and documenting the ghost with Photo Cameras for bonus cash. If a player dies, their individual payout is halved, and if the team fails to identify the ghost, the base pay is severely reduced.

Money is used in the in-game Store to purchase better equipment, such as upgraded thermometers, motion sensors, and crucial survival tools like heavy-duty flashlights. XP is tied to a leveling system; as players level up, they unlock new equipment tiers, custom difficulty settings, and higher-tier maps. Furthermore, the game features an optional "Cursed Possessions" system, where players can risk their sanity to use powerful, one-time-use items—like a Ouija Board, a Spirit Box, or a Summoning Circle—to force the ghost into revealing evidence or triggering an event.

Characters / Classes / Factions

Unlike traditional RPGs or tactical shooters, Phasmophobia does not feature distinct character classes or playable factions. Instead, all players assume the role of anonymous Paranormal Investigators employed by an unnamed freelance agency. There is no character creation system regarding stats or abilities; every investigator is physically and mechanically identical, possessing the same baseline speed, stamina, and interaction capabilities. The differentiation between players comes entirely from their loadouts and their assigned roles within the team.

Investigative Roles

Because every player has access to the same pool of equipment, the community has organically developed specialized "roles" to optimize the investigation process:

• The Tracker: This player carries the Motion Sensor and the Parabolic Microphone. Their job is to narrow down the ghost's location by tracking its movement through walls or listening for distant paranormal sounds. They often stay in the van or safely away from the ghost room to monitor the team's remote sensors.
• The Tech Specialist: This role focuses on placing the Sound Sensor, setting up the Video Camera with a Night Vision attachment in the ghost room, and monitoring the Spirit Box via the van's laptop. They act as the informational hub, safely feeding data to the team on the ground.
• The Ghost Whisperer: This player interacts directly with the entity. They carry the Spirit Box, the Ouija Board (if purchased), and are responsible for asking the ghost questions to gather evidence. They must manage their sanity carefully, as they are the most exposed to direct ghost interactions.
• The Point Man / Tank: Usually the one carrying the Thermometer, EMF Reader, and Crucifix. They are the first to enter rooms, actively searching for temperature drops and EMF spikes. They are also responsible for placing Crucifixes correctly to prevent Hunts, effectively acting as the team's frontline defense.

The Ghost Roster

While players have no classes, the game features a diverse "roster" of 24 distinct ghost types, which function almost like enemy classes due to their unique behaviors and rules. Understanding these entities is the core of the game:

• Common Entities: Spirits, Poltergeists, and Wraiths are typically encountered on early maps. Spirits have no unique strengths or weaknesses, making them a baseline test of a player's evidence-gathering skills. Poltergeists can throw large numbers of objects, while Wraiths are immune to Salt and can occasionally float through doors.
• Stealth Entities: Phantoms and Banshees rely on stealth and targeted aggression. A Phantom can possess a player, making them invisible to the rest of the team. A Banshee will fixate on a single player at the start of the mission, singling them out for attacks regardless of where other investigators are hiding.
• Aggressive Entities: Demons, Oni, and Revenants are notorious for high hunt frequencies. Demons will attack regardless of average sanity, Oni move faster and are more visible when manifesting, and Revenants will drastically increase their speed to double-time when they have line of sight on a fleeing player.
• Complex Entities: The Mimic is one of the most feared ghosts in the game. It can mimic the behavior and evidence of any other ghost type in the game, forcing players to use specific test methods—such as observing its interaction with a Ghost Writing book or using specific Cursed Possessions—to rule out other possibilities and confirm its identity.

World Building

Phasmophobia features a surprisingly deep, albeit deliberately obscured, lore that elevates it beyond a simple sandbox horror game. The world is a slightly stylized version of our own, grounded in rural and suburban America, where paranormal activity is an undeniable, scientifically documented reality.

The Setting

The game takes place across a variety of maps ranging from small, claustrophobic suburban homes in places like Maple Lodge Campsite and 42 Edgefield Road, to sprawling, multi-story industrial complexes like the Sunny Meadows Mental Institution and the large farmhouses of Bleasdale. These locations are steeped in localized tragic histories, discovered through newspaper clippings hidden throughout the maps, journal entries, and the interactive "Ghost Reporting" computer screen found in the safety of the player's van.

The attention to environmental storytelling is meticulous. Notes left behind by previous, less fortunate investigators imply that the player's agency is just one of many that has tried—and failed—to document these entities. The world feels cynical and dangerous; the paranormal is treated not with wonder, but as a blue-collar hazard that requires union-level pay and high-risk insurance.

Lore and the Apocalypse

Since its early access days, the developers at Kinetic Games have slowly woven a broader narrative through hidden radio transmissions, cryptic update trailers, and in-game text. The overarching lore suggests that the world of Phasmophobia is on the brink of a supernatural apocalypse. Hidden logs from a character known as "Dirk" and strange, apocalyptic radio broadcasts picked up by in-game radios hint that the ghosts are not just the souls of the dead, but manifestations of something much older and more malevolent.

The game also features a recurring, mysterious entity known only as "The Demon." Unlike the standard ghost type of the same name, this overarching entity is tied to the game's custom difficulty system, where players can offer "Integrity" (a progression currency) to "The Demon" to toggle specific modifiers, such as turning off the van's power or making the ghost permanently invisible. This mechanic implies a dark pact between the investigators and an unfathomable evil, trading safety and sanity for greater rewards.

Strategy & Tips

Mastering Phasmophobia requires a shift from panic-induced running to methodical, scientific investigation. Whether you are playing on Amateur mode or tackling the brutal Insanity difficulty, employing the right strategies is the difference between a successful identification and a failed mission.

The Evidence Meta

With the 1.0 update, the evidence system was overhauled to be more logical and interconnected. The key to advanced investigation is understanding "Evidence Interactions." Some evidence types require specific conditions to appear:

• Freezing Temperatures: No longer just a simple thermometer drop, you must physically see your breath in the ghost room to log this evidence.
• Ghost Writing: The ghost must interact with the Ghost Writing book. This can take time, and some ghosts (like the Oni) will do it frequently, while others will rarely do it at all.
• DOTS Projector: You must be looking through a Video Camera with a Night Vision lens to see the DOTS evidence. If you just place the projector and look with your naked eye, you will not see it.

Expert players use a process of elimination combined with these interaction rules. For example, if a ghost leaves Ghost Writing instantly, investigators can immediately cross out ghosts that rarely or never write, vastly narrowing down the suspect list before all three core evidences are even found.

Crucifix Placement and Hunt Mechanics

Many new players place Crucifixes incorrectly. A Crucifix does not create a "safe zone" around the player. Instead, it must be placed on the floor or wall near where the ghost will initiate a Hunt—typically inside or just outside the ghost room. When the ghost attempts to start a Hunt within a 3-meter radius of a Crucifix (or 5 meters if it is a Banshee), the Hunt is immediately canceled, and the Crucifix loses one of its three charges. Timing and placement are more important than carrying it in your hand.

Furthermore, understanding the Hunt phase is vital. A Hunt is initiated with a distinct, rising audio cue and the ghost physically stepping out of its shadow form. During a Hunt, the ghost has line-of-sight mechanics; if you break line of sight by closing a door or hiding behind an object, the ghost will wander to your last known location. If your hiding spot is secure (no gaps you can see through) and you remain silent, the ghost will eventually give up and end the Hunt.

Advanced Sanity Management

On higher difficulties, sanity management becomes a primary mechanic rather than a secondary concern. Experienced teams designate a "Sanity Manager"—usually the person in the van—who monitors the team's sanity levels via the truck's monitor. Instead of relying entirely on consumable Sanity Pills, teams use light strategically. Placing a Candle in the ghost room provides a small "safe zone" of sanity recovery, as long as the player stands within its light radius and does not witness a terrifying event. Turning on the lights in hallways adjacent to the ghost room creates a buffer zone that prevents sanity from draining as players run back and forth to the van for supplies.

Optimizing Payouts

To progress through the game efficiently, players must maximize their payout multipliers. A common mistake is leaving the map immediately after identifying the ghost. To achieve the maximum monetary reward, teams must also find optional objectives, such as photographing the ghost during an event (not a Hunt), finding the cursed bone hidden somewhere on the map, and using the Spirit Box to ask the ghost its age or location. Taking three specific, high-value photos—the ghost itself, the dirty water in the sink (caused by the ghost), and a bone—can often net more money than the base identification payout itself.

Resources

Because Phasmophobia is a highly systemic and continuously updated game, relying on community resources is highly recommended to keep up with changing mechanics, evidence rules, and hidden lore. Below is a curated list of the most reliable and authoritative resources available to players.

Official Channels

• Phasmophobia Steam Page: The primary hub for purchasing the game, reading official patch notes, and engaging with the community via announcements. The developers post detailed breakdowns of every major update here.
• Kinetic Games Discord: The official Discord server is the best place to interact directly with the developers, report bugs, and participate in community events. It also contains channels dedicated to fan art, lore discussion, and team recruitment.

Community Tools and Databases

• Phasmophobia Wiki (Fandom): The most comprehensive database for raw game data. If you need to know the exact speed of a Revenant during a Hunt, the specific evidence list for a Mimic, or the precise sanity drain rate of a Phantom, this wiki is the definitive source.
• Bloodnight: A highly popular, community-developed web application and Discord bot designed specifically for Phasmophobia. It features an interactive evidence checker, a journal that mimics the in-game interface to help narrow down ghost types, and a timer for tracking Hunt durations.
• Twitch Integration / PhantomBot: For content creators, utilizing the built-in Twitch integration allows viewers to interact with the game in real-time, triggering in-game events like turning off lights or dropping items, adding a chaotic layer to community playthroughs.

Guides and Video Content

• Inspecteur (YouTube): Widely regarded as the premier Phasmophobia content creator. His channel offers deep-dive tutorials on evidence logic, advanced hiding strategies, and thorough breakdowns of new updates. His "How to identify every ghost" videos are essential viewing for beginners.
• ZeroGravity (YouTube): Focuses heavily on the lore, secrets, and hidden mechanics of Phasmophobia. If you are interested in the overarching narrative regarding "The Demon" and the impending apocalypse, his investigative videos piece together the cryptic clues left by the developers.
• Reddit (r/PhasmophobiaGame): One of the most active gaming subreddits, functioning as a real-time hub for strategy discussion, funny clips, bug reports, and developer AMAs. It is an excellent place to ask specific mechanical questions and receive answers from veteran players.