Plasmophobia

• Release Date: September 18, 2020 (Early Access)
• Developer: Kinetic Games
• Setting: Abandoned Buildings
• Maximum number of players on the server/level: 4
• Steam Tags/Genres: Multiplayer, Co-op, Horror, Psychological horror, VR, First person, Supernatural, Investigation, Gloomy, Demons, Detective, Mystery, Thriller, 3D, Indi, Action, Tactics, Singleplayer
• Game on Steam

Phasmophobia is an online cooperative friendslop game with paranormal investigation horror features developed and published by Kinetic Games. It released originally in early access in September 2020 and later expanded to consoles as well as maintained on PC.

The core experience centers on multiplayer team play, where up to four players work together as paranormal investigators on a variety of haunted locations to gather evidence and identify the type of ghost or entity responsible for the haunting. Players prepare for each contract in a lobby, selecting equipment and customizing their investigators before entering the site.

Once inside, teams must use investigation tools such as EMF readers, spirit boxes, thermometers, night vision cameras, and UV flashlights to collect clues while managing sanity and avoiding hostile ghost behavior. Communication is a key element, with both in‑game voice chat and a walkie‑talkie system that allow players to coordinate strategies and share discoveries in real time.

Each investigation assigns one of many ghost types at random, each with unique behaviors and clues, making every multiplayer session different. Successfully completing objectives, gathering evidence, and surviving encounters grants rewards that can be used to unlock new equipment, maps, and upgrades for future investigations. The game supports cross‑platform play between VR and non‑VR players, allowing friends on different devices to join the same session. Phasmophobia’s focus on teamwork, communication, and shared discovery makes it a cooperative experience built around planning, evidence gathering, and surviving paranormal encounters together.

Phasmophobia Core Features

• Up to 4‑Player Online Co‑op: Join friends in shared sessions to investigate haunted locations together.
• Paranormal Investigation Equipment: Use tools like EMF readers, spirit boxes, thermometers, night vision and UV cameras to collect evidence.
• Ghost Identification: Randomly assigned ghost types with unique behaviours and clue requirements make each session different.
• Voice Communication Systems: Built‑in voice chat and walkie‑talkies support real‑time team coordination.
• Speech Recognition Interaction: Ghosts and some devices respond to players’ spoken words in supported modes.
• Sanity & Hunt Mechanics: Teams manage sanity levels that influence ghost hostility and trigger hunts.
• Rewards & Progression: Complete contracts to earn money and experience for unlocking gear, equipment, and new investigation options.
• Cross‑Platform Play (VR and Non‑VR): Friends can play together regardless of VR headset use.
• Multiple Haunted Sites: Various map locations and layouts offer replayability and different challenge environments.
• First‑Person Perspective: Immersive gameplay that emphasizes atmosphere and cooperative exploration.